SportsLine.com Report
NCAA Tournament Preview
March 12, 2000

Starting Lineup

• PG Mark Dickel (6-2, 190, Sr.): The top assist man in the nation, Dickel is one of the best at pushing the ball up the floor and creating. Also a solid 3-point shooter (39.3 percent, 48-of-122) when he has his legs, which seemed to tire at the end of the season.
• SG Trevor Diggs (6-3, 185, Jr.): Selected to the all-MWC newcomer squad despite a disastrous start, which saw him shooting less than 30 percent from 3-point range. Got hot the second half of conference play and led UNLV down the stretch. Has very quick hands and is a good defender.
• C Kaspars Kambala (6-7, 255, Sr.): The team's leading scorer (18.6 ppg) and rebounder (9.1) overpowers smaller and less physical players in the post where he has improved his game dramatically after attending Pete Newell's Big Man Camp. However, he struggles to get his shot off against more athletic big men and can get lost on defense.
• SF Donovan Stewart (6-4, 210, Jr.): Solid role player who averaged just 4.9 points and 2.3 rebounds per game.
• BF Dalron Johnson (6-9, 210, Fr.): Arguably the best freshman in the Mountain West Conference. Quick leaper who runs the floor well and can stick the 3.

Keys to Success

Mark Dickel's passing and floor leadership was the key to UNLV's season. Without him, the Rebels would likely be looking at a .500 season at best ... and Bayno would likely be looking for a new job.

The Coach

Oft-maligned Bill Bayno got the last laugh after earning co-coach of the year honors in the MWC. The former associate head coach to John Calipari at UMass, he has compiled an 88-59 record at UNLV since replacing Rollie Massimino five years ago. This is the fourth straight year he has led UNLV to a post-season berth and second trip to the NCAA Tourney.

The Bench

Scrappy 6-4 guard Danny Brotherson (7.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg) has been the unsung hero on the team. He hails from the small town of Bunkerville, Nev., and does a lot of key things that don't show up in the box score. Backup power forward Sylvester Dotson (4.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg) gives the team much-needed inside muscle when Kambala is out of the game.

Offense

They don't call them the "Runnin'" Rebels for nothing. UNLV likes to push the ball up the floor in an up-tempo style, with Dickel either taking it all the way to the basket or dishing off to Diggs or Johnson for a 3-pointer. If they get into a halfcourt game, they'll try to pound it inside to Kambala who will try to power it inside or dish off to a player cutting down the lane.

Defense

Mostly man-to-man although once in a while they'll switch to a zone if they are in foul trouble or don't match up well inside. Diggs is usually good for two or three steals a game and has quick hands. Kambala and Johnson have struggled inside against athletic big men.