Larry Nance Jr. and Leonard Washington aren't fooled.
The two Wyoming men's basketball forwards know there is a new player at their position who is the talk of the Mountain West. And they know UNLV freshman Anthony Bennett has struggled the last two games.
But they know those less-than-stellar games don't change the task they face Thursday: Trying to sop the conference's preseason freshman of the year and likely high NBA draft lottery pick this summer.
"I've heard a lot about him," Washington said this week.
"He's going to play in the NBA, whether he wants to go early or whenever," Nance Jr. added.
Bennett (6-foot-8, 240 pounds) leads the Rebels in points (18.5) and rebounds (8.7) this season. The likelihood that Wyoming gets a win in Las Vegas on Thursday depends largely on how well the Cowboys' stifling defense clamps down on one of the nation's best college basketball newcomers.
It can be done. Bennett hasn't filled the box score quite as easily since the start of Mountain West play.
The big man scored 12 points and had six rebounds in his team's loss to New Mexico on Jan. 9. He went off in an overtime win against Air Force on Jan. 12, scoring 22 points and grabbing 16 rebounds. Then UNLV went on the road for a tough two-game trip, and Bennett's big numbers stayed home.
He scored nine points and had two rebounds in the Rebels' win at San Diego State on Jan. 16. In a loss to Colorado State on Saturday, he scored nine again, along with six rebounds.
For any other freshman, these would be solid numbers. With Bennett, there is reason to expect more.
In four non-conference games against respectable teams (Oregon, Iowa State, California and North Carolina), he averaged 21 points and a hair less than 11 rebounds.
So what gives?
UNLV coach Dave Rice said on the Mountain West conference call Monday that conference teams have been hitting his young star with tougher, more physical defense. That was especially the case against Colorado State, who handed the Rebels their second conference loss.
"We tried to deny him the ball and take his shots away," Colorado State coach Larry Eustachy said Monday.
Then the rival coach gave Wyoming a warning.
"I don't think, as a team, they [the Rebels] were quite right," he said. "I think Wyoming is going to get a real fresh UNLV team, along with Bennett. That's going to be hard to handle, for anybody. Particularly at their place."
The Rebel's two-game road trip is over. After playing three games in a week, they will have had four days off before their home game against the Pokes.
Eustachy hinted that Bennett might play better than he has lately.
Washington, along with Nance, say they are ready for the challenge.
"I'm pretty sure we will have a great game plan," Washington said. "Not only for him, but for UNLV. We're not just aiming at one guy. We are aiming to beat UNLV."
The two Wyoming men's basketball forwards know there is a new player at their position who is the talk of the Mountain West. And they know UNLV freshman Anthony Bennett has struggled the last two games.
But they know those less-than-stellar games don't change the task they face Thursday: Trying to sop the conference's preseason freshman of the year and likely high NBA draft lottery pick this summer.
"I've heard a lot about him," Washington said this week.
"He's going to play in the NBA, whether he wants to go early or whenever," Nance Jr. added.
Bennett (6-foot-8, 240 pounds) leads the Rebels in points (18.5) and rebounds (8.7) this season. The likelihood that Wyoming gets a win in Las Vegas on Thursday depends largely on how well the Cowboys' stifling defense clamps down on one of the nation's best college basketball newcomers.
It can be done. Bennett hasn't filled the box score quite as easily since the start of Mountain West play.
The big man scored 12 points and had six rebounds in his team's loss to New Mexico on Jan. 9. He went off in an overtime win against Air Force on Jan. 12, scoring 22 points and grabbing 16 rebounds. Then UNLV went on the road for a tough two-game trip, and Bennett's big numbers stayed home.
He scored nine points and had two rebounds in the Rebels' win at San Diego State on Jan. 16. In a loss to Colorado State on Saturday, he scored nine again, along with six rebounds.
For any other freshman, these would be solid numbers. With Bennett, there is reason to expect more.
In four non-conference games against respectable teams (Oregon, Iowa State, California and North Carolina), he averaged 21 points and a hair less than 11 rebounds.
So what gives?
UNLV coach Dave Rice said on the Mountain West conference call Monday that conference teams have been hitting his young star with tougher, more physical defense. That was especially the case against Colorado State, who handed the Rebels their second conference loss.
"We tried to deny him the ball and take his shots away," Colorado State coach Larry Eustachy said Monday.
Then the rival coach gave Wyoming a warning.
"I don't think, as a team, they [the Rebels] were quite right," he said. "I think Wyoming is going to get a real fresh UNLV team, along with Bennett. That's going to be hard to handle, for anybody. Particularly at their place."
The Rebel's two-game road trip is over. After playing three games in a week, they will have had four days off before their home game against the Pokes.
Eustachy hinted that Bennett might play better than he has lately.
Washington, along with Nance, say they are ready for the challenge.
"I'm pretty sure we will have a great game plan," Washington said. "Not only for him, but for UNLV. We're not just aiming at one guy. We are aiming to beat UNLV."
