Pack basketball notebook: Fox puts leash on Babbitt

BY DARRELL MOODY

Nevada Appeal Sportswriter

RENO " One of the things that Nevada Wolf Pack basketball coach Mark Fox loves about freshman forward Luke Babbitt is his work ethic.

Babbitt is the proverbial gym rat, spending hours on end working at his game.

Sometimes enough is enough, and that point came this summer.

"I told him to take time off," Fox said. "I called the gyms that he usually goes to and said he's on a two-week break. He went with his family to Florida to visit his grandmother. He (negotiated) it down to 10 and it ended up being seven. He likes to work out, shoot the ball. He's done a nice job. He wants to learn the game at a high level."

Babbitt said he played a little golf on his brief vacation.

The former Galena High School star said he doesn't expect to be very nervous when he takes the floor on Saturday.

"I'll be excited," he said. "Any time you play your first game at the next level ... Maybe I'll be a little nervous."

BURLESON ON COVER;

3 PLAYERS LEFT OUT

The new Nevada basketball media guide was distributed on Thursday, and senior Lyndale Burleson was on the cover.

It's Nevada's policy to put seniors on the cover, and the 6-foot-3 Burleson is the only senior on the Wolf Pack team.

What was surprising is that the media guide didn't include junior Brandon Fields, freshman London Giles and freshman Ahyaro Phillips, all of whom were arrested for petty larceny (shoplifting) Oct. 15. The trio also was left out of the team photo in the media guide.

The charges against Fields have since been dropped. Giles pleaded guilty and had to a pay a fine. Phillips pleaded not guilty and is still awaiting a court date.

Fox said that the three players are still suspended, though he did say he is letting them in the gym to run.

The trio isn't expected to play in Saturday's exhibition opener against San Francisco State at Lawlor Events Center.

HOMECOMING FOR TAHOE STAR

Saturday will be a homecoming for San Francisco State freshman forward Vince Capellino.

Capellino, a 6-foot-6, 180-pound freshman, is expected to see some playing time for the Gators, according to coach Bill Treseler.

"Surprisingly good," Treseler said when asked about Capellino. "He's got to put on some weight, though. It's been a little tough for him, but he's practiced well."

OPEN SEATING

Admission to Saturday's game is $5 and it's open seating. Parking also is open in either of the two parking garages.