... it's HOW that drives me insane! I've been a season ticket holder, booster recruiter, travel squad supporter, etc... ever since I entered adulthood. Truth is I find myself battling apathy with Rice.
Don't get me wrong, I was front row, arms raised, and celebrating at the MGM. I was clapping my hands and shouting at the TV during the Indiana game.
However, this year feels like the last 4 for me. Some signs of greatness, but an overall feel like our winning is a byproduct of accidental/athletic superiority. Not to say that Rice never put a good gameplan together that works, but my OPINION is that the kids, when push comes to shove, don't respect him. They may love him, they may support him, but they don't respect him.
How can I blame them? I'm embarrassed of his folded arm, pouty face tantrums. I HATE Steve Alford with a passion, but when the camera shows him working a ref, or getting after a player, I feel a sense of motivation inspired by respect that the player must have for him. With Rice I feel like I'm standing behind some awkward, pouty customer at a restaurant who everyone rolls their eyes at.
The worst part is the talent he brings in... because the recruiting is soooo good! I would hate to go back to celebrating about a 3* Grandy Glaze committing to UNLV. But at least in those days we had something to hang our hat on. We were the team with a walk on, a 26 year old construction worker, and a 6'6" center.
Now, it seems that everyone in the Basketball world KNOWS what we deny... Dave is fantastic in the living room and terrible on the court.
Thats my 2 cents.
Don't get me wrong, I was front row, arms raised, and celebrating at the MGM. I was clapping my hands and shouting at the TV during the Indiana game.
However, this year feels like the last 4 for me. Some signs of greatness, but an overall feel like our winning is a byproduct of accidental/athletic superiority. Not to say that Rice never put a good gameplan together that works, but my OPINION is that the kids, when push comes to shove, don't respect him. They may love him, they may support him, but they don't respect him.
How can I blame them? I'm embarrassed of his folded arm, pouty face tantrums. I HATE Steve Alford with a passion, but when the camera shows him working a ref, or getting after a player, I feel a sense of motivation inspired by respect that the player must have for him. With Rice I feel like I'm standing behind some awkward, pouty customer at a restaurant who everyone rolls their eyes at.
The worst part is the talent he brings in... because the recruiting is soooo good! I would hate to go back to celebrating about a 3* Grandy Glaze committing to UNLV. But at least in those days we had something to hang our hat on. We were the team with a walk on, a 26 year old construction worker, and a 6'6" center.
Now, it seems that everyone in the Basketball world KNOWS what we deny... Dave is fantastic in the living room and terrible on the court.
Thats my 2 cents.
