Streaking Rebels hope to start New Year on right foot

Steve Addy

Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2001 | 10:50 a.m.

The schedule, the holiday and airline hassles allowed the Rebels only one day to get ready for tonight's home game against Loyola Marymount.

But they didn't seem especially concerned at Tuesday's practice, and it had nothing to do with Marymount's 4-7 record and struggles on the road (2-5).

It's just that the Rebels think they've developed enough late-game toughness during a four-game winning streak to overcome the lack of preparation time.

Yes, the team held a brief film session and run-through of Marymount's plays today, but they spent all of Tuesday's two-hour practice working on themselves, mostly in drills stressing defensive grit.

"I'm more concerned with us, and that's not being disrespectful of Loyola," coach Max Good said. "If we were playing UCLA, we still would have worked on making ourselves better today."'

The Rebels are facing the short turnaround mainly because a flight cancellation forced them to spend New Year's Eve in Norfolk, Va., after beating Old Dominion. They were further delayed by a Monday morning cancellation and didn't get home until late Monday, wasting the day.

But at least the Rebels have experience this season with short preparation times. They played three games in 38 hours in the Maui Invitational, having roughly 12 hours to prepare for the middle game against Louisville, which they lost in overtime.

That game taught the Rebels that when the game plan is somewhat sketchy, they have to rely on instinct, talent and being tougher than the other guys.

"We'll focus on taking away Loyola's bread-and-butter plays, but after that it comes down to our toughness," point guard Vince Booker said. "The intensity of our practices has jumped 100 percent, and that makes the games easier."

"Compared to how our practices are, the games are a relief," Lou Kelly said. "It's like the games are in slow motion."

A negative aspect of the short turnaround is that UNLV could use an extra few days to get healthy. Kaspars Kambala's back is sore and greatly limited his running Tuesday. Jermaine Lewis is limping on a sprained left ankle that kept him out of the Old Dominion game, but he will play tonight.

Marymount is coming off an 85-69 loss Saturday at UC Santa Barbara. Under new coach Steve Aggers, the Lions are led by 6-8 junior center Greg Lakey, a transfer from Southern Cal, with 13.5 points per game. Shooting guard Robert Davis adds 13.3.

Especially with Lewis hobbling, look for Kelly to get more minutes tonight if he's playing well. Good said he should have given Kelly more playing time at Old Dominion (18 minutes) and Dec. 22 against Pepperdine (20). Kelly scored in double figures in the first half of each game. ...

After making 36 of his first 38 free throws, Kambala is 29-of-51 (57 percent) at the line in his last eight games. Three more made free throws will give him 424 in his Rebels career, moving him past Sidney Green for fifth on UNLV's all-time list.