Bayno: Hit’em with our best shots

Steve Carp

Thursday, Jan. 30, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

It has been so long since UNLV was at home, tonight's game against Colorado State at the Thomas & Mack Center might feel like a road game. After all, the Rebels last played in the Mack 19 days ago.

And with the lengthy gap between home appearances comes the concern the shooting might be a little cold. Given the fact the Rebels didn't exactly scorch the nets during their three-game road trip by hitting only 41 percent from the field, coach Bill Bayno wasn't taking any chances.

When the team practiced Wednesday in the T&M, the emphasis was on shooting. The first 45 minutes of the two-hour workout was devoted to jump shots, layups and 3-pointers.

"I hope we don't struggle," Bayno said of the need to start fast tonight against Stew Morrill's Rams, who bring a three-game win streak into the battle of second-place teams in the WAC's Pacific Division. "It's been awhile since we've been here (in the T&M). I'm not happy about it, but we can't dwell on it."

And for the Rebels to shoot well, two things have to happen. One, they must establish an inside presence against CSU's big front line. That means getting the ball to Tony Lane, Warren Rosegreen and Keon Clark early and often and making sure they finish their shots.

Two, Tyrone Nesby and Sunshine Smith, the team's top scorers, have to make good decisions on when to shoot and get good looks at the basket. Nesby, shooting just 31 percent from the field over his last four games, needs to improve on those numbers. It's no surprise UNLV is 1-3 over that stretch.

"Tyrone knows he needs to keep attacking the basket," Bayno said. "When he goes to the hole, good things happen. Same with Sun. I don't want them to settle for jump shots."

Nesby said he's trying not to think about percentages.

"I can't trip about the numbers," he said. "I've got to get out there and play. There's no way of judging if I'm going to be on or not. But as long as I'm taking good shots, I don't worry about it."

Smith said he needs to take better shots.

"I know I can do better," he said. "I haven't been able to work on my shot the way I was earlier because of my knee. I'm trying to save my knee, so sometimes, the lift isn't there."

Smith has been battling tendinitis all season. But he has played an average of 30 minutes a night, second only to Nesby, who goes 32 minutes a game. Both are hovering at just under 40 percent shooting from the floor and Bayno would like to see them in the mid-40s.

"You can't control every shot," he said. "There are going to be bad decisions. But overall, I'm pleased with where we're shooting the ball. We're always going to look inside first, but we're getting good looks for the most part from the perimeter.

"Sun has been up and down, and that's one of his weaknesses. But Sun's got to let the game come to him. If the shots aren't falling, he's got to pull back."

Hoop du jour

* BUMPS AND BRUISES: As you would expect, the long season catches up with a team and UNLV is no exception. G Mark Dickel is feeling rundown and though the freshman from New Zealand practiced Wednesday and will play tonight, he's less than 100 percent. "It's the first time I've been sick since I got here," he said. Tony Lane's sore knee was doing better and he too, worked out Wednesday, as did Damian Smith, who was nursing a sore back. Backup guard Corky Ausborne also practiced Wednesday despite two sore ankles. Tyrone Nesby said his left ankle is still bothering him and he wasn't feeling great either, but expected to play tonight.

* STREAK ON LINE: Tonight's game marks the ninth meeting between UNLV and Colorado State with the Rebels holding all the aces at 8-0. The two schools last met in 1985 in Fort Collins with the Rebels prevailing, 88-78. ... UNLV is 4-0 in Las Vegas and 4-0 at CSU. ... Rams coach Stew Morrill is 0-1 against UNLV, having lost to the Rebels in the 1991 NCAA Tournament when he was the coach of Montana.