Offensive valleys bug Bayno

Steve Carp

Tuesday, Dec. 17, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Any coach will tell you that basketball is a game of runs. But when you're the one getting run over and it's of your own doing, there's nothing more frustrating.

While his team is sporting a 4-1 record heading into Wednesday's nationally televised game against 5-4 Syracuse, UNLV coach Bill Bayno is frustrated with his team's inability to maintain any offensive continuity. He's also very concerned.

"I think we're pressing a little," he said Monday as the Rebels left Las Vegas for central New York State. "We've got to relax."

The valleys for the Rebels have been deep. In each game, UNLV has gone through lengthy stretches where it managed only a couple of field goals or worse, none at all. The only reason the Rebels are not 0-5 is because they've been able to clamp down defensively when needed and make their free throws down the stretch.

A look at the first five games reveals some frightening results:

* In the opener against Cal State Northridge, UNLV went nearly six minutes in the first half without a field goal and made just three shots in the final 10 minutes of the half.

* Against Jacksonville, the Rebels managed only two field goals in the final five minutes of regulation and were caught by the Dolphins. UNLV woke up in overtime and won 85-79.

* Miami held the Rebels to no field goals for a 9:16 stretch in the first half.

* UC Irvine kept the Rebels off the scoreboard for five minutes in the first half and held them to just two field goals during a five-plus minute stretch in the second half.

* It finally caught up with the Rebels Saturday as Nevada-Reno caused a 7:20 drought in the first half and limited UNLV to just one field goal in a 5:31 stretch during the second half. The Rebels lost 78-69.

Bayno is well aware of the problems. And he's working to correct them.

"It's a combination of things," he said. "It starts because we're not playing hard on offense and then we're letting the other team dictate what we do.

"We're settling for bad shots. Instead of being patient, working the ball around and getting the best shot we can, we're settling for one or two touches and we're putting it up. We need to reverse the ball, get it inside to the big guys, then kick it back out and get a good, open look."

And once the Rebels get those open looks, it's up to them to make the shots.

"We probably missed seven layups the other night (at Reno)," Bayno said. "We're getting the ball in, but we've got to finish off the play."

While Bayno's frustrated at the team's lack of offensive execution, he's not stressing to the point where he's ready to take drastic measures.

"We've got guys who can make shots," he said. "Tyrone (Nesby), Sun (Sunshine Smith) and Damian (Smith) know they're going to get shots. They just have to make sure they get good ones.

"If they're patient and don't rush things, their shots are going to fall. Even Damian, who I know is pressing, will come out of it.

"I probably made a mistake the other night not playing Damian more. He played nine minutes, all in the first half, and I never brought him back because I stuck with Sun. But I need to play Damian and get him shots. It's the only way he'll break out."

Breaking out against Syracuse's active 2-3 zone won't be easy for Smith or his teammates. The Orangemen use their athleticism to cover the entire court, and with their size and speed, it's tough to get open looks.

"We've got to keep moving the ball and make them chase," Bayno said. "We're going to have to be patient and look inside to Keon (Clark) and Tony (Lane) and make sure they get a lot of touches."