Tre'Von Willis is the best in the west.
My quest continued Saturday night at the Thomas and Mack, with UNLV hosting Southern Illinois, in one of the first Mountain West / Missouri Valley battles of the year. These two conferences have set up a yearly match-up between their teams, and this is its first year. Annually, Southern Illinois is a top tier team from the MVC. They’ve made noise in the tournament recently, play hard nosed defense, and really have my respect as a squad. Of course, that was not the case for the general crowd at the T&M last night.
SIU is big, and strong, and they have fast guards. Their man to man is high pressure 100% of the time, and they also mix in some zone for good measure when you’re getting the lane just a little too easily. After the big win vs Reno earlier in the week, and the fact that almost nobody in attendance had heard of SIU, didn’t know what a Saluki is, or realize that UNLV was facing one of the best mid major programs in America. A great test. 5 wins in the NCAA tourney over the last 7 years is nothing to look down to.
SIU came out and put UNLV to the metal. UNLV was missing shots, SIU was making them, and they controlled much of the 1st half this way. Derek Jasper had a decent 1st half with a few nice assists, and did his part to get to the rim and the line. At one point, SIU was up 12 with the ball, and there were boo’s coming down from the rafters. Some guy sitting behind me wondered why UNLV kept trying to get into the paint, and why they didn’t shoot 3 pointers more. Then he stared talking about how Vanilla Sky was such a shit movie, and the theory of relativity. Now, I’m glad people are coming out to the games. UNLV led the west coast in attendance last year, and was in the top 25 of ticket sales nationally last year. Support is huge. But WATCH THE FRICKING GAME. Right? Anyways, UNLV was down a bucket at the half. Start of the second half was more of the same. That is, until Tre’Von Willis took this game over. 19 second half points, getting the lane when he wanted, dishing off to whoever the help defender is leaving, rebounding the ball, he did it all. What Jasper did to keep UNLV in the game in the 1st half, Willis did to put the thing away in the 2nd. Well, that and the patented 2nd half pressure defense off every made basket. Considering UNLV shot over 70% in the second half (by getting to the rim), SIU was up against it for most of the rest of the game. Things did get a little hairy at the end, UNLV saw its 12 point lead slip to 8 on a few sloppy possessions and foolish turnovers. These should be learning experiences, and much needed for a young team. Final Score: UNLV 78, SIU 69.
So that is that. UNLV is 3-0. Holy Cross (Patriot League), in town on Wednesday, Louisville next Saturday, and, of course, the Las Vegas Invitational.
