Reggie Smith Update

[VegasWarrior77]

From the front page of the Las Vegas Review-Journal this morning:

http://www.lvrj.com/sports/playing-time-still-elusive-for-rebels-smith-138027703.html

Playing time still elusive for Rebels' Smith
By Matt Youmans
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Posted: Jan. 25, 2012 | 2:02 a.m.

BOISE, Idaho -- When a new kid arrives in school, just fitting in is the first step. Reggie Smith made that type of move more than a month ago, and he's waiting to take the next step.

Smith hitched a ride on a UNLV basketball team that was 11-2 in mid-December. Instead of immediately standing out, the sophomore point guard has spent a lot of time sitting.

"Actually, I didn't know what to expect," he said. "Coming into a team that's rolling, and everything is going well, what can you expect?"

The 12th-ranked Rebels, 18-3 overall and 2-1 in the Mountain West

Conference, still are rolling as they prepare to take on last-place Boise State (10-8, 0-3) at 7 p.m. today at Taco Bell Arena.

But a prediction made by UNLV coach Dave Rice in December, that Smith "can be a game-changing player for us," has yet to come to fruition.

"I still believe that," Rice said. "I have confidence in Reggie and still think he's going to be a big factor for us down the stretch."

Smith, a midyear transfer from Marquette who became eligible at the semester break, believes it, too, even while he's averaging just 4.1 points and 7.4 minutes after eight games.

The Rebels are deep in the backcourt, with senior Oscar Bellfield and junior Anthony Marshall averaging more than 30 minutes per game and junior Justin Hawkins establishing himself as the top reserve.

"It's difficult to get those guys off the floor," Rice said. "It's extremely difficult to step in as a point guard with the experienced guys that he has playing ahead of him."

Smith, who has seen double-digit minutes in two games, is not disappointed. He was not even discouraged after playing four unproductive minutes in a loss at San Diego State on Jan. 14.

Rice feels more comfortable sticking with Bellfield and Marshall running the team in pressure situations, but he communicates with Smith to reassure him that he fits into the plan.

"He thought I was mad," Smith said of a talk with Rice after the San Diego State game. "He talks to me after the games, and he lets me know what's going on, but I'm getting older now, and I know what's going on. I'm just growing up and being mature about the situation.

"We have a deep team. We're not worried about the minutes. We're more concerned about the 'W' and doing whatever it takes to win. A lot of these guys are naturally just so unselfish that they're going to do whatever it takes, even if that means sacrificing their minutes."

Smith is not the only player seeing his time get squeezed while Rice tries to work 10 players into the rotation.

Senior guard Kendall Wallace, still working through issues from right knee surgery, has been used sparingly, and Brice Massamba, Carlos Lopez and Quintrell Thomas are sharing time at the center spot with their minutes fluctuating on a situational basis.

"Those guys have hung in there and had great attitudes, and that's why it has been able to work," Rice said. "The tough thing for the guys who aren't regulars in our rotation is they get different opportunities on different nights, and yet they have responded very well.

"Kendall has been a leader. I know he's frustrated that his knee hasn't responded a little better, but he has been 100 percent a great teammate. We need all those guys."

Smith's most extensive opportunity came in a 124-75 victory over Central Arkansas on Dec. 28, when he made 3 of 5 3-pointers and totaled 13 points and five assists in 11 minutes.

He has not changed games, but Smith said he's learning behind Bellfield and Marshall, fitting in and making bigger plans for the future.

"I'm a lot more consistent with my jump shot," Smith said. "My confidence is so high right now. Whenever I get an open look, I'm going to shoot it. When I'm in, I try to help the team as much as I can.

"As long as we're winning, I'm fine. I'm going to be the point guard next year. I know my time will come, and when it does I'll be ready."

[Tugg Speedman]

In general, how many mid-semester transfers, at any school, make their situation better?  J-May did not and Reggie Smith has not so far.

If you look at every mid-season transfer and just conclude it is a mistake to leave before knowing the situation /details you will be more right than wrong.

Mid-Season transferring is a bad decision ... don't do it!

[GGGG]

Maymon actually may have helped his situation simply by getting away from his dad.  He's starting, playing 26 min, and averaging 11/7.  And he's got another year to go.  But I generally agree that mid-season transfers are generally dumb.

[Canadian Dimes]

Still beleive this situation ultimately favors MU.  Derrick Wilson is a better ball handler and defender and a natural PG.  Hope Smith does well, Mu is better off with DW.

Upgrade

[chapman]

Both Maymon (Pearl) and Smith (Krueger) also transferred into play for a different coach than who they have now.  Both wasted a year of eligibility because of the mid-season transfer.  Maymon could be a sophomore at UT with a ton of career ahead of him (similar to Jamil for us).  Smith will be a junior before he gets a good shot at playing time; if he just took the limited game experience for an entire season and then transferred he could have sat out the full season and started next year as a sophomore with plenty of career ahead.  I don't blame them for transferring, but it seems foolish to abandon your team in the middle of the season, try to earn minutes with a new team (and coach you didn't sign up for) beginning in the middle of the next, and use two years of eligibility on two half seasons of play with two different schools - where is the reward?  I guess the impatience is part of the immaturity.  Full season transfers just have a much better path...most schools that want you can get you a scholarship, the coaching carousel is resolved, you get a redshirt year and don't lose any eligibility, when you do play for the new school you start working your way into the rotation from day one of the season.

[Canadian Dimes]

neither one wasted any eligibility

[GGGG]

neither one wasted any eligibility

Yes they did.  Look at Jamil.  When he is done, he will have played four full basketball seasons because he used his redshirt during his transfer year.

Smith and Maymon will have only played three full seasons (.5 at MU; 2.5 elsewhere).  They weren't able to redshirt during their transfer time because a redshirt has to be used in a complete season.

[StillAWarrior]

neither one wasted any eligibility

I guess one could quibble over whether they "wasted" eligibility (that term implies a value judgment), but mid-year transfers certainly "lose" a year of eligibility.  If you transfer mid-year and play the next year, that uses two years of eligibility.  Using Maymon as an example, his half-season at Marquette (first semester freshman year) cost him one year of eligibility; his half-season at Tennessee (second semester sophomore year) cost him another year or eligibility; his junior year at Tennessee will cost him another year; and his senior year will cost him his fourth year.  In short, he'll only be able to play three full seasons of basketball in four years.  Compare that to Wilson who had to sit out a year, but will be able to play four full seasons of basketball.

I'm not positive, but I think a mid-year transfer could get another half season back if he sat out his entire sophomore year, but I can't imagine anyone wanting to do that.

[Dawson Rental]

In general, how many mid-semester transfers, at any school, make their situation better?  J-May did not and Reggie Smith has not so far.

If you look at every mid-season transfer and just conclude it is a mistake to leave before knowing the situation /details you will be more right than wrong.

Mid-Season transferring is a bad decision ... don't do it!

Weren't you the guy who started a thread speculating about what mid-season transfers MU might get?

[GGGG]

I'm not positive, but I think a mid-year transfer could get another half season back if he sat out his entire sophomore year, but I can't imagine anyone wanting to do that.

You are correct.

[chapman]

You are correct.

A year and a half without playing - ick.  Would also be a foolish decision without some rare circumstances - pass up a "free" half season at the old school, can only choose from schools that have a mid-season scholarship, greater chance of a coaching change after committing.  You'd have to hate the first school and be injured or not be ready to play at the second.

[CTWarrior]

Still beleive this situation ultimately favors MU.  Derrick Wilson is a better ball handler and defender and a natural PG.  Hope Smith does well, Mu is better off with DW.

Upgrade

Am I the only one who is not sold on Derrick Wilson as a great defender just yet?  Guys last night seemed to blow by him easily in his few minutes in the game and it seems he mostly just hand checks and fouls.  I remember Reggie Smith as a really pesky defender in the short time he was here.  Anyway, I want the guys who want to be here, so I'm more than happy with the swap of Wilson for Smith.

[Tugg Speedman]

Weren't you the guy who started a thread speculating about what mid-season transfers MU might get?

Yes,

In that thread I never suggested it was a good thing, I only asked if it would happen.

[MU82]

Irrelevant tidbit time: The guy who wrote that story is a friend of mine.

[bilsu]

Am I the only one who is not sold on Derrick Wilson as a great defender just yet?  Guys last night seemed to blow by him easily in his few minutes in the game and it seems he mostly just hand checks and fouls.  I remember Reggie Smith as a really pesky defender in the short time he was here.  Anyway, I want the guys who want to be here, so I'm more than happy with the swap of Wilson for Smith.

He is a better defender than most of the freshmen Buzz has recruited. Blue and probably Mayo are better, but the rest of them are not.