Eric Musselman went to his first football game at UNR a few weeks ago and saw the excitement and emotion and tension that is a rivalry with UNLV. The days and hours and minutes and seconds passed as kickoff grew closer, causing those who love and support the Wolf Pack and all that is blue to become more and more animated. He believes it can happen in basketball, too.
The future is always about three weeks in March, because fair or not, sensible or foolish, right or wrong, college basketball teams and those who coach them are ultimately judged on how they perform once the madness begins.
Think of the NBA and its perception of Las Vegas as the weekend tourist who only takes in the best sights, who catches a show and enjoys a wonderful meal and gambles just enough to experience the rush but not to the point of losing next month’s mortgage.
Remember when a parade was being planned in Cleveland? Stephen Curry just rained on it, dropping one 3-pointer after another in the type of surreal shooting display that only seems possible in a video game.
A majority of bettors backed the Chicago Bulls in their must-win spot against the Cleveland Cavaliers, who dominated in a 94-73 win. Favorite bettors also got burned with the Los Angeles Clippers, who blew a 19-point lead with 14 minutes left in a 119-107 loss to the Houston Rockets.
Dave Rice just concluded his fourth season as UNLV’s coach, his second straight without a postseason appearance, and it is no secret that his job is in jeopardy after an 18-15 season. Rice and athletic director Tina Kunzer-Murphy are expected to meet this week.
Youth is out the window now. Youth doesn’t dictate effort. First-graders can play hard all the time if they want, or at least if there is a special treat at snack time for those who look engaged. Chris Wood should take notice.
For argument’s sake, let’s wonder: What if Rashad McCants is telling the truth? What does that say about Roy Williams?
The origin dates to Elizabeth Barrett Browning in 1839. The line was later listed as “The third time is lucky.” UNLV doesn’t need such fortune Friday night. But it better be a whole lot smarter than it was Thursday.
Believe it or not, it’s not all about underdog stories in March. Sometimes, it’s about a survival of the favorites, such as Kansas, which escaped early elimination by following freshman leader Andrew Wiggins.
Even before he shoved a loud-mouthed, obnoxious fan, Marcus Smart made a bigger mistake. He returned to Oklahoma State when he would have been a top-five pick, and possibly the No. 1 pick, in last summer’s NBA Draft.
It was turn-back-the-clock night for Dwyane Wade, and as a result, a wild series is right back where it started. But maybe it’s not that wild, because this is what was expected.
Perhaps the folks at Guinness have a record on it. Might be worth checking.
What is the difference? Five percent more effort? Ten? An extra arm length? Two?
