Freshman guards play a key role

INDIANAPLOIS - Though just freshmen, Nevada's Ramon Sessions and Texas' Daniel Gibson have meant a great deal to their basketball teams.

Gibson leads the Longhorns in scoring, averaging 14.4 a game, and Sessions averages 9.1 and dishes out more than five assists per game.

The two first-year standouts will be on the biggest stage of their young lives when the Wolf Pack and Texas hook up in a first-round NCAA game today at the RCA Dome.

Without question, neither of these teams would be where they are at today without the success of the first-year point guards.

Sessions was expected to share the point guard spot with Lyndale Burleson. However, when Burleson was declared only a partial qualifier, Sessions became the starter backed up by sophomore Kyle Shiloh.

"Ramon was thrown into a role in which he has learned the point guard spot on the run," Nevada coach Mark Fox said. "I really feel like when we played Kansas (back in November) that, after that game where he had played poorly, the next time out versus Las Vegas he really took some steps forward. Then I knew he was a young man that would be able to learn from adversity and make the necessary adjustments and he'd grow into a solid player."

Sophomore standout Nick Fazekas agreed.

"Ramon has been a great addition to the team," Fazekas said. "I don't think we'd be here without him. I really have to tip my hat to him being the only freshman and stepping up the way he has."

The impressive thing about Sessions is that nothing seems to faze him. His expression rarely changes, and he plays far beyond his years.

"I thought I would be able to contribute right away," Sessions said prior to the Wolf Pack's 30-minute public practice. "Coach Fox says that about me all the time. He always says I bounce back after a bad game. The games speak for themselves."

Sessions started the season with back-to-back games with no turnovers. He is one assist shy of tying Kevin Soares' freshman record. He scored in double figures in nine of 18 WAC games, including a season-best 23 in a road win over Boise State.

While Sessions can be considered a role player, Gibson has improved steadily through the season.

Gibson said he would give himself a B grade for his play this year.

"To reach A status, I need to become a better leader vocally as far as teaching guys and getting them to stay motivated, like letting them know in any situation we'll be all right," he said. " I need to work on that and become a smarter basketball player."

Texas center Jason Klotz said Gibson is being too hard on himself.

"I'd give him an A," Klotz said. "Probably at the beginning of the season, I wold have given him a C. Every time he got the chance to shoot he'd let it go like he'd been there for five years. He's become such a great player. I'm impressed with how much he's gotten better. he's got so much energy, and he has done a great job of managing the game and not turning the ball over. I've never been this confident with a point guard since T.J. Ford."

That's pretty heady stuff.

"It was tough at first to be compared to him because I really looked up to him," Gibson said. "Taking over at point guard as a freshman was a different world for me, but I think I've improved as I've gone along."

Texas coach Rick Barnes said it might be unfair to comapre Gibson with Ford.

"It's tough to make a comparison," Barnes said. "T.J. came here with a team that was more seasoned and experienced. I really admire Daniel for what he went through this season. He was playing with a different team almost every game. Both have the attitude that they want to get better. They are like sponges the way they soak up the game of basketball."

THE MASKED MAN

Nick Fazekas, who has worn a mask for three games since breaking his nose at Fresno State in late February, said he has made some minor adjustments.

"I now have a strap that goes over my head to help keep it in place better," he said. "I got hit a few times in the Boise game. It's more in place so it won't move (when I get hit)."

NO TREYS, NO WORRIES

Nevada is one of the worst three-point shooting teams in the country, averaging 26.0 percent through 30 games.

Fox doesn't seem to be too concerned by the deficiency.

"Three-point shooting has been a topic of conversation throughout our season," Fox said. "We were last in our league in three-point shooting, but we were first in wins. A big problem of our three-point shooting had to do with shot selection. We'll probably make a few tomorrow. Our guys have the green light to shoot it, they just have to shoot the right ones."

NOT AS MANY FANS HERE

One of the big differences between this year's first and second-round games compared to last year in Seattle is the amount of fans, according to Fox.

"This year is a little different, because last year we were in Seattle and had tons of fans that were able to make the trip," Fox said. "We're not so fortunate this year. It's difficult for our fans to get here.

"Keith Smart (former Indiana star) is a friend of mine, so I called him last night and asked if he could get the Hoosier fans to root for us. Last year was a little different because maybe there was a little more pageantry. We had more people travel, but that's just part of the event and experience. It still comes down to making basketball plays."

Fox played at Garden City Community College in Garden City, Kansas, and that's how he met Smart. They have remained friends for nearly 20 years.

QUICK HITS

A total of 25 media members from Nevada made the trek to Indy, according to Jamie Klund, Nevada sports information director. All three Reno-area television stars are in town... Seth Taylor said he never followed the Longhorns much because he grew up in the Dallas area ... Mo Charlo could be in for a big game with his ability to drive to the basket, and he will have at least a three-inch height advantage over all of the Texas guards. Texas' biggest guard is 6-4 Sydmill Harris.