There is no connection between the three topics.
1. I like this team because they play hard and hustle. It would be nice if they could win more games! Their hustle is the primary reason they do so well on the offensive boards. That and the fact that they miss so many shots. I would like to think that shooting is something that can improve. Hustle is more innate, you either bring it to the table or not. Certainly the free throw shooting has improved. That gives me hope.
Actually there is a connection between the first topic and Tarkanian. I think those of us who were rebel fans during the glory days got very, very spoiled by the success of Tarkanian. This makes it doubly or triply hard to abide the fall from grace since those heady days.
2. There is no disputing that Tarkanian was an exceptionally successful basketball coach. You could argue, based on the fact that he built a dynasty at a no name school in the middle of no where, that he was the best college coach ever. Leaving that argument aside, I have often wondered what his genius was. Did he see talent in players that other coaches missed? Was he able to get players to play at a level higher than other coaches? Was he a great tactician? Did the rapport he was able to establish with players what set him apart? Was it something else or all of the above? If anyone has any insight into this question please share it.
3. UNLV is only going to survive as a major player in athletics if it can join one of the P5 conferences. Reaching Tier 1 status is an important step in that direction. A necessary step but unfortunately not a sufficient step. The new stadium and the dynamism of Las Vegas, are other pluses. The move up to Tier 1 is partially based on the number of doctorate degrees awarded and research grants received. The development of those two areas was only possible because of the decision made during Maxson's reign to push the regents to allow UNLV to offer PhD programs.
Before that push, there was implicit agreement that UNR was the research PhD granting institution in Nevada. When Maxson got PhD's in Biology and English approved, the floodgates opened for more PhD programs to follow. Without that foresight and impetus, UNLV would never have been able to reach Tier 1 status. Many other people, since that time, have helped in this quest, but it started while Maxson was president and he deserves a modicum of credit for the outcome -- Tier 1 status.
1. I like this team because they play hard and hustle. It would be nice if they could win more games! Their hustle is the primary reason they do so well on the offensive boards. That and the fact that they miss so many shots. I would like to think that shooting is something that can improve. Hustle is more innate, you either bring it to the table or not. Certainly the free throw shooting has improved. That gives me hope.
Actually there is a connection between the first topic and Tarkanian. I think those of us who were rebel fans during the glory days got very, very spoiled by the success of Tarkanian. This makes it doubly or triply hard to abide the fall from grace since those heady days.
2. There is no disputing that Tarkanian was an exceptionally successful basketball coach. You could argue, based on the fact that he built a dynasty at a no name school in the middle of no where, that he was the best college coach ever. Leaving that argument aside, I have often wondered what his genius was. Did he see talent in players that other coaches missed? Was he able to get players to play at a level higher than other coaches? Was he a great tactician? Did the rapport he was able to establish with players what set him apart? Was it something else or all of the above? If anyone has any insight into this question please share it.
3. UNLV is only going to survive as a major player in athletics if it can join one of the P5 conferences. Reaching Tier 1 status is an important step in that direction. A necessary step but unfortunately not a sufficient step. The new stadium and the dynamism of Las Vegas, are other pluses. The move up to Tier 1 is partially based on the number of doctorate degrees awarded and research grants received. The development of those two areas was only possible because of the decision made during Maxson's reign to push the regents to allow UNLV to offer PhD programs.
Before that push, there was implicit agreement that UNR was the research PhD granting institution in Nevada. When Maxson got PhD's in Biology and English approved, the floodgates opened for more PhD programs to follow. Without that foresight and impetus, UNLV would never have been able to reach Tier 1 status. Many other people, since that time, have helped in this quest, but it started while Maxson was president and he deserves a modicum of credit for the outcome -- Tier 1 status.
Robert Nixon@RobertN58394097
