Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Stewart is determined to improve

It has taken virtually the entire season, but Donovan Stewart finally feels like a college basketball player.

The transition from prep star to collegian has been made, even if it came in a strange, roundabout way.

"I feel comfortable with my role now," said the UNLV freshman forward of starting at the small forward spot and handling most of the dirty work, such as rebounding and setting screens. "It took me a while, but now that I'm playing regular minutes, I feel like I've got a rhythm out there and I feel like I'm contributing."

The 6-foot-4 Stewart is coming off his best game of the season, a 15-rebound, six-point effort in the Rebels' 75-66 loss to New Mexico Monday. But he has been through a lot this year after missing most of last year due to major back surgery.

When Keon Clark and Kevin Simmons were suspended for 11 and 14 games respectively, Stewart began the 1997-98 season as the starting small forward. He produced, hitting for double figures in three of UNLV's first five games.

But as the season wore on and players began returning to the fold, coach Bill Bayno changed Stewart's role. He began coming off the bench and seeing little action. A frustrated Stewart couldn't understand why he was being squeezed out.

"It's hard when you're used to playing," he said. "I've always been a starter, so it was really frustrating for me to not be out there."

He tried to seek the answers from his summer league coaches, J.V. Bell and Elvert Perry. They told him he needed to stay positive, keep working and be ready, because you never know when things are going to change.

Stewart said the thought of quitting or transferring never entered his mind during the rough times in January.

"That's not my style," he said. "I'm not going to give up."

Bayno told Stewart the same things Bell and Perry did. As it turned out, the coaches were right. Things weren't working with the team. Tyrone Nesby was struggling, as was Clark. Simmons still was trying to round into form. Changes were necessary.

Bayno decided to go back to the freshman.

"Donovan does all the little things well," Bayno said. "He sets good screens. He's a tenacious rebounder. He understands the game and knows how to run the floor. He has been coached well by J.V. and Elvert and he has been willing to be coached."

Stewart, who is scoring 5.5 points and grabbing 3.1 rebounds per contest, logged 31 minutes against New Mexico.

"That was a breakout game for Donovan," Bayno said. "I think he realizes now he's a big part of this team and will be a big part for the rest of this season and for years to come."

Stewart said that he can sense he's wanted.

"Yeah, I definitely feel like I'm needed," he said. "Especially my rebounding. That's what I'm going to concentrate on because we need to do a good job on the boards.

"I'm still frustrated about my shooting. I feel like I'm shooting horrible. But I'm just starting to get comfortable again and I'm a better shooter than I've showed."

Bayno knows that. But one thing at a time.

"Right now, I want Donovan to focus on his rebounding and his defense," he said. "He's still learning how to play defense at this level, but he has come a long way since the start of the season.

"If he can give us some putbacks and some layups, great. But right now, I need Donovan to hit the boards and play great team defense."

And Stewart's back? He said it's fine.

"No problem," he said. "I took a shot setting a screen the other night, but it held up."

You can say the same about his confidence. It too, took some hard shots earlier this year. But like his back, Stewart's psyche has withstood the pressure.

Hoop du jour

* SURGERY FOR BAYNO: The news from Dr. Gerald Higgins' office Tuesday was not good. UNLV coach Bill Bayno has a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee and will need surgery. Bayno said Wednesday he will wait until after the season to have the work done. The MCL ruptured Monday in the New Mexico game, the result of the constant stress of squatting, which Bayno tends to do during the course of a game. Approximately 80 cc's of fluid was drained from the knee Tuesday, but Bayno was on the floor at the North Gym Wednesday, running practice. But he won't be doing any running himself anytime soon.

* CUTTY RETURNS: Longtime trainer Jerry Koloskie is coming out of retirement, even though it's only for a couple of days. Koloskie, who was promoted to assistant athletic director last summer, will handle the team training chores while regular basketball trainer Dave Tomchek attends a family wedding. "No question, I've missed it," said the man the players and coaches call 'Cutty.' "But I've tried to stay out of Dave's domain. It's just that we have a lot going on this weekend and no one else was free." Koloskie oversees game operations for both basketball and football and also handles travel for the football team while remaining the head of UNLV's sports medicine program.

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