Chastened UNLV squad searching for remedies

Steve Addy

Monday, Dec. 11, 2000 | 10:46 a.m.

Who: UNLV vs. Cincinnati

When: 9 p.m., Saturday

Where: Thomas & Mack Center

TV: ESPN (19)

Radio: KBAD, 920 AM

On the Rebels' flight from Reno on Sunday, coach Bill Bayno didn't bother to read the Tom Clancy paperback he carried aboard. It rested on his lap, unopened.

Then again, maybe Bayno had no time for make-believe intrigue, because his team has thrust itself into a real-life thriller, and the next plot twist promises to be crucial.

After an 80-71 loss to Nevada-Reno on Saturday night, the Rebels are in disarray. They are 3-4, reeking with embarrassment over the rivalry defeat, and searching for ways to correct their myriad shortcomings before the season grows old.

Among the problems: turnovers, defense, rebounding, halfcourt offense, fouls, leadership and intensity. Yessir, that about covers it.

Despite a full week to prepare for both games, the Rebels have suffered alarming losses on successive Saturdays. Last week against Oklahoma State, they spent most of the game coming back from a 15-turnover first half and were finally beaten in overtime 77-69.

Saturday at Reno, UNLV turned it over 13 times in the first half, but managed to take a six-point lead to the locker room. Then the Rebels' defense went to pieces in the second half, allowing 52 points and letting the Wolf Pack gradually pull away at a raucous Lawlor Events Center.

Again this week, the Rebels will have all week to prepare for Cincinnati's visit Saturday night in the Las Vegas Showdown. But if they continue to display an all-around lack of cohesion, their season could be trashed three weeks before their Mountain West schedule begins.

Of course, the Rebels will have their usual safety valve with the MWC tournament on their own court in March, so an NCAA Tournament berth isn't wholly unrealistic. But that is three months away.

Given their current state, the Rebels would do well just to get to .500 heading into 2001.

Freshly embattled, but seemingly undeterred, Bayno wasted no time sounding the warning bell. In the hotel after Saturday's loss, he gathered his coaches and players to hash things out, with senior leadership and team harmony among the prominent topics.

Though few concepts in sports are as overworked as the "team meeting," Bayno felt it was necessary to quickly get to the heart of the matter, especially the leadership issues. After seven games, Mark Dickel's vacated role is still there for the taking.

"We're struggling for leadership," Bayno said. "We've got a freshman point guard. We're trying to get our seniors to lead, but it's new to them and they're struggling. That's the reality of it."

One of those seniors, Danny Brotherson, said, "We (seniors) need to tell guys what to do and when to do it, whether guys like it or not. That is where I come into play. It's where Kas (Kambala) comes in, and Trevor (Diggs)."

However, it's difficult for them to be credible leaders if they're not playing well. For instance, Brotherson committed six turnovers Saturday, Kambala five and Diggs four -- many of them unforced.

In the last two games, the early turnovers and lack of emotion snowballed. Because the Rebels aren't rebounding well, and committing miscues when they do get the ball, their margin for error on offense has grown especially slim.

Also, because point guard Lafonte Johnson is struggling, the running game has stalled. The Rebels are settling for halfcourt possessions, which normally isn't a bad thing with Kambala in the middle, but he has endured two straight off-games and been in constant foul trouble.

When Kambala is slow starting, it seems to affect the Rebels' collective body language.

"When he's turning it over and missing some layups, there's no question that we lose some energy," Bayno conceded.

Bayno said he will ponder lineup changes this week, and he will have greater flexibility because forward Chris Richardson is returning from his NCAA suspension. Also, backup point guard Jevon Banks might return from an ankle sprain, which could renew the running game.

"I've got to figure it out," Bayno said. "It's my job to figure it out."