Monday, March 10, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.
If UNLV wanted a challenge in its opening-round NIT game, the folks in New York were more than happy to oblige.
Athletic director Charles Cavagnaro may be happy about Memphis coming to the Thomas & Mack Center Wednesday, in that he is the former AD there. But Rebels coach Bill Bayno would just as soon have played Nevada-Reno, which drew Fresno State in the opening round of the 32-team tournament.
"This is going to be a tough game," Bayno said of the Tigers, who bring a 16-14 record into Wednesday's NIT opener and have won four of their last six.
"They've got two pros in (Cedric) Henderson and (Sunday) Adebayo and (Chris) Garner is extremely quick. Outside of (Hawaii's Anthony) Carter, he's the quickest guard we'll have faced this year."
Henderson, a 6-foot-7 senior, is averaging 16.1 points and 6.7 rebounds. Adebayo, a 6-6 senior who played at Arkansas before transferring to Memphis, averages 13.3 points, 6.9 rebounds and shoots 58 percent from the floor.
Garner, a 5-10 senior, leads the Tigers in assists (123) and steals (84).
With the game being televised nationally on ESPN, Bayno knew the NIT wasn't going to throw UNLV a cupcake.
"ESPN has input and they thought it would be a good matchup," said NIT executive director Jack Powers.
Still, it is more national exposure for a program which has made a tremendous turnaround from a year ago. The Rebels were 10-16 last year but will bring a 20-9 ledger into Wednesday's game.
"I think we'll be excited to play," Bayno said. "Most of these kids have never experienced the postseason."
Actually, only Damian Smith has played in mid-March. He was a member of the 1993 UNLV team which lost to Southern Cal in the NIT opening round.
Coach Larry Finch, who will be stepping down at the end of the season, brings a veteran team to the Thomas & Mack. He has five seniors and three juniors on his roster.
The Tigers are averaging 63 points a game while holding their opponents to just 61.7.
"They've beaten some good people," Bayno said. "Anyone who can beat Louisville twice, Cincinnati and Tulane is a very good basketball team."
Hoop du jour
* WELCOME BACK: The NCAA may not have wanted UNLV, but the NIT was certainly glad to make the Rebels part of its 32-team field. "UNLV has a great name and a great tradition," said Walt Hameline of the NIT committee. "We think they bring a lot to the tournament." ... This will be the fourth NIT appearance for the Rebels. In 1980, UNLV made it to the semifinals and lost to Virginia. In 1982, the Rebels were ousted in the second round by Tulane. And in 1993, Southern Cal won a first-round game 90-74.
* FIRST TIME SINCE '86: UNLV and Memphis will meet for only the fifth time, with the Rebels holding a 3-1 edge in the series. The last meeting came at the Maui Classic Nov. 27, 1988 when the Rebels defeated the Tigers in overtime, 90-86. UNLV has won three straight in the series, including a 67-66 win Feb. 8, 1986 at the Thomas & Mack Center and an 80-77 victory at Memphis Dec. 5, 1986. The Tigers' lone win came in 1970 when they won 83-76 in Las Vegas.
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