Columnist Dean Juipe: Fans excited by UNLV’s newcomers

Dean Juipe

Tuesday, Nov. 16, 1999 | 10:36 a.m.

Dean Juipe's column appears Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. His boxing notebook appears Thursday. Reach him at juipe@vegas.com or 259-4084.

Avid as many college basketball fans are to learn the identities of their team's new, incoming players, most take a wait-and-see approach toward the chosen few. Until the spectators can match faces with names (and reputations), the players tend to blur and their abilities and potentials lack definition.

Two exhibition games into the season, UNLV's fans have not only come to learn who's who, they're ecstatic over a group of newcomers that has already proven to be impressive.

On display Monday night at the Thomas & Mack Center, the Rebels -- including seven players new to the squad -- not only caught the fans' attention but captivated them with a surprisingly sharp performance in a 104-87 victory over the traveling California West All-Stars.

The purpose of exhibitions is to work out the kinks and stimulate an interest in the team, and UNLV has achieved just that as it looks to be ready for its season opener Friday.

If anything, it's possible the local populace has been undersold on the strengths of the incoming seven, which will become eight in mid-December when another stellar recruit and perhaps the most talented player of the bunch, swingman Lou Kelly, becomes eligible.

Longtime fans of the team will recognize this wave of fresh talent as well above ordinary. Granted, it's early, but it appears as if these guys will live up to or exceed most everyone's expectations.

Not that this is completely surprising, as one national publication ranked UNLV's recruiting class the second best in the nation this year. Yet a general consensus was less favorable and many so-called experts put the UNLV newcomers only in the top 15 as a unit.

"I think we're somewhere in the middle of that," head coach Bill Bayno said of the difference of opinion. "If we had Kelly right away, maybe we'd be No. 2. But I do feel we've brought in the most talented group since I've been here, and they're players who like to run and get out on transition."

Competing against a respectable semi-pro team in the final dress rehearsal for the regular season, the Rebels were efficient and exciting. The All-Stars may have been weary from six difficult games in seven nights and their roster may have been depleted from when they set out Nov. 1 on a 14-game trip, yet they were handling supposedly better teams than UNLV before they reached Las Vegas.

And it was the Rebels' most recent arrivals who led the team to a virtual wire-to-wire victory that had everyone in the house doing an occasional double take. It's as if they took turns attracting attention, with Danny Brotherson spearheading a first-half surge with his workhorse mentality, Dalron Johnson showing off his fantastic athleticism, Trevor Diggs demonstrating a nice mid-range jumper, and Sylvester Dotson jamming the middle and challenging everything that came his way. Add in Kenny Dye, Chris Popoola and Vince Booker and UNLV looks to have improved over last season and more than compensated for the loss of NBA lottery draft pick Shawn Marion.

Factor in obvious improvements from returning big men Kaspars Kambala and Issiah Epps -- both of whom seemed more assertive -- and the Rebels are positioned for what might be a terrific season.

As first impressions go, they've made a good one.