Rebels aching to show depth

Thursday, Nov. 6, 2003 | 10:28 a.m.

James Peters tweaked his left knee early in one practice. J.K. Edwards fell awkwardly, and hard, on his right hip. Then Peters fell on Odartey Blankson's left ankle.

Each time, UNLV basketball coach Charlie Spoonhour winced just a little bit.

"You never want to see anyone get hurt," Spoonhour said. "Yeah, it makes you worry."

Assistant coach Jay Spoonhour has been telling the Rebels to take all the talk that's circulating about the thin and shallow front line "as a challenge."

Yet, practice revealed UNLV's vulnerabilities up front.

Peters ultimately had the worst scare, when he twisted his knee around 3 p.m. in the North Gym of a Lied auxiliary complex. The 6-foot-8, 215-pound senior immediately received treatment from trainer Dave Tomchek.

About 45 minutes later, he returned to drills but winced through many of them.

Thirty minutes later, Peters was back to finishing fastbreaks with dunks. And he got through Wednesday's practice without incident.

Edwards (6-8, 250) and Blankson (6-7, 220) round out the most imposing trio on Spoonhour's roster. Being the team's only center, Edwards usually takes a pounding. And the likely hip contusion only kept him out of action Tuesday for about 10 minutes.

"When he plays hard and does a lot of running, he gets knocked down, and falls down, a lot," Spoonhour said. "It's not any fun."

Blankson initially yelped when Peters fell on his left ankle, but he hopped hop and ran it off in a matter of minutes.

Already, Spoonhour will be without Edwards (six games) and Peters (three), due to suspensions, to start the season. It could be devastating if Spoonhour were to lose any to injury.

"There are certain injuries and foul trouble that will occur," Spoonhour said. "I think there's enough playing time for guys. Not everybody will be thrilled with the amount of playing time. But if we play as hard as I hope we will, I think we'll beat people."

"We likely won't have them the rest of the week," Spoonhour said. "I wish we could have them a couple more time, but we'll try."

The officials are needed elsewhere, according to Spoonhour, as rec leagues begin this week all over Las Vegas.

Spoonhour confirmed that most of his starters for two exhibitions were wearing red Tuesday, including point guard Jerel Blassingame, shooting guard Demetrius Hunter, small forwards Romel Beck and Andy Hannan will split time at small forward.

Spoonhour highlighted Hannan's effort, especially on the boards, Tuesday.

By default, Blankson and Louis Amundson will be starters in the post when the Rebels play the Los Angeles Stars (Monday) and Houston Superstars (Nov. 15) at the Thomas & Mack Center. Both games begin at 7:30.

Assorted Cardinals and Rams were part of the crowd and a red sports jacket -- which Spoonhour once wore when he coached the Saint Louis Billikens -- was a highlight of an auction.

It went for $5,000.

"One guy bid $2,500," Spoonhour said, "just so he'd never have to look at it again."