Good ponders changes after loss to Cincinnati

Steve Addy

Monday, Dec. 18, 2000 | 10:06 a.m.

If the Rebels don't make some fast, measurable strides under new coach Max Good, something will have to give.

And it might be the table in the Thomas & Mack press room.

After the Rebels' 90-72 loss to No. 17 Cincinnati in Good's first game as head coach Saturday, he didn't massage egos or use UNLV's tumultuous week as an excuse. He rapped his players' toughness and signaled that major rotation changes might be made.

Jermaine Lewis, Chris Richardson and Vince Booker might be ticketed for more playing time, perhaps even jumping into the starting lineup.

Even if Good doesn't change his starting five when the Rebels host Alaska-Anchorage tonight, he made it clear that no one is guaranteed a certain number of minutes. Even center Kaspars Kambala will be benched if he's not playing well, as he discovered against Cincinnati.

In fact, there wasn't much that Good liked about Saturday's game, UNLV's first since the NCAA handed down four years probation and coach Bill Bayno was fired last Tuesday.

Afterward, Good was seething over his team's failure to respond after the Bearcats rallied from UNLV's early 11-point lead. Once Cincinnati went ahead midway through the first half, it was obvious the Rebels had already run out of steam.

In his five-minute press conference, Good held a scoresheet with his left hand and punched it with his right, and pounded the press table several times. A few minutes later, it sounded like the coaches' locker room absorbed some of his anger.

Though Good is known for his intensity, the outburst was somewhat alarming, if only because Bayno's postgame demeanor was usually laconic in victory or defeat. But there's a new sheriff in town, and he's plenty ticked off.

"We've got some guys who better step up and start showing some intestinal fortitude," Good said after his first game as a Division I head coach since 1989.

"I will go as deep (on the bench) as I have to. I can go over to the dorm and get 12 guys who can come out and lose by 20. (Cincinnati) isn't that much better than we are. They are just a heck of a lot tougher. You win with toughness."

Good agreed that the Rebels let down after charging ahead 12-1 in the first four minutes, but said, "That's typical of teams that don't know how to win. I knew Cincinnati would dig in -- they're foxhole guys."

Good was particularly upset about Cincinnati's 13 offensive rebounds compared to UNLV's 24 defensive rebounds. In the second half, the Bearcats boarded a missed free throw by Immanuel McElroy, quickly resulting in a 3-pointer by Field Williams and a 14-point lead.

"They rebound a free throw and end up hitting a 3 -- the basketball gods punish people who commit such heinous crimes," Good said, biting off each word. "That's inexcusable. The next time that happens, we're (practicing) at 4 a.m. You can come check the North Gym and see us there at 4 a.m. -- or they can quit."

Good made no allowance for the emotional week his players had been through, losing their head coach and being banned from postseason play this season, barring a successful appeal.

"Only losing teams have excuses," he said. "I've been coaching for 32 years, and I've never heard a winning team have excuses.

"Cincinnati lost to Xavier (on Thursday), flew out here (overnight), practiced for three hours and kicked out butts."

Good made his point just as emphatically to his players after the game, and again Sunday at practice.

"Cincinnati outplayed us, they outrebounded us, they got the loose balls," Trevor Diggs said. "When you think about it, that's toughness. We've got guys who don't want to come out and compete. It can't be like that."

Alaska-Anchorage, a Division II team, probably won't provide an accurate barometer of UNLV's improvement tonight.

"It's a process. I'll give you that," Good said. "It is not something that is going to happen in four days, but it's going to happen."

If it doesn't, heaven help the inanimate objects around the Thomas & Mack Center.

* REBEL NOTES: UNLV still hasn't beaten a ranked non-conference team since No. 19 Michigan on Dec. 28, 1995. ... Lou Kelly did not play Saturday, but is likely to debut tonight. ... Bayno didn't go to the game. He went to Palm Desert, Calif., for the weekend. ... Balcony seats tonight are 2 for 1 with a canned food donation.

Steve Addy covers college basketball for the Las Vegas Sun. Reach him at 259-4087 or by e-mail at addy@lasvegassun.com.