Rebels get a good look at how good it can be

Steve Guiremand

Friday, Dec. 17, 2004 | 10:15 a.m.

THE GAMES: Las Vegas Showdown -- UNLV vs. Oklahoma State, Gonzaga vs. Georgia Tech.

WHEN: Saturday, 7 and 9:30 p.m.

WHERE: Thomas & Mack Center.

TV, RADIO: Both games on ESPN2, UNLV-Oklahoma State on 920-AM.

STORY LINE: Rebels get to measure themselves against one of the nation's best teams, and they'll get have a chance to see two more dandies if they stick around to watch Game 2.

The UNLV Rebels say they are looking at Saturday night's game against fourth-ranked Oklahoma State as a measuring stick.

Eddie Sutton's Cowboys are 7-0 and return four starters, including two Wooden Award candidates in point guard John Lucas and forward Joey Graham, from a squad that played in the 2004 Final Four. And it wouldn't be surprising to see the Cowboys make a run at another Final Four appearance in March.

Meanwhile, Lon Kruger's Rebels are 3-3, struggling to shoot 3-pointers and free throws, and appear to have a long way to go before even making a run at an NCAA tournament berth. The Final Four seems like a very distant dream for the Rebels.

How distant could be made more evident during Saturday night's opening game of the Las Vegas Showdown at the Thomas & Mack Center. Gonzaga and No. 3 Georgia Tech, another 2004 Final Four squad, play in the second game at 9:30 p.m.

"This is one of the best teams in the country," Kruger said of the Cowboys. "Anytime you play someone like that, you've got to find out where the bar is. Hopefully we're making progress. We realize we're not a Final Four team as Oklahoma State is, but when you measure yourself against the best, it kind of tells you how much you've got to work on."

UNLV players are anxious to see just where they stand in that regard.

"It's going to show where we're at and show how good we can be," senior point guard Jerel Blassingame said. "If we show we can come out and play with Oklahoma State, we'd feel good about playing with anybody in the country."

"Coach Kruger is always talking with us about (how) we need to learn what it takes to be at that level," junior forward Louis Amundson said. "We'll face that on Saturday. If we don't win, it will be something we have to shoot for, a goal we have to set for ourselves."

"We've had our ups and downs this year," added junior center Dustin Villepigue. "Now we're playing a team that possibly is one of the best in the country, so we can definitely see where we are as a team."

For Blassingame, it's also a chance to see how he measures up against one of the nation's top guards in Lucas.

"I've never played against him before but I know a lot about him," Blassingame said. "I've seen him play on TV. I know he's a great player. He's an All-American. That's big."