Disgruntled center dismissed

Rebels coach Lon Kruger said he removed Adeife after the center met with the coaches Saturday.

“Emmanuel was unhappy with his role and he exhibited that through his actions,” Kruger said. “So we encouraged him to relocate. We hope it goes well for him.”

Adeife was visibly upset and angrily talking to teammates on the bench during UNLV’s 76-65 victory over Montana State on Friday at the Thomas & Mack Center. He argued with coaches after the game.

Adeife started at center and played 16 minutes. He finished with six points, four rebounds and four blocked shots. He did not commit a personal foul, so that did not factor into his limited playing time.

The Rebels, who next play Tuesday at home against Dixie State, face a dilemma with Adeife’s departure. He was the team’s only true center, and that position now must be filled by 6-8 sophomore Matt Shaw, who is best suited as a forward.

Shaw played 23 minutes in the opener and had six points and five rebounds. Shaw scored 28 points in 21 games as a freshman.

“Now it’s Matt and a bunch of guards,” Kruger said. “We’ll just have to figure it out.”

Adeife might find his options limited when he looks for another school. He played his freshman season at Houston, but left the Cougars because he was unhappy with his playing time. He spent his sophomore year at Polk Junior College in Winter Haven, Fla., before committing to the Rebels.

As a freshman at Houston, Adeife was teammates with Lamar Roberson, who transferred to UNLV last year. The 6-8 Roberson, who scored four points in nine minutes against Montana State, might have to play more minutes in the post.

The Rebels had hoped to have another center this season, but 7-foot Beas Hamga is sitting out an NCAA-mandated redshirt year. Hamga, whose academic records were questioned by the NCAA, is practicing with the team.