Hey there...just checking in, and thinking a little clarification might help.
When Lon Kruger left 6 years ago, ranked UNLV was averaging 15,000 - 16,000 per game, yes butts in seats. Then Rice took over, and although a nice guy with a great knowledge of basketball, couldn't coach, and couldn't get his team to listen to him. Over the next 5 years attendance dropped as it became obvious he couldn't do what he needed to do. When Menzies took over late last spring 2 scholarship players remained, only one of whom had seen the court the year before, and his best returning player was lost for the year early in the season. Attendance fell to a new low this last year during the worst season in program history, in great part due to the former AD totally screwing up the coaching search. She is now gone. UNLV's attendance will come back up quickly, and the Thomas and Mack will be rocking, as it did when your team coached by Hoiberg found a few years ago. As did #5 Oregon a year ago at the MGM, #3 Arizona a couple of years ago, and #1 North Carolina at the MGM a few years before that.
It sounds like y'all think UNLV could only get players because of hookers, blow, and $$$? Maybe it might have something to do with this from Brandon McCoy:
“Las Vegas is the mecca of everything,” McCoy said, “and I wanted to start something new. Everybody else is going to these big-name schools, but I know UNLV has a great history. UNLV used to be the No. 1 team in the late ‘80s and ‘90s, so I’m thinking maybe we could bring it back. Maybe I can be that missing piece to help UNLV get back to being that kind of team.”
Kids are here for AAU tournaments all year round, they see USA basketball, NBA summer league, LeBron runs a camp here, they see that NBA scouts are here a LOT. They also see things like this:
http://basketball.realgm.com/ncaa/conferences/Big-West-Conference/22/UNLV/212/nba-players
http://basketball.realgm.com/ncaa/conferences/Big-12-Conference/3/Iowa-State/53/nba-players
And Patrick McCaw, a rookie starting in the playoffs for the Golden State Warriors, came to UNLV because his mom and dad were engaged on the steps of the T&M back in the day...there is still a brand for UNLV.
As for why Juiston or McCoy would pick UNLV? The new coach Marvin Menzies, who took over a 2 player team, has a reputation for developing and getting bigs into the league. I realize nobody saw Dembele at the beginning of last season, but that kid was so raw he couldn't catch the ball, thin as a rail, but his progression was actually pretty amazing. It would have been an ideal year for him to redshirt so that he had a chance to catch up a bit, but the rebels didn't have that luxury last year. His improvement during this last year was like night and day, whether his cumulative numbers show it or not. And McCoy's long time guardian has been good friends with Marvin Menzies for many years. McCoy's signing had a lot to do with Amauri Hardy doing the same.
“When I was on my visit, I got in contact with Brandon and asked him how he was feeling about the school,” Hardy said. “I said, ‘If it works out for you, I’d definitely consider it.’ And it happened.”
It's possible there was some communication with Juiston, as well.
We have yet to see what Marvin Menzies will be able to do with some talent, as the Rebs had several players last year (his only year at UNLV) that normally would not be playing D1. But I have to admire MM in that he did not let the one 4* player that he had dictate how he was going to run his team, benched him for most of the season, (something Dave Rice never could learn) and actually suggested he move on a month ago.
Will it pay off? We'll find out soon enough, but just because players decide to go to UNLV instead of Iowa St doesn't mean it's all because of hookers, blow, and $$$. I was born and raised in Las Vegas, love it, and will eventually retire there, so much always going on that does NOT relate to hookers, blow, and $$$.
Good luck with the rest of your recruiting, it sounds like there are some good young players in the mix. I'd love to see you back in the T&M again soon!
