Chemistry problems apparent for UNLV

Steve Carp

Monday, Dec. 7, 1998 | 2:12 a.m.

PHOENIX -- Bill Bayno has a sports psychologist at his disposal. Perhaps it's time to call him in and see if he can figure out the schizophrenic nature of this UNLV basketball team.

Or perhaps Bayno should seek out a chemistry professor to see where the imbalance lies with his 4-3 club. Because the Rebels, indeed, have a chemistry problem in the wake of their disappointing 79-70 loss to Eddie House, Arizona State's one-man gang.

Whether it's players not accepting roles, players feuding with coaches or players feuding with players, something's amiss with the Rebels. But no one is willing to pinpoint exactly what.

When you watch UNLV, you can see this is a team not enjoying a smooth ride. This is a car with pings in its engine.

"There no question, I think we do have chemistry problems," Bayno said. "They understand what I want. They just have to do it."

A season-high 22 turnovers, 10 by sophomore Greedy Daniels, set the Rebels up for failure. Despite a career-high 39 points by ASU's Eddie House, UNLV still could have won Saturday at America West Arena, had the miscues not short-circuited any chance at sustaining an offensive run.

ASU got 31 points off those 22 turnovers.

"It just baffles me," Bayno said of the turnovers. "Maybe it was because we're not used to playing this early. I don't know."

The players were searching for answers as well. And they'll need to find some soon. UCLA is next on the docket Saturday, followed by Cincinnati and Oklahoma State. All three are ranked in the top-25.

"We just have to learn to play together," senior guard Brian Keefe said. "But tough teams will make it tough to play with each other."

Junior Shawn Marion, who saw a career-high 20-point effort along with 12 rebounds go for naught, said, "It's something we're just going to have to work out. You have to take it as another learning experience."

Marion was being diplomatic. He was filling his role as UNLV's go-to guy Saturday with 12 points in the first 10:15 when the Rebels, for some unknown reason, stopped going to him.

He would try and re-assert himself in the second half, but it was too late. House was killing UNLV and there was no way Marion could match him.

It had to be frustrating for the 6-7 junior from Vincennes (Ind.) University. Virtually everything he has gotten so far this season has been of his own doing, by getting offensive rebounds and putbacks or scoring in transition. Rarely has UNLV run a play down low for Marion in its halfcourt offense in the first seven games.

Marion, the team's top scorer and rebounder, has not complained, neither publicly nor privately. He said his concentration is on being a team player. But he did point one thing out -- and not necessarily for his own edification -- when he said, "Whoever's hot, give the ball to him."

Bayno agreed.

"We have to figure out who has the hot hand and get him the ball," he said.

When the Rebels are patient, when they share the ball, when they get good looks at the basket, they are controlling games, or at least staying in them. But the continuity is being destroyed by mistakes, which leads to impatience and ultimately, missed shots and offensive cold snaps.

Each half finished with a lid on the basket. Keefe's 3-pointer with 1:08 to play in the first half was UNLV's lone field goal over the final eight minutes. The last five minutes of the contest produced a layup from Donovan Stewart and a 3-pointer by Daniels.

While Bayno is miffed with the turnovers and the damage they cause, he also backed Daniels, who was coming off a career-high effort against Nevada-Reno only to play one of poorest games in his two years as a Rebel against Arizona State.

"We need him out there for his defense," Bayno said of the 6-foot sophomore from New Orleans. "He played hard.

"The key was the turnovers. The emphasis on carrying the ball ... we have five or six calls. Are we the only ones carrying the ball?"