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Opponents running over Rebels
Posted: Friday January 07, 2000 03:53 AM
UNLV used to do this to college basketball pretenders all the time. With big-time athletes, a national reputation and intimidating crowds, the Runnin' Rebels could humiliate their most talented opponents even before the opening tip came down. But the bullies are gone. Now it's the Rebels who get bullied. In a league featuring Utah and seven rebuilding projects, Bill Bayno and UNLV seemed to be edging ahead of their Mountain West brethren, building a 9-3 record heading into conference play. But the Rebels' three shots at nationally ranked opponents -- North Carolina, Oklahoma State and Cincinnati -- have unmasked UNLV as a nowhere-near-ready-for-prime-time phony. The first two losses were bad enough, double-digit routs that were at least competitive for a half. But UNLV opened the new century with a loss to the second-ranked Bearcats that was shocking in its brutality. "We were manhandled," a grim Bayno said afterward, but it was even worse than that. Cincinnati scored the game's first 11 points, blocked 12 shots, forced 24 turnovers, ran amok in the pivot, fired uncontested shots from outside, and handed the Rebels an embarassing 40-point loss, 106-66. It was the second-worst loss in UNLV history, outdone only by a 130-73 clobbering by Houston in 1971. The Bearcats are aiming at a national title, so UNLV knew that winning the game would be a longshot, especially in Cincinnati. Still, the Rebels believed they had plenty of weapons to pester the 13-1 Bearcats. Not even close. Guard Trevor Diggs did manage 18 points, but only four after halftime. Point guard Mark Dickel was terribly flustered by Cincinnati's relentless zone press, so just getting the ball to midcourt was an obstacle course. And center Kaspars Kambala, who was averaging 20.6 points and 9.4 rebounds coming in, looked like he was asking for Bearcat autographs much of the afternoon. The Rebels' most physical player shied away from contact, took only nine shots, scored 10 points and collected only three rebounds. He'll see Cincinnati's all-world pivotman Kenyon Martin in his nightmares for weeks. "He was intimidated. If he says it was anything else, it's a cop-out," said Bayno. The signs were all there five days earlier, when UNLV blew a 22-point second-half lead and probably deserved to lose to Eastern Kentucky, hanging on instead for an 87-80 win. "We've taken a couple of steps backward. This team worries me," Bayno admitted then. He has even more reason to worry now.
A long drought endingIt's not a recipe that many coaches would recommend, but benching a star player helped New Mexico bust out of its on-again, off-again slump. Senior guard Lamont Long, suffering from a strained pectoral muscle, sat out the start of the Lobos' first 2000 game, a 78-52 thrashing of Washington, the first time he has missed a tipoff in 84 games. He felt well enough to play 21 minutes, however, and contribute 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting. That was a big improvement for Long, who had hit only 32 of his previous 99 shots. And the victory, a run-and-gun rout of the Huskies on 55-percent shooting, was a big improvement for the Lobos, who have been wildly inconsistent all year. New Mexico is only 8-7, despite upsetting Arizona on the Wildcats' home court. "This is a new year and a new beginning," said forward Wayland White, who collected 14 points and seven rebounds. Freshman Marlon Parmer started in Long's place, and the point guard's ballhandling skill is earning the admiration of Coach Fran Fraschilla. "Marlon gives us energy," the coach said of Parmer, who had seven assists and six rebounds. "Guys are beginning to realize if they run the floor, Marlon will get them the ball."
Whiting Christmas at BYUTrent Whiting was expected to replace Andre Miller as Utah's point guard this season. Instead, the 6-foot-1 guard will walk on at Utah's archrival, Brigham Young. Whiting, a junior-college all-American at Snow College, arrived at Utah this fall ready to take over the offense of a nationally ranked team. But a congenital condition in his femurs soon made it difficult for Whiting to walk, much less play basketball, and he was forced to take a medical redshirt. The Utes have hardly missed him with sophomore Gary Colbert blossoming in Whiting's place, and Tony Harvey acting as a capable backup off the bench. Whiting, meanwhile, realized his condition would likely prevent him from practicing every day next season, a prospect he feared would lead to conflicts with Coach Rick Majerus. "You're not going to find anyone west of the Rocky Mountains who practices as hard as Coach Majerus. ... For my condition, I thought it would be in my best interest if I went to another school and played for another coach," Whiting said. "It is hard for [Majerus] to deal with injuries." Whiting asked for, and received, a release from his Utah scholarship. Instead of transferring out of the Mountain West and playing two seasons, however, Whiting decided to head for BYU, despite conference rules that will strip him of one year of eligibility. He will walk on to the Cougar squad, at least until spring semester 2001, and be eligible for 21 BYU games next year. The 23-year-old Whiting, a Mormon who has served a church mission, decided one year at BYU will be enough college basketball for him. Church, family and educational considerations were more important, he said.
Bombs awayThe Mountain West is becoming the nation's top 3-point shooting conference. But sometimes 3-pointers aren't enough, Colorado State discovered last week. The Rams hit nine of 16 3-pointers against Washington State, and the sharpshooting helped Colorado State pull away for a 74-61 homecourt victory. But three days later, even a school-record 17 3-pointers weren't enough to beat Michigan. The Rams hit 17-of-27 shots from long range, an amazing 63 percent, but fell to the Wolverines, 87-80. The loss broke the 9-4 Rams' eight-game winning streak. Colorado State is hardly the only Mountain West team excelling from behind the 3-point line; three Mountain West teams rank in the top 10 nationally. Utah's 44.8 shooting percentage is best in the nation, followed by Colorado State (44.6 percent) in second. BYU is tied for seventh at 41.1 percent.
Worth notingScoff if you will, but San Diego State was ecstatic over its 74-63 win over High Point (N.C.) College last week, because, following a win over Loyola Marymount three days earlier, it marked the first time in two seasons that the Aztecs had won two straight games. ... Following a confidence-building preseason against teams like South Carolina State, Regis College and Central Connecticut, the Air Force Falcons will be the last team to open Mountain West play. The Falcons' MWC opener is Jan. 15 against UNLV. ... Rebels coach Bill Bayno is identified as "John Bayno" in an ad for his radio show in the UNLV game program. ... Forward LeDarion Jones has stepped forward as Wyoming's top inside scoring threat in the absence of star center Ugo Udezue. Jones scored 63 points in three games leading up to the new year, helping the Cowboys improve to 8-4, and 4-2 since Udezue had season-ending knee surgery. "I can't say enough about the way L.D. is playing," said coach Steve McClain. "It's fun to see a senior say 'I'm going to step up and lead this team.'" Phil Miller covers the Mountain West for the Salt Lake City Tribune. Check back every Wednesday for his latest CNNSI.com Insider.
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