Wednesday, March 12, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.
For Keon Clark, it's not about being the man. It's about being part of the team.
At 6-foot-11 and possessing an abundance of talent, it's easy to label Clark as the franchise. But to the UNLV junior center, that's not the goal. Because he knows he can't lead the Rebels by himself.
"It's a team effort," he said as the Rebels prepared for their first postseason appearance since 1993, against Memphis at 9 tonight in the opening round of the National Invitation Tournament at the Thomas & Mack Center. "I can't do everything. I can't defend five men. I can't go against five guys.
"This tournament can make us better as a team. Whatever personal improvement I gain is because of the team."
Actually, the two seem to go hand in hand. When Clark's game is on, the Rebels are tough to beat. When his teammates are pulling their share of the load, he can play carefree and becomes even more dangerous.
Still, when coaches prepare for UNLV these days, Clark becomes their primary focus. His ability to change the game defensively and finish at the other end makes him a legitimate concern. Usually, the answer is to double-team him in the post and force him to do things he's not comfortable doing.
But this is a guy who has made a half-dozen 3-point field goals. If you try to prevent him from dunking, he still can get his points. He's averaging 14.2 points, 9.4 rebounds and 3.8 blocked shots while shooting 57 percent from the floor.
Coach Bill Bayno has seen the double- and triple-teaming and how teams try to get physical with the slender junior. He has made some adjustments, such as getting the ball to Clark in the high post and trying to create space for him to operate.
But Bayno knows that for UNLV to be effective as a team, it must be able to post the ball low and score consistently. And Clark has to be part of that.
"We talk a lot about 'What do I have to do to get better?'" Bayno said. "You've got to remember, this is Keon's first full season of basketball since high school and he's only played three years of organized ball. He's still learning how to play the game."
Bayno knows Clark sometimes gets frustrated when his teammates don't deliver the ball to him or when opposing defenses simply refuse to allow him to get it. But at the same time, Bayno wants Clark not to slack when it comes to his work ethic.
"I told him that no one wants you to get touches more than I do," Bayno said. "But you've got to work hard.
"We talk about focusing in the weight room, getting stronger and doing the things he needs to do. We talk about wearing down, both physically and mentally and how you've got to stay strong, especially at this time of the year."
Clark has listened. He continues to put in the time at the weight room in the Lied Athletic Complex and he works after practice with assistant Dave Rice on his overall game. The dedication is there. He also said he's physically ready to go another couple of weeks, having caught his second wind.
"When you're winning, nothing hurts," Clark said of playing through the pain for the 20-9 Rebels. "I feel fine right now. No problems."
archive
