UNLV looking to rebound

Steve Addy

Monday, Jan. 22, 2001 | 9:49 a.m.

Bounce-back week begins tonight for the Rebels. Unfortunately, their next two opponents possess similar incentive.

Having been pounded by 28 last Monday at BYU, the Rebels have had a week to get ready to redeem themselves tonight when New Mexico visits the Thomas & Mack Center.

UNLV laid on egg on ESPN last week, but the network will be in the house tonight (9 p.m. tip) and the Rebels hope to show a national Big Monday audience that the BYU game was an aberration.

"We know we're better than that," point guard Vince Booker said.

But New Mexico also has something to prove. The Lobos are the only unbeaten team (2-0) in the Mountain West, but they walked into a bear trap Saturday, suffering a 75-44 non-league rout at No. 1 Stanford.

The Rebels could be facing a similar payback scenario Thursday when they visit Georgetown, another team trying to cleanse the stench of a tough loss.

The Hoyas (16-1) suffered their first defeat Saturday with a 70-66 home loss to Pitt, and will try to get back on track in Thursday's 4:30 p.m. game against UNLV.

If that weren't enough of a week for the Rebels, they have to fly back Friday and host greatly improved San Diego State (11-6) on Saturday night. The Aztecs are coming off their first Mountain West victory ever, having lost all 14 last season and three this year before beating Air Force.

"We're the only team in the country that has to fly to home games," Rebels coach Max Good joked.

The Georgetown game was plopped into the middle of the MWC schedule because the Hoyas didn't have another feasible date. But the timing could not be worse for the Rebels, because they have a tall enough hurdle tonight without anticipating Thursday.

New Mexico (12-3) features a speedy three-guard lineup fueled by JC transfer Eric Chatfield, who averages a team-leading 18.1 points. Guards Ruben Douglas (13.0) and Marlon Parmer (10.3) rank second and third in scoring.

"They're probably the quickest team we have played," Good said. "They give you problems with pure, unadulterated quickness. You have to play solid defense against them. You can't play wild, gambling defense. You can't worry about shooting gaps and making steals."

Booker said that message was drilled into the players all week. If they plan to erase the BYU debacle, they'll have to do it with defense.

"This is an opportunity to show that despite what happened last Monday, we're a team that will come back and compete," Booker said. "The emphasis this week was on getting back to playing tough. New Mexico's guards are smart and fast. We have to play sound defense or it could be a long night."

Lobos coach Fran Fraschilla said he feels his team will come back strong from the blowout at Stanford.

"I think our kids feel the score could have been closer," Fraschilla said.

"Mentally, I don't think it will affect us at all (tonight).

"But I think that psychologically, UNLV has the advantage. They're coming off a game where they know they played poorly. If they're as competitive as I know they are, they will be as ready as they've been for a game this year."

It isn't known if the Rebels will be at full strength, because Good said last week he would discipline Kaspars Kambala and Trevor Diggs for their conduct at BYU. Kambala didn't join the huddle for timeouts late in the game, leading Diggs to say Kambala that "quit" on his teammates.

Good declined to specify if the punishment would affect the duo's status tonight.