Conflict could have Rebels basketball, football playing at same time

UNLV football coach Bobby Hauck doesn't get worked up about what he can't control, so he won't worry about possibly going head to head with Dave Rice and the UNLV basketball team Saturday.

But it is a concern for the athletic department, which wanted to move the 7 p.m. football game against San Diego State at Sam Boyd Stadium to earlier in the day. The basketball team might make the championship game of the Las Vegas Invitational at 7:30 p.m. at Orleans Arena, and No. 1 North Carolina would be the expected opponent.

But The Mtn. declined to move the football game. The network will air Wyoming at No. 7 Boise State at 11 a.m. and Air Force at Colorado State at 3 p.m., and prefers to show the Rebels-Aztecs game live rather than on tape delay.

"That's what we want, too, but obviously we want the opportunity for fans to support both programs," said UNLV deputy athletic director Jerry Koloskie, who didn't blame The Mtn. "We were the ones who made the decision to play in a multiteam event at the Orleans.

"One thing I've learned in 30 years of doing this is it's never easy. All things would've been great if the basketball games would've been at noon and 2:30 (p.m.) or the football game at noon. It would've been nice if it had worked out to our advantage, but we understood it might not."

There is a chance the games won't conflict. If the basketball team loses to Southern California on Friday, its game Saturday will be at 4:30 p.m.

Not that Hauck hopes that happens.

"Go Rebs in both spots," he said, wanting Rice to get a shot at the Tar Heels. "I'll be talking to Dave after the game, hopefully both of us celebrating a win."

Hauck's team (2-8, 1-4 Mountain West Conference) figured to have enough trouble drawing fans and viewers to its home finale against San Diego State (6-4, 3-3) that traditionally is a tough sell.

But Hauck will let others handle the marketing end.

"We've got enough to worry about," he said.

Such as trying to stop Aztecs quarterback Ryan Lindley and running back Ronnie Hillman. Lindley has passed for 2,307 yards and 18 touchdowns, and Hillman has rushed for 1,286 yards and 13 TDs. Hillman's per-game average of 128.6 yards ranks fifth nationally, but an ankle injury limited him to three carries for 8 yards in Saturday's 52-35 loss to Boise State.

Aztecs coach Rocky Long told The San Diego Union-Tribune he expected Hillman to be further along this week.

"We have to anticipate Hillman's playing," Hauck said.

UNLV running back Dionza Bradford, who injured an arm in Saturday's 45-17 loss at Air Force, is expected to start.

Backup quarterback Sean Reilly might remained sidelined because of an undisclosed injury.

"He's still pretty banged up," Hauck said. "He's practicing, he's trying, but he's still struggling health-wise a little bit."

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow him on Twitter: @markanderson65.