March 9, 1999
By Paul Gutierrez
Review-Journal
LAS VEGAS - A day after learning his team's season was prolonged for at least one game, UNLV coach Bill Bayno got more good news.
Shawn Marion said he's staying for his senior year.
After dodging the question down the stretch of the regular season, the Rebels' leading scorer and rebounder finally addressed it before UNLV practiced Monday.
"I'm staying," the junior small forward said matter-of-factly. "I just am. I have nothing else to say about it right now. I'm just staying."
Bayno was caught off-guard when told of Marion's plans.
"Look at my smile," Bayno said. "I was not even planning to talk to Shawn about that until after the season. I just felt that was in his best interest and our best interest. But he's a levelheaded kid, and for him to say that obviously says a lot about him as a person."
The Rebels (16-12) were about to practice in preparation for their trip to Nebraska to take on the Cornhuskers (19-12) in the National Invitation Tournament on Wednesday at 5:05 p.m. PST.
"That's tremendous news," Bayno said. "I obviously had no idea -- I'm worried about Nebraska. But I think that's great."
So while Marion wouldn't elaborate on what factored into his decision to stay at UNLV, it's apparent he was not satisfied with the Rebels' flameout to close the regular season.
Before Marion stepped onto the Maryland Parkway campus, he was being touted as UNLV's best junior college transfer since Larry Johnson.
Marion's credentials were solid enough. He was, after all, coming off a sophomore season at Vincennes University in Indiana when he was named the National Junior College Athletic Association's Male Student Athlete of the Year after averaging 23.5 points and 13.1 rebounds. He also set a national junior college tournament rebounding record with 68 in five games.
His statistics weren't as gaudy this year, though he was UNLV's steadiest performer in a confounding season that saw the Rebels start 4-6 and win 10 of their next 11 before losing five of their last seven.
Marion has averaged 18.8 points and 9.3 rebounds overall and 20.4 points and 10.1 rebounds in Western Athletic Conference games. He has a team-high 11 double-doubles, with a current streak of four.
His career game came in UNLV's 76-72 home loss to Texas Christian on Feb. 22, when he had 34 points, 21 rebounds and six steals.
Still, though, he was not guaranteed of being a lottery pick in this year's NBA Draft. And with the recent lockout, the draft almost will be a draft-and-a-half, with a lot of this season's rookies still trying to prove themselves.
With Marion coming back, UNLV's chances to amend for its underachieving ways this season get a much-needed boost.
Individually, Marion could use another year at the Division I level to polish his game, though some would suggest he could get that instruction sooner in the NBA than at UNLV.
Marion has a chance to be a league preseason Player of the Year as UNLV joins the fledgling Mountain West Conference. And with Bayno's seemingly undying loyalty to seniors, Marion's statistics undoubtedly will improve.
He also has a shot at becoming UNLV's first postseason All-American since J.R. Rider and Dedan Thomas in 1993.
Perhaps Bayno really does know why Marion wants to stick around for another year.
"This last road trip, his head was in a book every free minute he had when I went into study halls," Bayno said. "I know he wants to graduate."
