UNLV finale failed to meet Banks’ expectations

Thursday, March 20, 2003 | 10:01 a.m.

The career of UNLV point guard Marcus Banks came to a close with Wednesday's 85-69 loss to Hawaii, and he had other ideas of how his final act in a Rebels uniform would be played out.

"It just felt weird, playing in the NIT with about 500 fans out there," he said. "We could have done better than this. We let ourselves down, nobody but ourselves. We just embarrassed ourselves.

"I feel I really embarrassed myself for letting this happen to the team. My expectations for this team were higher. I expected to be competing in the big dance."

Instead of spending Wednesday flying with his teammates to a first-round venue in the NCAA tournament, or attending press conferences and then practicing at one of those arenas, UNLV was at home.

Playing before an audience of 2,697, with a good chunk of that rooting for the other guys, at the Thomas & Mack Center.

In the first round of the NIT.

In a game that started at 9 p.m.

Last season ended in the second round of the NIT, in a defeat at South Carolina in which Banks shot 1-for-12 from the field and gave out only one assist.

Wednesday, Banks made nine of his 15 shots, helping him score 22 points, and he nabbed seven rebounds. But he recorded only one assist and turned it over seven times. And the Rebels finished 21-11.

"I know it's not a one-man team, but I'm just disappointed in myself more than anything," Banks said. "I wish I could have done more, but it takes five guys. Everyone has to be clicking together. I feel we weren't on the same page, that's the reason we took the 'L.'

UNLV coach Charlie Spoonhour seemed shocked that his players were so flat after Saturday night's crushing loss to Colorado State in the Mountain West Conference tournament finale at the Mack.

The Rebels, ahead by 10 points, were eight minutes away from an automatic spot in the NCAAs, and Rams sensational center Matt Nelson had left for good with an eye injury.

UNLV folded, wasn't even briefly noted in Sunday's NCAA tournament selection television show and then showed how hangovers can sometimes last four days.

"We allowed one loss to turn into two," said Spoonhour, who just a day earlier had said that reaching New York for the NIT semifinals and final would be a "worthwhile" goal that his players were keen on achieving.

Instead, Spoonhour talked about the one-and-done effort. "This is what you remember," he said, "this little rear-kicking."

Banks bore the brunt of the blame.

"My hat's off to coach Spoonhour and the job he did, but it's my job to execute and I felt I let him down," Banks said. "It's nothing the coach, or coaches, did. They did what they were supposed to do, we just didn't get the job done."

Hawaii (19-11) shot 70 percent in the first half to forge a 48-33 lead at intermission. UNLV blasted out of the locker room with 10 consecutive points, but then center J.K. Edwards went down with an eye injury of his own.

Soon afterward, the Warriors rattled off a 13-4 run that renewed their confidence and was partly helped by a couple of turnovers by Banks.

Banks said the best thing that could happen to him in his quest to play in the NBA is to be surrounded by talented guys who can make, and finish, plays. In the same breath, he talked about the 2002-03 Rebels.

"At times, this year, it was like my team was sitting back, watching me, which gave the other team a chance to set up their defense," he said. "That's what gave us a little trouble this year. Unless we were running, you know, (when) it's kind of hard to stop me, to get in front of me.

"Players just have to get better. There should be no offseason. They should get into the gym right now, tomorrow, and play in open gym."

He has received an invitation to attend a pre-draft camp in Portsmouth, Va., and he plans to take part in the marquee one that is annually in Chicago. Along the way, he expects to be asked about his two seasons at UNLV.

"My experience was real good," Banks said. "I had a great two years. I got recognition that I felt I should have gotten off the jump, but I didn't. I'm growing as a person and as a player. There's a lot in store for me. I just have to be patient and go after it, if it's there for me."