V.J. calls his shots/ Scoring not the top priority for Air Force

Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Feb 28, 2002 by Tim Mimick

The fans at Clune Arena have a nickname for Vernard Jenkins. They scream it almost every time he gets the basketball. It's "Shoot!!"

OK, it's probably not his nickname. It's more likely the command from anxious fans. They want the Air Force junior starting point guard with the rippling muscles and dagger eyes to pump up a shot when he's so open from the 3-point line.

In early February at Clune Arena, even the opposition got on his case for his reluctance to fire.

"Some of the New Mexico assistant coaches were yelling during the game, 'Shoot the ball, V.J.! Shoot it, V.J.!' That kind of ticked me off," Jenkins said Wednesday. "I see that I could make those shots now."

He worked long to hone his outside shot. It needed it. Jenkins hit only 28.4 percent from 3-point range last season.

Scoring still isn't his priority. In 848 minutes this season, he's taken 84 shots - an average of a shot every 10 minutes. He's shooting 47.6 percent from the field and 32.4 percent on 3s (11-of-34). In Mountain West Conference games, he's 7-of-20 on 3-pointers for 35 percent.

Of course, he's been open for 100 3-pointers in league games and decided to pass. It's just a change of habit for a guy who averaged 15 points as a senior at Norland High School in Miami.

"You got to adjust to different systems," Jenkins said. "In this structured offense that we have, I have opportunities to score. I can score off screen-aways or off drifts or stuff like that.

"I don't have to score. You look at our starting five besides me: (Lamoni) Yazzie, A.J. (Kuhle), Joel (Gerlach) and Tommy (Bellairs). I really don't need to score. A lot of people get on me for not shooting, but I don't have to score for us to win. I'm not going for 30; I'm going for a win. You already got four big scorers right there in the starting five."

Among his biggest boosters is Air Force coach Joe Scott. He points out the improved shooting by Jenkins in the league. Scott notes that Jenkins concentrates on other aspects typically associated with a point guard. Scott wants Jenkins to shoot the ball when the defense collapses off him, handle the ball without turning it over, play hard- edged defense and give the team crisp direction.

"His on-the-ball defense has been very good," Scott said. "He loves to play defense. He still needs to get better on his off-the- ball defense and stay alert. For a 5-foot-9 guy who's fast, he should be able to play defense and he certainly does that.

"And don't say he can't shoot. He just wasn't taking the shots. I'm not concerned about his shooting. He's shown it in this league. When he plays his game like we know he can, we play pretty well."

Tonight in Las Vegas, Jenkins will start off by guarding UNLV 6-1 junior guard Marcus Banks, who is averaging 16.3 points. Banks planted 36 last week on San Diego State. He leads his team in assists (72 total) and steals (53), is second in scoring and fourth in rebounding (77).

Jenkins averages 4.3 points, has a team-high 43 steals and 58 assists with 50 rebounds.

More might be needed from Jenkins because of the sprained ankle that could sideline Yazzie. Freshman Tim Keller would step into the starting role for the fifth time but first in a league game, with Donny Legans getting more minutes as a top substitute.

Matching up with Banks is an assignment that had Jenkins wearing his usual stern look.

"I don't talk to an opponent; they talk to me, oh, yeah, do they talk to me," Jenkins said. "I don't say a word. I let my actions do my talking. There isn't anyone - and I'm serious - when they're coming down court and I'm in my defensive stance and I'm staring dead at them, well, they know that that's enough talking right there. That's all I need to do right there."

- Tim Mimick may be reached at 636-0365 or tmim@gazette.com

AIR FORCE at UNLV MEN

When: 8:35 tonight.

Where: Thomas & Mack Center (18,500 seats) in Las Vegas.

TV: None. Radio: KVOR-AM (740), 8p.m. pregame show.

Records: Air Force has lost four consecutive games to fall to 9- 16 overall and 3-9 in the Mountain West Conference. UNLV is 16-9 and 7-5.

Series: UNLV leads 13-1 after losing the first game. UNLV won 66- 54 on Jan.7 in Clune Arena.

Notes: Air Force senior guard Lamoni Yazzie (sprained right ankle) is questionable tonight and probable for the game Saturday at San Diego State. Yazzie re-sprained his tender ankle with about 3 minutes remaining in the loss Monday night to Colorado State. ... Sophomore A.J. Kuhle played all 40 minutes in each of the past five Air Force games. He set an academy record last month by playing 59 minutes in the four-overtime loss at Wyoming. "A.J. Kuhle doesn't make mistakes," Air Force coach Joe Scott said. "That's a guy we depend upon." ... Game time for the San Diego State game Saturday has been moved up to 7:35p.m.