Rebels face an ex-MWC assistant in 2002 opener

Steve Guiremand

Friday, Nov. 22, 2002 | 10:14 a.m.

NEXT UP

What: Portland St. at UNLV

When: Sunday, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Thomas & Mack

TV: None

Radio: KBAD 920-AM

Tickets: Call 739-FANS or order them online at unlvtickets.com.

Now they start playing games that count.

The UNLV Rebels, who won both of their exhibition games earlier this month, open their 2002-03 season with three home games in a seven-day stretch starting with Sunday night's season opener against Portland State at the Thomas & Mack Center.

The Vikings have a new coach in 30-year-old Heath Schroyer, who may look familar to some Rebel fans. Schroyer was the top assistant to Steve McClain for defending Mountain West Conference champion Wyoming last year and was an aid to Steve Cleveland at BYU the year before that.

Schroyer replaces Joel Sobotka, who was fired after four seasons. The Vikings finished 12-18 overall and 6-8 in the Big Sky Conference a year ago.

"I like their coach," UNLV coach Charlie Spoonhour said. "I think Heath is going to do a really good job. He's one of those guys who has paid his dues and worked hard and earned the position."

Schroyer, who makes his head coaching debut tonight in Portland against Cal State Northridge, figures to have his hands full the first year.

Two of the Vikings' top young players, 6-foot-9 center Billy Feeney (New Mexico) and sophomore Aaron Fitzgerald (Washington State), transferred after the coaching change. And talented 6-foot-7 junior forward Seamus Boxley (10.1 ppg), the 2000-01 Big Sky Conference co-freshman of the year, is out indefinitely following surgery in September to repair torn ligaments in his left hand.

Portland State's best player could be 6-foot-10 center Seth Scott, a transfer from Utah Valley State Community College who averaged 28.5 points and 10 rebounds in the Vikings' two exhibition games. Scott was recruited by Fresno State, USC, BYU and UConn after averaging 12.4 points and 5.9 rebounds his sophomore year.

"He was a really well thought of junior college All-American type of player," Spoonhour said. "(Rebel point guard) Marcus (Banks) played against him and said he was a very good player."

The Vikings also have a veteran backcourt led by 6-foot-2 senior point guard Jeb Ivey (12.5 ppg), an honorable mention all-Big Sky pick who connected on 98 percent of his free throws (50-of-51) last season and carries a streak of 36 in a row into tonight's game against Northridge. He is joined by 6-foot-2 senior Kevin Briggs (7.4 ppg).

"They will have a game under their belt and at this time of year, game experience is really helpful," Spoonhour said.

The main goal in the early non-conference games for the Rebels, who also host UAB on Wednesday and Washington next Saturday, is to play hard.

"We just need to get our intensity level up," Spoonhour said. "At this time of year, you don't play a whole game yet. That's just the nature of the beast."

Spoonhour said he has no plans to redshirt any of his players. "We had talked about it with Louis (Amundson)," Spoonhour said. "But unless it's because of something medical, we don't plan on redshirting anybody." ...

UNLV has finally received an official letter of intent from Michael Umeh, a 6-foot-1 point guard from Missouri City (Texas) Hightower High. Over the weekend, Umeh had mailed an incomplete letter to Las Vegas. With Umeh's signing, Spoonhour locked in three recruits -- Umeh, 6-foot-10 junior college center Chris Adams and prep guard John Winston -- in the November early-signing period. Adams was rated the nation's No. 4 JC center prospect by Van Coleman of FutureStars Magazine.