Rebels, Devils Show They Have a Few Gasps Left

C atching our breath on the road to the Final Two, now that Duke and Nevada Las Vegas have passed their Scholastic Altitude Tests . . .

As predicted, thin air helped thin the field in Denver Saturday. A 26-8 run by Arkansas in the second half left the Razorbacks ahead of Duke, 69-62, but also left them exhausted. In the last 10 minutes, Duke outscored Arkansas, 35-14. Georgia Tech, meanwhile, scored 53 points in the first half against UNLV, but had to gasp its way to 28 points in the second.

You could tell the altitude was getting to Arkansas by the way Coach Nolan Richardson used his bench. In the first 10 minutes, Richardson made 11 player substitutions.

You could tell the altitude was getting to Georgia Tech by the way Coach Bobby Cremins used his bench. Cremins played eight men against UNLV, or about three more than usual.

Georgia Tech lost in spite of unaccustomed scoring balance. Lethal Weapon 3--Kenny Anderson, Dennis Scott and Brian Oliver--accounted for all but four points in last Sunday’s 93-91 victory over Minnesota. But against UNLV, the Unarmed Others--Johnny McNeil and Malcolm Mackey--had five points in the first 5 1/2 minutes.

Time out for a pull on the oxygen mask.

Anderson, Billy Packer’s favorite player in the whole world, must have overdosed on the high praise. Packer called Anderson “possibly the best freshman guard to ever play college basketball” and, along with Brent Musburger, compared the Georgia Tech point guard at various times to Magic Johnson, Wayne Gretzky and a master surgeon, for the way he can slice up a defense.

Showing restraint, no one compared Anderson to Babe Ruth, Lawrence Olivier or Abraham Lincoln.

Best freshman guard ever? Here’s one vote for Magic, if only for the half-foot he has on Anderson.

Suggested title for the movie on Anderson’s life, for there is sure to be one: “My Left Hand.”

UNLV struck a mighty blow for the Big West, but did a greater service for mankind by breaking up a potential all-Atlantic Coast Conference final.

We know the ACC plays good basketball. We don’t need to hear it every hour on the hour.

Duke, in its third consecutive Final Four appearance, is making its fourth trip to the championship game. The Blue Devils are 0-3 there, which has earned Duke some snide references to the Denver Broncos, which are grossly unfair. Duke can play defense and complete passes.

If UNLV’s Stacey Augmon was national defensive player of the year in 1989, what does he get for the second-half job he did on Georgia Tech’s Scott?

Candidate for defensive play of the tournament: Augmon’s stuff of Scott’s flying dunk attempt on a stride-for-stride sprint during a second-half fast break.

Augmon can finish the break all right. On both ends of the floor.

Duke certainly seemed at home amid Arkansas’ “40 Minutes of Hell” defensive press, but with Devils, that would have to figure.

Anyone else notice that two of the Devils’ best players are named Alaa and Christian?

That other freshman point guard, Bobby Hurley of Duke, looked the part. Nerves, an upset stomach and no field goals.

When UNLV began to pull away in the second half, the chant went up from its booster section: “Rebels, Rebels.” Personally, I prefer David Bowie’s version.

Testimony to UNLV’s unflagging depth came after Larry Johnson fouled out with 6:47 remaining. Georgia Tech closed to within a basket (76-74) before the Rebels turned to their own lethal weapon, Anderson Hunt, and outpointed the Yellow Jackets, 14-7, the rest of the way.

Hunt is not quite a match for Scott from three-point land, but he’s close.

Scott is ready for the NBA, at least when it comes to three-pointers. He hit seven of them Saturday, several from the 23 foot to 26 foot range.

UNLV was the first No. 1 seed to survive an ACC opponent in this tournament. Connecticut lost to Duke in the East Regional, Michigan State to Georgia Tech in the Southeast and Oklahoma to North Carolina in the Midwest.

Unsung hero: Georgia Tech’s McNeil, who held Johnson to 15 points and helped foul him out by taking two charges.

Spotted in the Yellow Jacket rooting section: Cardboard signs reading, “Georgia Tech. A helluva school.” So, Cookie Rojas has found a second job.

Wonder how far Duke might have gone had Phil Henderson (28 points) made good on his original plan to transfer to Illinois?

Cremins is a great recruiter, but with Henderson, Mike Krzyzewski had to do one fine job of re-recruiting.

Arkansas was making its first Final Four appearance since 1978. Don’t remind Cal State Fullerton. That year, the Titans lost a last-second thriller to Arkansas in the West Regional final, 61-58.

UNLV and Duke didn’t play this year, but against common opponents (Arkansas, Arizona, North Carolina State, Georgia Tech), the Rebels went 4-0 and the Devils 5-2.

Final One prediction: UNLV 89, Duke 82.