Rebels travel to Nevada-Reno for annual Silver State battle

Steve Carp

Tuesday, Dec. 1, 1998 | 10:25 a.m.

It's too early for Pat Foster to tell how good his Nevada-Reno basketball team is or isn't. From his point of view, two games doesn't constitute a litmus test on the hardwood.

He might get a better handle on things come Wednesday when shooting-challenged UNLV visits the Lawlor Events Center in the annual battle of Silver State schools.

"We're a new team trying to get it together," Foster said of the 1-1 Wolf Pack, which beat San Diego State but lost to Wyoming. "It's going to take some time.

"But I like this group of guys. They're fairly athletic and they're working hard and they seem to have a good approach to the game."

As usual, Foster has taken the junior college route with four newcomers to build his roster. And, as usual, he's got a few guys who can make an immediate impact while a couple of others still are searching for the key to success at the Division I level.

Dimitrios Marmarinos, a 6-foot-9 center from Athens, Greece, is averaging 14.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and is shooting 72 percent from the floor. His matchup with UNLV's Kaspars Kambala and Ike Epps should hold the interest of the fans at Lawlor.

Junior guard John Burrell from Antelope Valley (Calif.) College is averaging 20 points. And junior swingman Derrick Anderson is averaging 12 points off the bench.

Foster, in his sixth season at UNR, has done a good job against his school's in-state rival. The Wolf Pack is 5-4 against UNLV during Foster's tenure. But he's got plenty to be concerned about heading into Wednesday.

UNR catches UNLV off a humiliating 28-point loss to Kansas in the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic. And there will be plenty of incentive for Bill Bayno's team to make amends.

In addition, the Wolf Pack will have to deal with Shawn Marion and Kevin Simmons, both of whom did not play last year when the Rebels won 62-50 at the Thomas & Mack Center.

"There's a lot of talent," Foster said of the 3-2 Rebels. "They have a good player at every position."

Bill Bayno's club appears to be putting the Kansas debacle behind it. Sunday's practice was one of the best in Bayno's four years at UNLV and that's an encouraging sign, given last Friday's woeful second-half showing against the No. 7 Jayhawks.

"I expect them to try and zone us and press us," Bayno said. "But we'll be ready. I just want our guys to understand that they can't rush their shots or get impatient."

Foster said playing UNLV this early in the season will give him a better feel for his team.

"Obviously, we need more games," he said. "We're not ready for this. One more game would've helped."

Starters hurting

UNLV didn't escape its trip back East without a couple of mishaps. Kambala did not practice Monday because of a migraine headache and Simmons twisted his ankle during Sunday's practice.

However, both are expected to play Wednesday.

Bayno said former Galena High star Matt Siebrandt will make the trip to his hometown. However, no decision has been made as to whether or not to redshirt the 6-7 freshman forward.

Hoop du jour

UNR is playing a nonconference schedule that looks similar to what UNLV's league slate will look like a year from now. The Wolf Pack has four Mountain West foes on its docket. It already has played San Diego State and Wyoming, will play UNLV Wednesday and will face Colorado State Jan. 2. UNR will meet San Diego State again Dec. 9. Foster said he was having difficulty scheduling teams to come to Reno, so he and SDSU's Fred Trenkle opted for a home-and-home. UNR beat the Aztecs in overtime, 76-71, at Cox Arena Nov. 14. ... Former Rebel great Ricky Sobers makes his broadcast debut Wednesday as the color analyst on KXNT 840-AM. Sobers will fill Glen Gondrezick's spot on the radio as Gondo will work this season's first televised game on KFBT Ch. 33 (Cox Cable 6).