Rebels see room to improve

In his role as a film critic, UNLV coach Lon Kruger had plenty to say Wednesday when he met with his basketball team.

Kruger pointed out what went wrong in the Rebels’ 74-56 exhibition win over Division II Washburn on Tuesday. He called his team’s play "sloppy" and turned the game tape into a positive teaching tool.

"I thought the experience was terrific for us because we’ve got on tape areas where we need to improve in, and the players clearly understand it," Kruger said. "That is a much better frame of reference from a learning perspective than a 30-point blowout win where possessions aren’t significant. I don’t think we could ask for more from an exhibition game."

Senior guard Wink Adams scored 27 points but suffered a bruised right calf with about five minutes remaining. He rested for most of Wednesday’s practice at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Adams said he will be ready when UNLV opens the regular season Saturday against San Diego.

"After the game when I sat down, that’s when the pain started coming, and it swelled up overnight," Adams said. "Even if it’s not back to 100 percent, I’m definitely playing."

The Rebels, who led Washburn by two points with six minutes to go, committed 22 turnovers.

"We were sloppy with our ball handling and sloppy with our assignments defensively. It’s not unusual from any other first-time effort in other years," Kruger said. "I think because expectations are a lot higher, then all of a sudden you’re judged a little bit more critically. But we can’t worry about that. We have to worry about getting better, and I thought we learned a lot."

• NOTES — Kruger said freshman Oscar Bellfield is the probable starter at point guard Saturday. … UNLV expects to receive letters of intent from three recruits — Anthony Marshall from Mojave High School, Carlos Lopez of Findlay College Prep and Justin Hawkins from Woodland Hills (Calif.) Taft High. The early signing period opened Wednesday.