Take two: Rebels will try again

Steve Guiremand

Friday, Nov. 26, 2004 | 9:42 a.m.

THE GAME: UNLV vs. Oregon State.

WHEN: Tonight, 7:30.

WHERE: Thomas & Mack Center.

TV: None.

RADIO: 920-AM.

STORY LINE: Rebels try to bounce back from disappointing season-opening loss Tuesday night to Saint Mary's.

There's an old coaching axiom that states that a team usually makes its most improvement from its first game to its second game.

UNLV coach Lon Kruger was asked if he believed in that adage shortly after conducting a lengthy practice on Thanksgiving morning.

"We sure hope so," Kruger said.

The Rebels (0-1), who will try to work off a little of their turkey and stuffing when they host Oregon State (2-1) tonight at the Thomas & Mack Center, have only one way to go, especially on offense, following a disappointing 64-54 season-opening loss to St. Mary's on Tuesday night.

UNLV shot just 34.4 percent (22 of 64) from the floor and a dreadful 8.3 percent (1 of 12) from 3-point range. The Rebels also stunk it up from the free-throw line, connecting on just 9 of 17 (52.9 percent).

"We didn't play as well as we had hoped the other night," Kruger said. "Offensively we struggled shooting the ball. But I was happy with our effort and our intensity. We've had two good practices since then and hopefully that will carry over into the game."

Don't expect a veteran coach such as Kruger, who has coached teams to the Final Four and Big Ten championships, to push the panic button over a poor shooting effort in the season-opener. After all, he realizes it's not the games in November and December that count as much as the ones in January, February and March.

And does anyone really believe that the big three of Odartey Blankson, Jerel Blassingame and Romel Beck will go 11-of-37 from the floor and combine for just 25 points and 10 rebounds in a game again anytime soon?

Somewhat overlooked by the offensive carnage afterward was the fact the Rebels played some pretty darn good defense in the opener, holding St. Mary's to just 40 percent shooting from the floor, forcing 16 turnovers while blocking 10 shots, one more than UNLV blocked in any game a year ago.

Newcomer Joel Anthony, who looks a lot closer to 6-foot-7 than his listed 6-foot-9 but played more like he was 7-foot-1, blocked five shots in just 23 minutes while altering several more. And buffed-up 6-foot-9 senior forward Louis Amundson more than held his own inside (8 rebounds, 4 blocks) and outside (4 steals) while 6-foot-9 transfer Dustin Villepigue (2 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist) turned in a solid all-around performance off the bench.

UNLV's front line figures to get a bigger challenge tonight against the Beavers.

Although Oregon State will be without its best player, 6-foot-7 all-Pac-10 forward David Lucas (toe surgery), the Beavers still have a big and physical front line led by 6-foot-10 Croatian Sasa Cuic (20.7 ppg, 6.0 reb.) and 6-foot-9, 270-pound center Kyle Jeffers (4.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg).

"They do have some good big guys inside," Kruger said. "It's going to be a good test for us. (Cuic) is a very good player."

Besides Lucas' injury, the Rebels also won't see two other potentially key performers in sophomore shooting guard Angelo Tsagarakis, who averaged 6.4 points off the bench last year, and 6-foot-9, 220-pound forward Nick DeWitz, a transfer from Iowa who doesn't become eligible until Dec. 11.

After tonight's game, UNLV hits the road for four consecutive games before finally returning to the Thomas & Mack Center for a Dec. 18 game against Oklahoma State.