I have been one of the most loyal Dave Rice supporters from the beginning. Our relationship goes way back to when he recruited Marcus Banks to UNLV three different times. Let me start by saying I think Dave is a great person, extremely intelligent and knows basketball very well. One does not coach for the coaches he has coached for and with over the years without learning some things, especially when one is intelligent to begin with, and as a Rhodes scholar candidate, we know he is intelligent.
But it is more than that, he treats people with respect and kindness, and has a huge amount of loyalty. This is what makes what I have to say next so difficult. After years of watching his teams, I have come to conclusion that although I think he is a great coach, I do not think he is a great head coach. Some just never are... Take Grg for example, it was not what he was made for.
I have watched UNLV teams with superior talent repeatedly lose to inferior talented teams. I have watched huge leads dissipate to losses. But what bothers me the most is the repeated problems that surface year after year. Lack of good guard play, lack of toughness, lack of killer instinct, and worst of all a lack of consistency. I do not know why he continues to have these problems, but I do know that teams will often mirror their coaches.
Is Dave inconsistent in his approach to dealing with players, with discipline with teaching techniques? I have often watched his players in huddles looking around and not paying attention to what is being said, with a look of disinterest on their faces. I do think his players like him, I do not know if they fear or respect him at all, and there needs to be a healthy amount of both. I have already lost hope that I can count on a tourney appearance or run this year. I am not saying it can't happen, because with inconsistency sometimes comes positive results, but too often for UNLV that has not been the case. Again, I respect, and admire coach Rice a great deal, and it pains me to say it, but when all is on the line, all the old problems tend to reappear. With a complete change of players over the years the only consistency has been the inconsistency put forward by Coach Rice's teams. Hoping for the best.
But it is more than that, he treats people with respect and kindness, and has a huge amount of loyalty. This is what makes what I have to say next so difficult. After years of watching his teams, I have come to conclusion that although I think he is a great coach, I do not think he is a great head coach. Some just never are... Take Grg for example, it was not what he was made for.
I have watched UNLV teams with superior talent repeatedly lose to inferior talented teams. I have watched huge leads dissipate to losses. But what bothers me the most is the repeated problems that surface year after year. Lack of good guard play, lack of toughness, lack of killer instinct, and worst of all a lack of consistency. I do not know why he continues to have these problems, but I do know that teams will often mirror their coaches.
Is Dave inconsistent in his approach to dealing with players, with discipline with teaching techniques? I have often watched his players in huddles looking around and not paying attention to what is being said, with a look of disinterest on their faces. I do think his players like him, I do not know if they fear or respect him at all, and there needs to be a healthy amount of both. I have already lost hope that I can count on a tourney appearance or run this year. I am not saying it can't happen, because with inconsistency sometimes comes positive results, but too often for UNLV that has not been the case. Again, I respect, and admire coach Rice a great deal, and it pains me to say it, but when all is on the line, all the old problems tend to reappear. With a complete change of players over the years the only consistency has been the inconsistency put forward by Coach Rice's teams. Hoping for the best.
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