Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Rebel seniors not ready for sendoff

Five seniors are approaching their final few home games in a UNLV basketball uniform, but they don't care to reminisce about past glories. They're hoping their finest hour is still to come.

Unlike last season, when the Rebels were banned from the postseason and bid farewell to six on Senior Night, UNLV's seniors are doggedly determined to extend their careers far beyond this week's regular-season closers against Air Force and New Mexico.

The goal of Chris Richardson, Lou Kelly, Vince Booker, Jevon Banks and Noel Bloom (and their 11 teammates) is to earn an NCAA tournament bid by winning the Mountain West tournament next week. Failing that, UNLV (16-9) will happily accept an NIT bid.

So forgive the seniors for not getting sentimental about Saturday's "final" home game. After all, they'll be back at the Thomas & Mack Center next Thursday for the MWC tournament, and possibly the following week for the NIT.

"We still have plans. We still have life," Banks said. "We're all focused on getting to the postseason. I'm not thinking about anything other than that."

"If we play the way we're supposed to these next couple of weeks, we'll get to play a little longer. I want to get to the Big Dance," Richardson said. "I didn't get to play in our (NCAA) tournament game the last time (2000), and I really want that."

Coach Charlie Spoonhour is treating the seniors' sendoff similarly low-key. He doesn't plan to start all five on Saturday, though Richardson, Booker and Kelly start anyway. A pregame ceremony will begin at 6:45 p.m.

In last year's finale against Wyoming, coach Max Good put all six seniors on the court for the opening tip, taking an intentional technical foul. Because of the postseason ban, it was truly the seniors' final game, and Good's.

"I'm not saying my way is right, but I won't (start all five)," Spoonhour said. "That's like starting a guy when you play at his hometown. It's not something I do."

But Spoonhour's respect for his first group of UNLV seniors is evident. He has often cited former coach Bill Bayno for recruiting quality individuals into the program he inherited last March.

"I fuss at them over basketball stuff, but they're a good bunch of guys," Spoonhour said. "You have to give credit to all of our seniors for making the most of their opportunities. When things didn't go their way, it would have been easy to feel frustrated. But they were patient and they've tried to do what we wanted.

"And I always have a soft spot for guys like (walk-on) Noel Bloom. He comes out every day and I yell at him just as much as anyone else. You have to respect a guy who doesn't get a lot of minutes but is a good teammate. I really appreciate that."

Bloom, the oldest Rebel at 24, has appeared in only three games (totaling 10 minutes) in two seasons since transferring from Moorpark (Calif.) CC. He has been a practice player, towel-waver and locker room comedian, but embraced his peripheral role.

"I'm forever grateful to coach Bayno for giving me an opportunity to play here," Bloom said. "I'm hoping something good is lining the horizon for us in these last few weeks."

Booker and Kelly, both last-second heroes in UNLV's recent surge, don't want their farewells to distract them from larger goals.

"I want to take it in stride," said Booker, whose 3-pointer gave the Rebels a 73-70 win over BYU on Feb. 9. "I don't want to look at these games any differently than the rest of the season. I'll wait until the season's over to look back."

"Hopefully our (highlight) will be in the next couple of weeks," said Kelly, who hit three key free throws to fuel a 96-91 OT win at Colorado State on Feb. 18. "If it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen, but I think all of us seniors have had a great time."

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