Columnist Dean Juipe: UNLV leaves its fans wanting more

Dean Juipe

Monday, Nov. 25, 2002 | 9:57 a.m.

Dean Juipe's column appears Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. His boxing notebook appears Thursday. Reach him at juipe@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4084.

Football coaches routinely say they expect the greatest improvement out of their team in the season's second game.

UNLV basketball coach Charlie Spoonhour can only hope the same rule of thumb applies to his team and his sport.

The Rebels missed an opportunity to wow their fans Sunday night at the Thomas & Mack Center, settling for a 69-54 victory over Portland State in a season-opening game best noted for its lengthy stretches of sloppy play.

It wasn't a bad game or a shoddy way to start the season, yet it seemed like something of a letdown in that the crowd was boisterous and enthusiastic at the outset but somewhat reserved as the game wore on.

The Rebels had their moments of razzle-dazzle, but clanked shots, foul trouble and turnovers were a minor plague.

A greater concern remains intact: Does UNLV have the strength down low to contend with better teams and bigger men than Portland State had to offer?

Starting center J.K. Edwards had a nightmarish debut, collecting two quick fouls to open the game and then two more quickies early in the second half to limit his playing time. His third foul, just 13 seconds into the second half, was particularly disturbing, given that it was away from the ball, completely unnecessary and especially troublesome for a player who should have been on his best behavior.

Ordinarily, Lou Amundson would have slipped in to spell Edwards, but he was out with a minor injury and the task fell to third-liner James Peters, who was active but relatively ineffective. The end result: No one can say for sure if the center spot is going to be a hit or a miss -- and much of the Rebels' season will depend on how that particular area plays out.

What is clear is that UNLV is well stocked at the guard positions and blessed with at least four players -- Marcus Banks, Demetrius Hunter, Jermaine Lewis and Ernest Turner -- who can not only shoot but penetrate and play defense. They're quick and relatively interchangeable, although Banks clearly runs the team.

Another solid plus will be senior forward Dalron Johnson, who overcame a poor start from the field to be a major contributor as the Rebels staved off the Vikings' mini-rallies and dispatched an opponent that already had a game (and a win) under its belt.

Oddsmakers had a peculiar take on this game, favoring UNLV by 19 1/2 as they did (at the MGM at least), and it was hardly surprising that the Rebels failed to cover a line that was fairly outrageous. If anything, the 15-point differential at the end was apropos, although it should also be noted that the Rebels sped to a 14-2 lead before cooling off and falling into occasional disarray.

Portland State, a team from the Big Sky Conference that UNLV hadn't played since 1978, was down by eight at the half and pulled within five before wilting a bit in the face of the Rebels' constant pressure.

There was nothing disgraceful about the result. The better team won, as expected, yet the general belief among those in attendance was that UNLV still has a good deal to prove.

But that's probably as it should be. If the Rebels wanted to win while still leaving room for improvement, perhaps the night was a complete success.