Bayno’s boys to start early

Steve Carp

Thursday, April 17, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

UNLV fans will get a chance to look at Bill Bayno's revamped Rebels sooner than usual.

Because of the team's participation in the 1997 preseason NIT, UNLV's exhibition schedule will kick off Nov. 1 when it hosts USDBL at the Thomas & Mack Center. The second exhibition will be Nov. 8 against Melbourne Magic of Australia.

The 1997-98 season opener tentatively is scheduled for Nov. 15 at the T&M when UNLV plays Loyola Marymount. The Rebels are expected to host at least the first round of the NIT on either Nov. 19 or 20. Possible opponents include Arizona State and Rhode Island.

Associate athletic director Dave Chambers, who works with Bayno and assistant Dave Rice on compiling the annual nonconference schedule, said things are moving along. But with the television networks yet to provide input, things could change.

UNLV has firm home dates with Syracuse on Dec. 20, UC Irvine Dec. 23, UCLA Dec. 27 and Nevada-Reno Dec. 30. The Syracuse and UCLA games will be nationally televised by ESPN and either CBS or ABC, respectively.

The Rebels this week also got a written agreement from Michigan to conclude the home-and-home series which began in Las Vegas in 1995. UNLV tentatively is scheduled to travel to Ann Arbor on Dec. 6. That game could wind up on national TV as well, either on ABC or ESPN.

Depending on what happens at today's WAC meetings, the Rebels could have two more spots to fill on next year's schedule. There is strong talk of dropping the crossover games and going to a 14-game conference slate. UNLV would play a home-and-home against each of its division opponents.

If things stay status quo, UNLV would open conference play Jan. 3 at Hawaii.

There has been talk of UNLV participating in a made-for-TV doubleheader in Providence, R.I. in mid-December that would include Rhode Island, Providence and Fresno State. There also has been discussion of a trip to the Meadowlands in New Jersey that weekend to play Rutgers as part of a doubleheader.

UNLV also has talked to Louisiana State about a game during that time period, as the Rebels have to be on the road with the National Finals Rodeo occupying the Thomas & Mack.

Hoop du jour

* ROHRSSEN ON MOVE?: UNLV administrative assistant Barry Rohrssen recently interviewed with the New Jersey Nets for their assistant coach/scout vacancy, created when Ed Schilling left the team last month to become the head coach at Wright State. Rohrssen, who has been on Bill Bayno's staff from the outset in 1995, met with John Calipari in New Jersey last week and the meeting went well. Rohrssen and Calipari have been friends since the late 1970s when the two worked at the Five Star Basketball Camp. "It's 50-50," Rohrssen said. "John hasn't guaranteed me anything, but it would be a great opportunity if it happens. I'm happy here (at UNLV). But I think anyone would look long and hard at a chance to work and coach in the NBA."

* SUMMERTIME HOOPS: While Keon Clark prepares for the USA Basketball 22-and-under tryouts in Colorado Springs, his teammates also are exploring summer basketball opportunities. Tyrone Nesby is being considered for the NIT All-Star team which will tour Japan in August while Corky Ausborne has been invited to participate in the People To People touring squad which will play in Italy in late August. On the international front, Mark Dickel will be heading back to New Zealand in a few weeks to join his country's national junior team and freshman recruit Kaspars Kambala is headed to Latvia to do likewise for his country's national junior team. Kambala had a big showing in Tuesday's Eddie Jones Southern California All-Star Classic at Long Beach State, scoring 24 points, including the game-winning field goal at the buzzer, and grabbing 12 rebounds to lead his team to a 125-124 victory.