Back in 2004, Jon Sandler was working his first postgame call-in radio show as the voice of Rebels basketball on KBAD-AM (920). Such was the interest level in UNLV back then that he almost had to beg people to call. Finally one guy did, and you know what his question was? "Why don't they disband the program altogether?"

Sandler figures the guy was just having a tough night. Because gradually the climate of the calls began to change. And tonight the Rebels will take San Diego State's court with a chance to build on their 21-5 record in preparation for next month's Mountain West Conference Tournament and, very likely, the ensuing NCAA Tournament.

Did you catch Saturday night's game against Wyoming on the Mtn. or hear it on the radio? It's turning eerie, people. The Rebels' Wendell White gets a bloody 12-stitch gash under his chin and comes back on the court, rips off his bandage and leads his team to victory. Who was this? A latter-day Willis Reed?

The Red Sox have their bloody sock. The Rebels have their bloody shirt. You think that didn't generate a few new fans?

John Hanson, KBAD's broadcast manager, says if radio listenership for UNLV basketball was, say, a 1 when Sandler was hired, it's a 10 or more today -- and growing.

Winning is obviously the father of fan interest, but it says here that Sandler and his partner, Glen Gondrezick, also have contributed. I've been tuning into their calls for weeks and am happy to announce that Rebels basketball is in good hands behind the mike, with only a few reservations.

First, the Sandman, who is not your conventional announcer. Sandler, 46, graduated from Stanford and the University of Virginia law school, which produces judges like In-N-Out does burgers. About 15 years ago, he switched careers and began working Las Vegas Stars (now 51s) baseball with Ken Korach, a former Rebels basketball institution. When Korach left to become the voice of the Oakland A's, Sandler filled his big shoes courtside.

Here's the deal with college basketball on radio: KBAD doesn't pay the announcers' salaries, UNLV does. So you expect a certain affinity. Yet Sandler is no "see-no-wrong" homer. He gives you a vivid mental picture and a clear, fair description of the action. I've checked his calls against the TV feed, which is delayed by six seconds on the Mtn., and he's spot on.

Sandler sounds satisfied, of course, when the Rebels are winning. That's fine -- witness Vin Scully on the Dodgers. Yet at the same time the Sandman is honest. When it looked as if the Rebels might be blowing a huge home lead before they recovered against Wyoming on Saturday, a hint of exasperation filled his voice. I identified with it.

Gondrezick, 51, the Rebels' longtime analyst, was a UNLV standout in the mid-1970s before playing several NBA seasons for the Knicks and Nuggets. He considers the Rebels his family, so much so that a few years ago he went as far as calling out players whom he didn't think were giving 100 percent.

If Sandman rates an A, I'd probably award Gondo anything from a C to a B this season, depending on the game he's doing.

On Feb. 3, the Rebels played Brigham Young in Provo, Utah, and got their socks knocked off by 27 points as the Cougars made 15 of 22 3-point attempts. With BYU building a huge first-half lead, Gondo suggested the Rebels should take the ball strong to the basket if they weren't hitting from outside.

OK, but I wanted to hear more -- more insight and more passion.

Which Rebels weren't getting off the blocks? Who was two steps too slow? Why were they trailing in transition? What did they need to risk to contest those Cougars 3s? I wanted Gondrezick to speak with authority.

What I'm hearing is a bit of the Valley Boy in Gondo. He could speak his mind with more conviction and passion. C'mon, Gondo, you can do it. Pull a Wendell White and wear the bloody bandage behind the mike!

Now, on to the tournaments.

Bill Taaffe is a former award-winning TV-Radio sports columnist for Sports Illustrated. His column is published Tuesday. He can be reached at taaffe-reviewjournal@earthlink.net.