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LAS VEGAS -- Wins are a rare commodity for the No. 12 BYU men's basketball team (22-2, 7-1 MWC) when it comes to playing UNLV (18-4, 6-2) in Las Vegas.
In fact, Head Coach Dave Rose has never had the opportunity to experience what victory feels like as the head coach of the Cougars against the Rebels on the road. And unfortunately for Rose, what happens in Vegas doesn't stay in Vegas no matter what the ads say. The Cougars have lost six consecutive games on the road against their crimson-clad rivals to the south.
Only one Cougar, senior center Chris Miles, has experienced a road victory against the Rebels. Miles will have the chance to break the UNLV streak as the Cougars head to Las Vegas Saturday. He said the Rebels play a style of defense that makes the game a very tough matchup.
"I think one of the things they've done a good job of is getting us sped up, and they play at a difficult pace to play with," Miles said.
The Rebels especially try to speed up the BYU guards to create turnovers that can lead to transition baskets. Prolific BYU guard Jimmer Fredette, hampered by mononucleosis, struggled in the last meeting with UNLV. This time around, Miles said he expects Fredette to have a much bigger impact.
If the Cougars are going to get their first road win against UNLV after six futile attempts, they will have to do it without backup center, Brandon Davies, who went to the hospital and had his appendix removed Wednesday evening. Davies made a short appearance at the end of practice, drawing a nice applause from his teammates.
The freshman center, who averaged almost 13 minutes per game before playing only three minutes in Tuesday's game against TCU due to abdomen pain, is expected to miss 10 to 14 days, according to Rose. With Davies out, the Cougars will need a big game from Miles, who said he can handle the added pressure.
A key to Miles success should be whether or not he can stay out of foul trouble. Although he had a hard time doing so in years past, the senior is yet to foul out in a game this season, despite garnering his coach's praise for his physical play in the post.
So what has made the difference this year for the big man?
"I think a lot of it is just experience and knowing how to be really physical without getting fouls and make guys a little more uncomfortable on defense without having to be as physical," Miles said.
UNLV has been on a bit of a hot streak, winning their last four games. The Rebels are also shorthanded for Saturday's game, having lost guard Derrick Jasper to a knee injury. Jasper, a transfer from Kentucky, averaged almost seven points per game, but did a little of everything for the Rebels; most notably being able to guard almost every position on the floor.
The Rebels also have probably the best candidate for MWC player of the year not named Jimmer Fredette in Tre'Von Willis. Willis leads his team with 17 points per game, adding four rebounds. Rose said Thursday that he knows the Cougars have their hands full with Willis.
"Tre'Von Willis is as good as there is in the league," Rose said noting that his team will have to play at their best to leave Vegas with a victory. "This is a game where we need to play well for it to be real competitive because this is a good team. They play well at home, so hopefully we get ourselves in a position to make some plays I expect it to be an extremely competitive game.
Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. from Las Vegas. You can listen to the game on KSL Newsradio 102.7FM/1160AM or KSL.com beginning with the pregame show at 1 p.m.
