Rebels not running scared

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OMAHA, Neb. — If fear is a factor, UNLV senior Curtis Terry refuses to admit it.

“We can’t shy away or back down from these guys,” he said. “We have the underdog mentality. We’ve got something to prove.”

Rebels junior Wink Adams is not inclined to give in to intimidation, either.

“We know it’s going to be a fight,” Adams said.

Every big fight is preceded by hype, and everyone involved in today’s NCAA Tournament second-round showdown between Kansas (32-3) and UNLV (27-7) has done his part to talk up the matchup.

The Jayhawks, the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Regional, are heavily favored to knock out the eighth-seeded Rebels. Tip-off is scheduled for approximately 3:50 p.m. at the Qwest Center.

“Everybody is excited to play Kansas. That’s one of the top basketball teams in the country,” Terry said. “But we’re going to be tough to beat.”

After dominating Kent State in a 71-58 first-round victory Thursday, UNLV is one win from reaching the Sweet 16 for the second straight year.

Escaping Omaha and getting to Detroit for the next round will require one of the Rebels’ finest performances. The Jayhawks present a major physical challenge, and a mental one, as well.

“Any time you line up against a No. 1 seed, you’re anxious to see what’s really going to happen,” UNLV coach Lon Kruger said. “I think our guys legitimately believe good things are going to happen, but still they are wanting to prove it to themselves a little bit.

“I guess if that’s what intimidation is — there’s a little doubt in your mind, waiting to see how quick they are and how athletic they are — you do that a little bit going into every game, especially against a No. 1 seed.”

Kansas coach Bill Self passed out respect at his Friday news conference, praising the Rebels as a “very, very tough opponent” capable of an upset.

Self scoffed at a suggestion that his team appears to hold most significant advantages and could win easily.

“I don’t see it on paper the same way you see it,” Self said. “Our guys won’t see it as a mismatch at all.”

The Jayhawks are loaded with five-star recruits and NBA-quality talent, starting with 6-foot-6-inch junior guard Brandon Rush and 6-1 junior guard Mario Chalmers.

The story inside is the same, with 6-9 sophomore forward Darrell Arthur and 6-8 senior forward Darnell Jackson capable of beating opponents into submission.

UNLV’s strength is in its backcourt, where Terry runs the point and Adams defends and scores to lead the team. Adams has averaged 22.3 points over the past four games.

“Curtis and Wink are playing great right now,” Kruger said.

But the Rebels are vulnerable in the middle, where 6-6 Rene Rougeau and 6-7 Joe Darger must bang against bigger players.

Rougeau and Terry are former walk-ons, emphasizing one difference between the two teams.

“I would like to know where they get their walk-ons, personally, because those guys can play anywhere,” Self said. “They are kind of a makeshift team. When you look at it, you say, ‘How do they do this and do that?’

“They’re unique because they’re smaller but they play much bigger, and the positions are interchangeable. They are talented, but the guy on the sideline is a master.”

Kruger’s creativity will be tested, as will his team’s depth. UNLV’s bench is thin, but 6-8 sophomore forward Matt Shaw figures to be a big factor.

“We’ve got to try to be physical and try to be aggressive. We can’t wait and get shoved around everywhere,” Kruger said. “We’ve got to play everyone, and we need help out of everyone.

“If you get fatigued against a team like this, your chances go way down. Foul trouble would really hurt us, and fatigue would really hurt us. Kansas is bigger and more athletic and deeper than most teams in the country.”

It was 20 years ago when Kruger, then the coach at Kansas State, lost to a Danny Manning-led Kansas team in the Elite Eight. The Jayhawks went on to win the national championship.

An upset victory by the Rebels today would help Kruger even the score.

“I was talking to Wink and saying, ‘This is the biggest game in our lives,’ ” Rougeau said. “We’re definitely looking forward to it.”

Forget about fear, Terry said, “This is a great opportunity for us.”

Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or (702) 387-2907.