UNLV looks to Wyoming for help

Steve Addy

Monday, Feb. 28, 2000 | 10:29 a.m.

Just because the Rebels have a clear-cut, well-intentioned plan to make the NCAA Tournament -- win every game, then hope a lot -- it doesn't mean they won't need outside help along the way.

Having surrendered their right to fully control their own destiny, the Rebels will be helpless bystanders tonight when their Mountain West fate could be decided for them at Wyoming. That is the price they have to pay for stumbling on the road at BYU and Utah last week.

UNLV's stretch-run strategy is predicated on winning out in the regular season, gaining a high seed for the MWC tournament, then winning the event on its home court. But for the Rebels to have a realistic shot at edging Utah for the important top seed, the Utes must lose tonight.

Though a Utah win at Wyoming in the Big Monday clash (9 p.m.) won't seal UNLV's fate, it would greatly simplify matters for the Utes. They would only need to finish the season Saturday with a home win over Air Force. Since it has won 51 straight at the Huntsman Center and Air Force is 1-4 away from home, Utah would be heavily favored to prevail in that scenario.

After taking care of business Saturday night with an 84-61 home win over Air Force, the Rebels (18-7, 8-4 MWC) are hoping Utah (20-6, 9-3) has as much trouble at Wyoming as it did on Jan. 31. UNLV was heavy-legged in the high altitude of Laramie, trailed by 33 and lost 109-98. Utah must overcome that altitude, and any hangover from Saturday's 60-49 loss at Colorado State.

Though the Utes' loss to the Rams was an unexpected development, Rebels coach Bill Bayno isn't holding his breath for any more favors by Utah.

"I'm sure they will take care of business (tonight) and then win the league outright," Bayno said. "If I had to bet, I'd say they will do that. But regardless of what happens, we need to finish these last two games strong and move forward."

The Rebels visit last-place San Diego State (5-20, 0-12) Thursday, then end the regular season Saturday against New Mexico (16-11, 8-4), with whom UNLV is tied for second place. If the Utes lose tonight, the Rebels-Lobos finale will probably determine the MWC regular-season champion.

Point guard Mark Dickel isn't banking on the Utes to bail out UNLV, though Utah has not won at Wyoming since 1993 -- pre-Keith Van Horn -- and has lost its last three MWC road games.

"All we can do is win our next two games. If Utah wins, so be it," Dickel said. "We'll just beat them in the conference tournament. That's how we're looking at it."

But Donovan Stewart isn't so sure Utah will escape Laramie unscathed.

"I think the league is a lot tougher than people think," he said. "When you go on the road, you have to win in all different kinds of climates and altitudes. It's not that easy to win at Wyoming and places like that. Wyoming will be hyped to be playing a (formerly) ranked team and that's going to be a tough game for Utah."

Kaspars Kambala said, "It's like this every year in this league or the WAC. At the end of the year, a lot of teams are falling. So I've always felt we'd get another shot to win the league. We will see what happens with Utah."

Regardless, as Bayno said, the Rebels must continue to do their part.

"I think Utah is going to finish first, but if we can finish second and then play well in the conference tournament, I think we have a chance to get in (to the NCAA Tournament)," he said. "It's going to be the toughest year for the tournament committee.

"Fortunately for us, the committee doesn't look at the margin of losses. The losses we've had are against teams with winning records. We haven't lost to anybody who is close to .500. If we can finish strong and win seven or eight of our last 10, that will work in our favor."

* REBEL NOTES: The Rebels' schedule is catching up with them. Their RPI rating continues to lag at 55th, compared to Utah (34th) and BYU (48th). UNLV won't get much help by defeating San Diego State, either, because the Aztecs are rated No. 260. ...

Dickel has regained the NCAA assists lead from Oklahoma State's Doug Gottlieb. Dickel averages 8.84 per game, Gottlieb 8.73. ...

Take away his 2-of-11 shooting last Monday against Utah, and Trevor Diggs is shooting 28-of-55 since Feb. 12. He was 8-of-14 Saturday and led the Rebels with 19 points against Air Force.