UNLV and Miami

[OregonDucks]

Why isn't unlv a consistent power in college basketball? You're recruiting 18-19 year old kids to Vegas....unlike football where I understand how they might not be good, in basketball of you're a D1 school you have a chance of always winning the title.

Same goes for miami, but I guess you could argue they must compete in the ACC.

But UNLV baffles me....of every team in their conference they have the best location. You also have a bit of tradition from the 90s to build off of.

 

[Sgt Brutus]

Cause off-the-strip vegas sucks

 

[OregonDucks]

How far off are they??

Aren't they near the airport? That's like 15 min drive.....

 

[OregonDucks]

You also have somewhat of a social acceptance for recruiting misfits...seems like you could get away with recruiting whoever you wanted

 

[Sgt Brutus]

I wonder what their facilities are like? Probably nothing compared to the powerhouse schools

 

[Sgt Brutus]

Like with any program I feel if you put the money and commitment from the uni towards the program you can make them winners. Just guess UNLV doesn't value bball as much.

 

[OregonDucks]

I wonder what their facilities are like? Probably nothing compared to the powerhouse schools

True....but you could substitute the lack of facilities pitch to the strip.

 

[OregonDucks]

I guess these are 18-19 year old kids who aren't old enough to gamble.....and if they are that good probably won't be around long enough to be there to gamble and truly enjoy the party life of Vegas....HA

 

[Sgt Brutus]

I guess these are 18-19 year old kids who aren't old enough to gamble.....and if they are that good probably won't be around long enough to be there to gamble and truly enjoy the party life of Vegas....HA

That's a good point. Neither would they be allowed to gamble. Besides why go to Vegas when sunny Cali is right next door with beaches and babes? Or AZ down south with two good colleges

 

[OregonDucks]

That's a good point. Neither would they be allowed to gamble. Besides why go to Vegas when sunny Cali is right next door with beaches and babes? Or AZ down south with two good colleges

True...think we answered the question then regarding unlv...Vegas would absolutely blow if you weren't old enough to enjoy the strip...

 

[Wamu]

I wonder what their facilities are like? Probably nothing compared to the powerhouse schools

I was a UNLV season ticket holder from the 2006-07 season until the 2009-10 season. The Runnin' Rebels play their home games @ the Thomas & Mack (which seats more than 18,500) & there's nothing wrong at all w/ that arena. I don't remember exactly what year this was (it was recent) but the school built a state-of-the-art workout facility right around the corner from the T & M, it's top notch. Former HC Lon Kruger was taking the program in the right direction before he left for OK. Dave Rice replaced him & the program has taken a step back. Rice is the reason (at least in my opinion) as to why they have not gotten better but actually worse. The school should have hired Reggie Theus instead.

 

[OregonDucks]

Wasn't rice the dude who was under a bunch of best for throwing balls at players while at Rice? His dad calls blazer games on local tv..

 

[Sgt Brutus]

I was a UNLV season ticket holder from the 2006-07 season until the 2009-10 season. The Runnin' Rebels play their home games @ the Thomas & Mack (which seats more than 18,500) & there's nothing wrong at all w/ that arena. I don't remember exactly what year this was (it was recent) but the school built a state-of-the-art workout facility right around the corner from the T & M, it's top notch. Former HC Lon Kruger was taking the program in the right direction before he left for OK. Dave Rice replaced him & the program has taken a step back. Rice is the reason (at least in my opinion) as to why they have not gotten better but actually worse. The school should have hired Reggie Theus instead.

Thank you for the insight cause I dont follow college bball that closely. I'm sure eventually they'll build it up again cause it sounds like they have good facilities and are wanting to make it a great program again. Sounds like with the right coach theyll be right back in there.

 

[Wamu]

Wasn't rice the dude who was under a bunch of best for throwing balls at players while at Rice? His dad calls blazer games on local tv..

Dave Rice has no connection to Rice U. His coaching stops before he got his 1st HCing gig in The Desert were at: UNLV (grad assistant, '91-'92), Chaffey CC (asst. '92-'93), UNLV (asst. '93-'04), Utah St. (asst. '04-'05) & BYU (asst. '05-'11).

 

[Wamu]

Thank you for the insight cause I dont follow college bball that closely. I'm sure eventually they'll build it up again cause it sounds like they have good facilities and are wanting to make it a great program again. Sounds like with the right coach theyll be right back in there.

No problem. Been following the UNLV hoops program since the mid 80's. My fear is Rice won't get fired & he'll single handedly set the program back a decade or so. Injuries aside this year his sorry ass should have been fired the moment the 2014-15 season ended for the Runnin' Rebels.

 

[uncfan103]

I haven't read the whole thread. But maybe it's because the athletes are spending too much time on the strip

I guess these are 18-19 year old kids who aren't old enough to gamble.....and if they are that good probably won't be around long enough to be there to gamble and truly enjoy the party life of Vegas....HA

Or it's because most of the schools of their caliber rely on experience and are senior led teams but at UNLV when the athletes get older they spend too much time on the strip. Lol.

 

[Texas Jefe]

Cause off-the-strip vegas sucks

not sure why anyone would want to go live in Vegas- unless you're an illiterate boxer who has 100 million in his checking account, or a performer who has a multi-million contract to perform every night, etc.

 

[jontaejones]

Las Vegas is the LAST place you want a team where you are trying to keep kids clean and committed to the team.

 

[Macho Grande]

not sure why anyone would want to go live in Vegas- unless you're an illiterate boxer who has 100 million in his checking account, or a performer who has a multi-million contract to perform every night, etc.

I loved Vegas when I lived there. An hour one direction, you've got camping/skiing on Mt Charleston. An hour the other direction you've got water recreation on lake mead. There's always a Casino with a race and sports book close by when you feel like betting on a ball game or playing the ponies. I'd make a couple of bets and sit there drinking free cocktails while I watched 20 different tv's showing more games than anyone can handle. Cheap food on top of that. I also loved the fact that hardly anything closed down at night. If me and my friends felt like going bowling or playing pool at 3:00 am, we just went an did it. And the weather is tough to beat for someone like me who hates if it drops below 35. A guy can do a lot worse than Vegas.

 

[Texas Jefe]

I loved Vegas when I lived there. An hour one direction, you've got camping/skiing on Mt Charleston. An hour the other direction you've got water recreation on lake mead. There's always a Casino with a race and sports book close by when you feel like betting on a ball game or playing the ponies. I'd make a couple of bets and sit there drinking free cocktails while I watched 20 different tv's showing more games than anyone can handle. Cheap food on top of that. And the weather is tough to beat for someone like me who hates if it drops below 35. A guy can do a lot worse than Vegas.

I know, a lot of people like it there. Have some bizness associates who lived there, they liked it. I just never got the allure of the place (traveled there for work numerous times).

The weather was nothing special to me, since I live in similar weather. And casinos never interested me- saw it as a place to visit, but dont think I'd want to live there (unless it was for a good job, of course).