Whitfield & Harper

[unlove]

The RebelNet community has been justifiably tough on UNLV leadership over the years. Decades of ineptitude - not only in athletics but particularly in athletics - seemingly squandered a chance for a P4 invite. Fortunately, the combo of Whitfield and Harper has completely turned around our fortunes. They haven’t wasted the value of Fertitta, Allegiant, and the gravitas of LV. Harper has managed the hiring process like a pro while Whitfield has not micro-managed athletics but let the AD do his job (despite continued meddling by regents who feel like it’s their job to be involved in every detail of the institution). Kudos to KW & Harp. They’ve done what we’ve begged to happen for years. Perhaps it’s time to turn the page on the past narrative when it comes to the current leadership and give them they’re due.

 

[Meister_Rebel]

Harper needs a pay raise. He has proven his value. It would hurt UNLV to lose him imo.

 

[unlove]

Harper needs a pay raise. He has proven his value. It would hurt UNLV to lose him imo.

Agreed. Last thing we need is a new AD with a different approach who is not on the same page as Mullen.

 

[Stoker016]

Our next priority should not be basketball and replacing KK. Our next priority needs to be extending Harper at a significantly higher pay level. Basketball can wait.

 

[rebel5280]

Our next priority should not be basketball and replacing KK. Our next priority needs to be extending Harper at a significantly higher pay level. Basketball can wait.

I completely disagree!

 

[Stoker016]

I completely disagree!

If we dont extend Harper and raise, he will be gone within 6 months. Basketball requires an entire rebuild and new coach. Harper has proven to be the man for that. Keeping him needs to be our priority. Then he can replace KK.

 

[Doneoett]

If we dont extend Harper and raise, he will be gone within 6 months. Basketball requires an entire rebuild and new coach. Harper has proven to be the man for that. Keeping him needs to be our priority. Then he can replace KK.

With the right coach a rebuild can almost be done overnight. Harper will be gone soon with raise or no raise. Now is the time to strike while the iron is hot. Football has UNLV in the national spotlight and with hopefully with an equally impressive basketball hire we can hopefully become the Best in the West in the big 2 sports.

 

[Meister_Rebel]

Mullen looks cool in those Van's. Even Harper is checking them out. And, why can't we get some gray balloons. Just saying.

 

[rebel5280]

If we dont extend Harper and raise, he will be gone within 6 months. Basketball requires an entire rebuild and new coach. Harper has proven to be the man for that. Keeping him needs to be our priority. Then he can replace KK.

Basketball can be fixed much quicker than you think, no reason to keep Kevin!
He is not getting it done and those who think we should stay the course are freaking crazy!

Hiring a former HC in basketball does not have to break the bank besides Harper has moved mountains before, who’s to say he can’t do that again as far as fundraising goes!

 

[j. spilotro]

With the right coach a rebuild can almost be done overnight. Harper will be gone soon with raise or no raise. Now is the time to strike while the iron is hot. Football has UNLV in the national spotlight and with hopefully with an equally impressive basketball hire we can hopefully become the Best in the West in the big 2 sports.

Could be the case …. But I don’t think he’s looking to leave UNLV. Some people have their eyes peeled and actively search … others may wait until something drops in their lap and there’s an offer they can’t refuse … others are immovable. He’s one of the last two …

 

[j. spilotro]

Mullen looks cool in those Van's. Even Harper is checking them out. And, why can't we get some gray balloons. Just saying.

If you look closely, that water cooler back there has the same color as the sheen from the Rebel red during Menzies second or third year. Ugliest crap ever. Really showed heavy on the grays. I wonder who saw those and said yeah, these are sharp, they really rep UNLV well …

 

[Meister_Rebel]

If you look closely, that water cooler back there has the same color as the sheen from the Rebel red during Menzies second or third year. Ugliest crap ever. Really showed heavy on the grays. I wonder who saw those and said yeah, these are sharp, they really rep UNLV well …

Is it that orange thing behind the gray trash can?

 

[RebelinWA]

Could be the case …. But I don’t think he’s looking to leave UNLV. Some people have their eyes peeled and actively search … others may wait until something drops in their lap and there’s an offer they can’t refuse … others are immovable. He’s one of the last two …

It helps that his wife also works for UNLV.

 

[Rosegreen1]

If you look closely, that water cooler back there has the same color as the sheen from the Rebel red during Menzies second or third year. Ugliest crap ever. Really showed heavy on the grays. I wonder who saw those and said yeah, these are sharp, they really rep UNLV well …

It’s a Gatorade cooler man.

 

[ckfitz]

I completely disagree!

Harper has done a tremendous job. Show him a huge increase.

 

[rebel5280]

Harper has done a tremendous job. Show him a huge increase.

Let me be clear, a raise for the AD, YES!
Keep Kevin for any reason, NO!

 

[Rebel Hoya]

Our next priority should not be basketball and replacing KK. Our next priority needs to be extending Harper at a significantly higher pay level. Basketball can wait.

Multiple things can get done at the same time. Basketball has needed to be addressed for a long time. An empty T&M and National irrelevance is terrible for the university but easily fixable (easier than football) with a real coach.

 

[rebel5280]

Multiple things can get done at the same time. Basketball has needed to be addressed for a long time. An empty T&M and National irrelevance is terrible for the university but easily fixable (easy than football) with a real coach.

Especially agree with these parts!

 

[j. spilotro]

Basketball is an easy fix. If we are paying over 3M (with a higher commitment towards football), basketball should be a cinch with 2.5M or so per year. And we should not get … well, it looked a tiny bit better/different year one, oh, lookie! A tiny bit better year 2, maybe we can be a 15 seed in year three.

Sorry, that slow growth mindset/acceptance has been part of what has killed this program. Never again. You’re getting paid, get to work, make it show on the court. Lindy did it, Odom did it. That should be the standard if you really want to count in college athletic. Pay the money, get the coach, get the results. If not, gtfoh. IMO.

 

[dcut03]

It will be an interesting decision for basketball. I dont think think there will be money to make a home run hire, but you can shoot your shot with another up and comer.
But it thimk we are looking at a 1 mil per year coach max. Can that get us better value than Kevin? Perhaps.
I have been preaching patience with Kevin, but I have also said that he needs to get better. Well the offense ir lack thereof is awful. No assists in an entire half is just bad basketball. And the defense is predictable and I'm sick of watching teams exploit our over helping tendencies to get wide open shots and/or secure rebounds because everyone everyone leave their man for the ball and no one is blocking out.
Kevin deserves credit for the big wins last year. He doesn't get that at all here. But the template is out on how to beat us and nothing has been done to counter that.
I think we have the talent this year to be a top 50 team. A top PG and a super efficient 5 should yield better results