He ran into a box-out and fell down. That was the foul called. That one. Utah State’s basketball team led once all game, and it was the only time that mattered.
UNLV Basketball
UNLV’s basketball team played by far its best game of the Kevin Kruger Era on Wednesday night, routing No. 8 Creighton at the Dollar Loan Center.
UNLV played better than that forgettable loss to Loyola Marymount, walking away a winner on Tuesday night before an announced gathering of 7,327 at Thomas Mack Center.
A sixth year of eligibility means Michigan State fans will finally get to experience the former Bishop Gorman standout as a player and, more important, a man.
UNLV has never lost 17 games in a season. It’s one defeat from doing so. The collapse of its program is almost sad to watch, but knowing why it collapsed is even worse.
When the call came from UNR basketball coach Eric Musselman about Dave Rice possibly joining his staff, too much made sense, professionally and personally, not to listen.
Two days after their coach was fired midway through his fourth season, having lost six of their previous eight games and sitting at 0-3 to begin Mountain West play, UNLV basketball players were implored by their new leader to run.
UNLV basketball coach Dave Rice spoke from a hallway adjacent to the Mendenhall Center’s practice courts, several of his players gathering inside that doorway as the likes of James Harden and Kevin Durant and Dwight Howard and Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul competed in drills. They watched every dribble, soaked in every pass.
An issue that has tormented the Rebels for most of the Mountain West season did them in again Thursday, when UNLV emerged from its locker room at intermission and promptly gave up a six-point lead, watching helplessly as San Diego State opened the second half on a 12-0 run.
There is another slogan. It’s not about running this time.
My immediate reaction Friday: It’s a loss. It could prove to be a big one. There is a reason those who interviewed at UNLV for the head coaching position in basketball more than two years ago listed Justin Hutson as the assistant they would pursue hardest when forming a staff.
I’m not sure Brice Massamba ever is going to be that guy. The one who rules a basketball key. The one whose presence is so strong, he dwarfs even a reasonably large defender holding on from behind. The one so athletic, he glides more than rumbles down a court, so nimble, he rises more than jumps.
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