San Diego State Planning to Run With Rebels Today

The match between Nevada Las Vegas and San Diego State in today’s NCAA Western Regionals could be a furious volley of baskets.

San Diego State Coach Smokey Gaines said he prefers going against UNLV’s Runnin’ Rebels to a team that plays a slowdown game.

“They’ll probably have to get three or four scoreboards,” Gaines said. “It will be a spectators’ game. Folks better keep their heads up because it’s going to be like a tennis match.

“Man for man I think UNLV has the edge. But, I think we can beat them if we play like we did in the Western Athletic Conference Tournament.”

Today’s opening round in Salt Lake City also includes St. John’s against Southern, Arkansas versus Iowa and Washington against Kentucky. Kentucky is in the NCAA tournament for a record 29th year.

St. John’s (27-3) is top seeded in the West with UNLV (27-3) seeded second.

St. John’s Coach Lou Carnesecca said his team’s trip to Salt Lake City was something of a homecoming, referring to his three seasons as coach of the New York Nets in the old ABA and games against the defunct Utah Stars.

“I’m going back home as a matter of fact,” Carnesecca said. “There are a lot of fruit growers out there who are Italian. There are guys with my last name. It’s true. You think I’m kidding?”

He’s not. There are eight Carnesecca families in Utah County, just south of Salt Lake, and one in Salt Lake.