Mike Moser has Rebels running again

Eric Prisbell, USA TODAY Sports | USATODAY

LAS VEGAS — UNLV has a number of potential NBA players on its roster now that it has re-established itself among the nation's elite programs.

But coach Dave Rice says no player epitomizes what he wants the program to be about more than redshirt junior forward Mike Moser, who is poised to contend for All-America honors after beginning his college career at UCLA.

He was an honorable mention Associated Press All-American last season.

"In terms of energy and effort, having fun playing the game and running up and down the floor, he became the face of our program last year and helped put us on the map," Rice says.

Joining forces with touted freshman Anthony Bennett and Pittsburgh transfer Khem Birch, Moser is energizing Las Vegas with a fast-paced brand of basketball.

USA TODAY Sports' Eric Prisbell recently caught up with Moser.

My take on heralded recruit Anthony Bennett

Talented. He is just so talented. He is probably one of the most talented kids for his size (6-8). Soft hands, and shooting the three (so well). He can run and has athleticism like that. He is a tough guy to guard for anybody, especially in our conference.

On the "Jaws" music Rice has brought back before tip-off

Actually, that goes all the way back to Tark (former UNLV coach Jerry Tarkanian). Always got to remember who started the whole thing. It definitely was Tarkanian. Man, that gets us so pumped up. For sure. Especially when Tark is there, and they put the big spotlight on him. The crowd goes crazy. Man, he is still a celebrity out here.

What Khem Birch will mean to the team when he becomes eligible in December

He is going to be so good. Defensively, he blocks everything and rebounds everything. He moves so well. To be 6-9 and have so many different post moves, he really is going to help us out so much. He can run well. It will be the final piece to the puzzle. If not the best, then we will have one of the best frontcourts. We are so versatile that it will be tough to defend.

My favorite place to play in the Mountain West

Nowhere better than here. On the road, I would have to say Air Force or Boise State. No, I would have to say Air Force. It's just the feel, different. It's not the big stadium. There's really nobody there. There is something I like about that. You don't get that everywhere.

On the rivalry with the other elite Mountain West team, San Diego State

There definitely is a rivalry. But if not between UNLV and San Diego State, there is definitely one between players on UNLV and players on San Diego State. We all know each other and came up on the same coast together. We played against each other. We have long histories together. They are going to be very good. It's an underrated league, always, and we like it like that.

How I am better this season

Naturally just experience helps a lot. Going through last year, I learned how trying the season is. It's definitely going to be beneficial for me this year. I definitely became a better ballhandler and a lot better shooter, which is a big thing I worked on from the summer until now. Playing more on the wing this year, I am getting a lot better at it. I've been working with Coach Stacey (Augmon) on a lot of fundamentals.

Five up five down

1. You don't personally remember the Final Four years here at UNLV. Do you know much about the past?

Just from hearing it from other people. I was born when they won the championship (1990). Born in Dallas and moved to Portland (Ore.). When you get here, and you are on the team, it's a must. You have to know about all that. Someone is going to stop you on the street because they are from Vegas and have been here 20 years. They will tell you all about it. They still remember these guys so well. They are still celebrities out there.

2. How have the coaches embraced the past?

Once Coach (Dave) Rice and Stacey (Augmon) got the job, the tradition came back even more than when Lon Kruger was here. Even the way we play compared to the 1990 team, it is just so similar. We put in a lot of stuff they did, like the amoeba defense. We just started to put that in. That was big for them. We run all we can. It's all about moving the ball. We were second in assists last year. It's things like this that the tradition is built from.

3. Have you interacted with former coach Jerry Tarkanian much the last few years? He really loves this team.

I know Tark a little bit. I talked to Tark more my first year. He was just telling me, "Go be you." I always get the Stacey Augmon comparisons. He just said to shoot, rebound and play as hard as you can.

4. How much do coaches like Rice and Augmon talk about the glory days here when they played?

They try not to talk about it. Coach Rice especially tries not to talk about it so much because he wants us to make our own tradition rather than just go after theirs. It's so big out here. They don't even really have to talk about it. Everybody else will. This town is still so infatuated with that team. It is almost hard to break out from that shadow. Until we win a championship, they will be.

5. What's the potential of the UNLV team this season?

I feel we can be the No. 1 team in the country, to be honest. On our best day, when we are defending, pushing the ball, forcing teams into things they don't want to do, I feel we can get there. We are not there yet. We're trying to get better. We are far from it right now.