Dickel: UNLV's thunder from Down Under

It was just what Bill Bayno envisioned when he saw the skinny kid from Down Under play four years ago.

A tough guy -- both physically and mentally. A competitor. Someone who wouldn't back down from a challenge and would earn the respect of his teammates. Someone who could get the ball up the court to the right people and take charge on the court.

Bayno believed when no one else did that Mark Dickel was the right person to run UNLV's basketball team. And Dickel has rewarded Bayno's faith in him by playing to the level he and Bayno believed he could reach when Bayno convinced the 6-foot-2 youngster from Dunedin, New Zealand, to come to Las Vegas.

It has been a bumpy road to be sure. But finally, there is smooth sailing for Dickel and the Rebels, who are riding a six-game win streak and lead the WAC Mountain Division at 3-0 heading into a two-game Texas road trip beginning Thursday against Southern Methodist.

"I think he's comfortable -- with his teammates, with his role, everything," Bayno said of Dickel, who is second in the WAC in assists, averaging 7.2 a game. "He's so steady and so mentally tough.

"I knew it would take time. That's the case with just about every point guard. But he has developed into the player I thought he'd be, absolutely."

Dickel has actually been comfortable at the point for quite a while. It was everyone else's perception that he wasn't.

"I feel like I know what he wants me to do," he said of the understanding he has with Bayno. "To tell you the truth, I don't even think about it. I just go out and run the team and play."

The Rebels have responded to their point guard's call. Dickel has learned who needs the ball in what spots and he's making sure they get it.

As for his offense, he still makes himself the last option, but he's attacking the basket and looking for scoring opportunities more than in the past. He's averaging 6.2 points and is shooting 40 percent from the floor.

Teams will still slough off on him and attempt to double-team the front-line guys -- Kaspars Kambala, Shawn Marion and Kevin Simmons. But when UNLV runs its offense right, Dickel's going to get them the ball despite the extra attention.

"He's a lot more comfortable with the other guys," backcourt mate Brian Keefe said. "He has played in a lot of big games and he has matured. He has got a lot more savvy."

Dickel said: "It's an expectation level. I feel I can help everyone else in their role."

It's why Dickel's assists-to-turnovers ratio is approaching 4-to-1. In the first three WAC games, he has 11 assists and just two turnovers. He has been flawless in the two most recent wins over Rice and Tulsa with four assists and no miscues in each game.

And with the Rebels re-discovering their half-court man-to-man defense, Dickel has been a key. No longer can he be broken down easily by opposing point guards, which in the past forced his teammates to cover for him. That led to easy baskets or foul shots for the other side.

By getting stronger in the weight room and gaining valuable experience by averaging close to 30 minutes a night, Dickel now can hold his own against just about anyone. And he won't be intimidated, as UCLA's Baron Davis found out last month after he tried -- and failed -- to get the UNLV junior to cower.

"He's as tough as any guy I've coached," Bayno said. "He hasn't backed down from anything."

His lone fault of late has been his performance at the free-throw line. He's shooting just 46 percent from the stripe, worst of the starting five.

And while the boos and snide remarks at the Thomas & Mack Center dwindle with each game, Dickel knows that one bad night can bring it all crashing down on him again.

"I use it as motivation," he said. "All it has done is make me stronger."

But like his coach, Dickel prefers to look ahead.

"I knew we were a lot better than people thought," he said of the 10-6 Rebels. "It just took some time for everyone to understand their role and get comfortable with each other."

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