UNLV’s key to success lies with ball control

Steve Guiremand

Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2002 | 10:01 a.m.

NEXT UP

What: UAB at UNLV

When: Today, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Thomas & Mack

TV: None

Radio: KBAD 920-AM

Betting line: UNLV by 10 1/2

Total: Over/ under is 141

After grinding out a 69-54 victory over a gritty Portland State squad in their season opener on Sunday night, the UNLV Rebels (1-0) get to see how they match up with a team that excels in pressure defense and an up-tempo style of basketball.

The UAB Blazers (2-0), coached by Nolan "Forty Minutes of Hell" Richardson disciple Mike Anderson, face the Rebels tonight at the Thomas & Mack Center. And the Blazers have caused havoc for their first two opponents, especially on the defensive end, forcing 60 turnovers in two games.

"You have to stay under control," senior forward Dalron Johnson said. "That's where they get you if you try and go too fast and get out of control."

"We're going to have to play with some poise," UNLV coach Charlie Spoonhour said. "We weren't really pressured in our last game. This game we're going to get an entirely different look. We'll see how we adapt as we play."

Hopefully a lot better than Birmingham-Southern, which had 36 -- that's right, 36 -- turnovers in a 71-53 loss. Or better than the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, which turned the ball over 24 times on Sunday night in a 92-81 defeat.

"Their best offense is their defense," said Chattanooga coach Jeff Lebo, a former player and coach for Dean Smith at North Carolina. "They bothered us with their athleticism. It's hard to simulate in practice what they do."

It's even harder when two of your best players aren't practicing because of injuries.

Starting guard Demetrius Hunter sat out Tuesday afternoon's practice with what was called a calf strain. And forward Louis Amundson was busy getting treatment for a staph infection in his thumb that forced him to miss Sunday night's opener and will probably keep him out until next week.

"We're down two guys who started our last exhibition game," Spoonhour said. "That's not a very comfortable feeling.

Hunter is expected to play tonight but Spoonhour said it is anybody's guess when Amundson, one of the team's sparkplugs and top defenders, will be back.

"I don't know if we'll have any idea until next week," Spoonhour said. "Maybe by the Reno (Dec. 5) game. ... You're always concerned when someone can't play. But the doctors have now found a cause (for the injury). That makes you feel better because before we didn't know what had caused it."

Spoonhour said a big key tonight will be how well his team matches UAB's intensity.

"I don't expect this to be a pretty game," Spoonhour said. "I don't expect it to be an error-free game. We need to match the enthusiasm that they play with. They'll be coming in here very enthused. They're 2-0 and they're hunting for a road win."