Rice takes risks but brings relevancy

The tweets began locally and across the college basketball map Saturday afternoon, mostly skeptical opinions from those who cover the sport about the latest transfer to declare his intentions of playing for UNLV.

The consensus: Jelan Kendrick is a risk the Rebels don't need to take.

Welcome to the recruiting world of a top-25 program and its accompanying scrutiny. It means your program matters.

Dave Rice is entering just his second season as head coach but has landed enough high-profile players to make an already delirious fan base even more excited while climbing under the skin of peers who question how Rice and his staff have found so much early recruiting success.

Kendrick committed to the Rebels over the weekend and will arrive from junior college in 2013, a McDonald's All-American who was dismissed from the Memphis program before lasting one season at Mississippi, a 6-foot-7-inch point guard whose skills aren't questioned but whose attitude is.

His past issues appear to be more of the knucklehead type than any serious transgressions, although you would think his creativity as a lead guard would be of a high level after walking into the stands before a game at Mississippi, getting his girlfriend and leaving the arena.

Well, there's a new one.

Kendrick said all the right things when committing Saturday, and you would hope he would at this point. If it doesn't work out or Kendrick's third chance goes by the way of his previous two, it will be on Rice to answer why and if taking the player was worth it.

Rice can't comment on Kendrick until the player signs a national letter of intent but can speak to his own recruiting philosophy while building a program that will find itself ranked to begin the season.

"I think there is risk any time we recruit anybody or do anything," Rice said. "But we have an experienced staff, and our chemistry is terrific, and we talk about everything. Everyone gets involved from a communication standpoint and evaluation standpoint. I make the final decision as head coach, but everyone has input.

"I will never accept a commitment or sign a player I don't feel comfortable with. We've made decisions not to recruit certain student-athletes because I didn't feel they fit the mission of the program."

It is a few he landed that put Rice's name on a poll he otherwise would not be included, one produced by CBSSports.com during the summer evaluation period.

One of the questions asked of 100 coaches dealt with who they perceived to be the biggest cheater in college basketball.

Rice said neither he nor any member of his staff was approached by those asking the question.

"I never would take part in something like it," Rice said.

John Calipari of Kentucky led the way with 36 votes and was followed by Scott Drew of Baylor and Ben Howland of UCLA.

Rice received three votes.

Three out of 100, and yet notable for someone who hasn't yet worked a second season as head coach.

"I was disappointed that there would be such a poll about something like that and have it be anonymous," Rice said. "If someone wants to put their name behind it and made accusations, the lines of communication are wide open and we can talk about it. But it's difficult to respond to unsubstantiated rumors and innuendo when you don't know the source."

He couldn't be more correct.

Look. I don't care who it is. They'll never canonize any college basketball coach, whose dance partner most often is the devil. It's a cutthroat business, and the best ones carry the sharpest knives. Show me a top 100 or so program that hasn't disregarded certain rules, and I'll laugh you out of the room. They all do at some point.

But to release a poll that calls into question one's integrity and character, to label another a cheater without naming those making the claim is as pathetic as it is unconscionable. To allow coaches to hide behind the cowardly disguise of anonymity paints the entire premise foolish.

The poll was a joke the minute coaches knew they wouldn't be identified, as was this quote in relation to Rice: "They must be doing something at UNLV."

What, working harder than others?

Buying new uniforms?

Taking the team to Metro Pizza for lunch?

The quote has no teeth without attribution. It's ridiculous without backing the claim with who said it.

Rice, though, wasn't shocked to see his name included on the poll. Kendrick is the third McDonald's All-American he has brought to a UNLV program that had a total of seven prior to Rice being hired as head coach.

Anthony Bennett, a freshman forward and top 10 overall recruit out of Findlay Prep, made the most news when he chose the Rebels over, among others, Florida.

Believe it: Bennett was the main reason for Rice being named in the poll.

Bennett was that coveted a player by big-time programs.

"I don't think you ever want to be included in a poll like that, but the reality is, there were national championships and Finals Fours and All-Americans on that list in terms of the coaches mentioned," Rice said. "We have had some success recruiting, and people regard our program pretty highly in terms of the potential we have, so there are always going to be detractors when that takes place."

There are worse fates. Rice has a team with Sweet 16 talent this season and in a short time has made the Rebels relevant again on the national scene. If that comes with jealousy from peers, so be it.

What it all proves: UNLV basketball matters again, which is a heck of a lot better than the alternative.

Las Vegas Review-Journal sports columnist Ed Graney can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4618. He can be heard from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday on "Gridlock," ESPN 1100 and 98.9 FM. Follow him on Twitter: @edgraney.