Distractions shadow Rebels-Utah game

Steve Addy

Friday, Jan. 12, 2001 | 10:34 a.m.

Who: UNLV at Utah

When: 12:30 p.m., Saturday

Where: Huntsman Center, Salt Lake City

TV: ABC (Ch. 13)

Radio: KBAD, 920 AM

Any other week of any other season, it would be a really big deal if the Rebels were carrying a seven-game winning streak into their annual rivalry at Utah.

ABC must have thought so last summer when it decided to televise Saturday's game at the Huntsman Center.

But so many distractions have occurred for both clubs this season and especially the past few weeks, much of the luster and anticipation of the game has been squelched.

Though the Rebels' recent schedule could've foretold a healthy winning streak going into this weekend, UNLV (10-5) couldn't have imagined coach Bill Bayno would be gone, Max Good would be standing in, and Rick Pitino would suddenly be the likely heir apparent.

Nor could the Utes have envisioned their predicament, which is more serious. Their homecourt winning streak ended at 54 against Weber State on Dec. 9 and they're unaccustomed to being 9-6, but the absence of coach Rick Majerus has badly shaken the program.

After missing the first two months while rehabilitating his knee, Majerus is taking the whole season off because of two heart procedures Jan. 3-4 and his desire to be at his mother's side as she battles cancer. Dick Hunsaker will serve out the season as interim coach.

There have been so many distractions for Good this week, he was especially relieved Thursday when reporters asked him about Utah, not Pitino.

"Yeah, let's talk basketball," he said with a chuckle.

"It's going to be a tough weekend (including Monday's game at BYU). I think Utah is going to be more settled now that they know Majerus isn't going to be there. The uncertainty is gone."

The Utes didn't play with any apparent doubt Monday in an 83-71 home win over Wyoming.

"Utah has size and strength, and they are tough," Good said. "Their game against Wyoming was one of the roughest games I've seen all year. I think the referees kind of waved the white towel.

"People say we've got to go up there and match their intensity. I don't like to say that. We've got to exceed their intensity and make them match ours. That is harder to do on the road, but when you emphasize defense and rebounding, you can do that no matter where you are."

Any sort of intensity by the Rebels would be a marked change from their last visit to Salt Lake City, a 96-52 loss on Feb. 21. UNLV has been preoccupied this week with topics other than revenge, but the players haven't forgotten the 44-point final margin.

"That was embarrassing what they did to us," center Sylvester Dotson said. "We have to go up there and redeem ourselves. Forty-four points is a lot. That wasn't a team that should beat us like that."

Danny Brotherson feels this is an opportune time for the Rebels to be facing Utah.

"We are on a winning streak and playing well right now," he said. "Guys are playing together, splitting time and we're getting things done."