Bayno aims to keep team focused on Tulsa game

NCAA allegations aside, the Rebels face a fairly important game at noon Friday, and coach Bill Bayno is determined to keep his players' attention locked on it.

While there was no perfect time for Bayno and the UNLV athletic department to react to the letter of inquiry into alleged rules violations, they were permitted by the NCAA to delay acknowledgement of the letter so it would create the smallest possible distraction for Bayno's team.

Rather than announce it last week as the team was preparing to host (and win) the Mountain West tournament, UNLV held a press conference Tuesday in hopes that the Rebels wouldn't have to face an additional grilling after the team goes to Nashville, Tenn., to play Tulsa in the first round of the NCAA South Regional.

"I think the timing is better rather than worse. I think the NCAA was absolutely fair," Bayno said. "It would've been a whole lot worse if it was announced prior to the New Mexico game (on March 4) or prior to the (Mountain West) tournament. I'm pleased with that and I think that was very fair of the NCAA."

But now the allegations are public. They include a Las Vegas booster giving $5,600 to ex-UNLV recruit Lamar Odom in 1997, another booster paying $400 to two Rebel players, improper inducements and benefits provided by Bayno and assistant coach Dave Rice, and various lesser allegations.

With that information out there, it won't be easy for Bayno to focus attention on the game. The team will arrive in Nashville today and Bayno is required to hold a press conference Thursday.

"Answering these questions now is obviously the biggest step in dealing with it," Bayno said. "I won't answer questions about it (in Nashville). I am not allowed to. All of my questions Thursday will be about the tournament. Hopefully the national media will respect that. The only thing I will say there is we're not going to let this be a distraction.

"My priority is to concentrate on the team. We've had a good year, we've worked hard and we've accomplished our goals. The one thing I don't want is for them to be distracted by this."

Senior captain Mark Dickel said he doesn't think that will be a problem.

"To the players, it's not really an issue," he said. "Whatever happens next year, happens. I don't think it'll be that serious, from what I've heard. But from a players' standpoint, all we do is play. We don't have any control over off-the-court, administration-type stuff. There's no one on the team that this directly affects right now."

Bayno held a team meeting Monday and outlined the NCAA allegations to his players and staff, as if to warn them that they would soon be made public. On Tuesday the team had its first practice since last Wednesday, a day before the Mountain West tournament, and Bayno paid close attention to his players' energy after their draining weekend, which culminated Sunday with the NCAA bid.

"I was happy with it, especially coming off the emotion of Selection Sunday," Bayno said. "I thought our intensity was there. At times we got a little sloppy, but they focused and we did a lot of teaching. There was a little bit of Tulsa stuff in what we were doing, but it was mostly about our (game plan)."

* REBEL NOTES: Donovan Stewart said his back is feeling better, but it's unclear if he'll return to the starting lineup Friday. Danny Brotherson started in his place in the MWC semifinals and finals and played exceptionally. Bayno might not want to upset the rotation. ...

Chris Richardson limped off near the end of practice with a minor ankle sprain, but was able to return. ...

Ex-Rebel Warren Rosegreen (1995-97) visited practice. He has played in Korea the last two years and said he might join the new ABA this season. "I still have my 42-inch vertical (leap)," he said.

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