Columnist Dean Juipe: UNLV’s lousy game comes at a bad time

Dean Juipe

Thursday, March 12, 1998 | 11:30 a.m.

THE GAME wasn't even over and the apologists were already stepping forward on UNLV's behalf.

"Oh, they did so well just to get this far," became a familiar refrain.

"They played hard and have nothing to be ashamed of," was another.

"They did the best they could," echoed others with a little too much Rebel-red blood.

But that was all nonsense, malarkey.

In truth, the Rebels lost their first-round NCAA Tournament game to Princeton Thursday night in Hartford because they didn't play well. They didn't play well at all.

That was not the best they could do and anyone trying to sell a more homogenized view is simply making excuses for a UNLV team that had the talent and ability to win despite finishing on the short end of a 69-57 score.

Be satisfied with the Rebels' season and their 20-13 record if you like, but they came up short in the end because they reverted to the slumping, no-game-plan club that dragged through the middle portion of the schedule.

Princeton really isn't that impressive. Sure, the Tigers run a nice, structured offense and they have some skill around the perimeter. But they're not going to the Final Four even if they're currently 27-1 with a 20-game winning streak and a drooling media in tow.

Fact is, it could be argued the Tigers advanced to Saturday's second round simply because the Rebels played shorthanded. It seemed that way at least, as only Tyrone Nesby, Brian Keefe and Kevin Simmons had a positive impact.

Hats off to Nesby in particular for not only his solid play in this one but his stellar game-to-game showings the past few weeks. He leaves the program on a high note and with the fans' best wishes.

Unfortunately he wasn't getting much help in Hartford, as starters Mark Dickel and Kaspars Kambala had awful games and Issiah Epps off the bench managed to foul out without scoring a point or getting a rebound. Kambala needs some serious off-season work in just handling the ball, while Dickel can only hope people forget everything about his season except his fine play last weekend, when the Rebels won four times to storm into the tournament as the WAC champions.

That championship run seemed long ago and far away when the Rebels were in the midst of surrendering 20 consecutive points to Princeton late in the first half. That was the game right there, and as anyone who has ever played a lick of basketball can tell you, no team -- regardless how extreme the mismatch -- should ever be outscored 20-0.

It can only happen if you're timid and you panic and you don't take care of the ball. The Rebels had nine turnovers during that stretch and the Tigers compounded UNLV's miseries by hitting six straight treys.

OK, Princeton's a good-shooting team that maximizes its abilities. With their befuddling, textbook approach the Tigers are curious to watch and easy to enjoy.

Too bad the Rebels didn't play up to their own potential and give the Ivy Leaguers a game. Thud -- the season comes to an end on a sour note and only those wearing blinders will see it otherwise.