23 Comments
Facebook
Fark
Digg
Reddit
StumblePublished Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2009 | 2:05 a.m.
Updated Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2009 | 4:49 p.m.
Matt Othick would have played much better for us at UNLV than he did for Arizona.
We had Matt committed to us and he would have been a great Rebel. But when we got Greg Anthony to transfer in that pretty much sealed that Matt wouldn’t sign.
Still, I had Matt convinced we could play three guards — Greg Anthony, Anderson Hunt and him.
But one day the newspaper called me and I blew it with Othick by opening my mouth. They were doing a story about Greg and I told them how he was going to be one of the best point guards to ever play at UNLV. That scared Matt off.
I love Matt Othick to this day. He was a great player at Bishop Gorman and I blew it recruiting him.
We would have won a second national title if he was on the 1991 team. When Greg fouled out in the Final Four loss against Duke, I could have slid Matt over to the point guard spot and we wouldn’t have missed a beat.
Instead we had to play our freshman guard, H Waldman. H wound up being a tremendous point guard, but he just wasn’t ready.
I watched on television all three of UNLV’s games in Hawaii last week. I thought they looked really good in those first few games.
Their defense was tremendous and they took SMU and Hawaii out of their offense. They just didn’t have any answers for USC and that point guard Mike Gerrity.
Gerrity is as good of a point guard as I have seen in some time. He negated UNLV’s pressure and dictated the pace of the game. He’s a heck of a player and will help USC challenge Washington and Cal for the Pac-10 title.
USC was very physical up front and they dominated on both ends of the court. The game wasn’t as close as the final score indicated.
UNLV will be fine, though. They just need to get over that game. They won’t see a point guard like SC had the rest of the season.
Their next game is against BYU. BYU has tremendous players and shooters at every position.
But UNLV’s pressure defense always bothers BYU. That’s why they beat BYU at its place last year.
One of my former players, Dave Rice from the Final Four teams, is an assistant for BYU. He was a real intelligent player and a great shooter for me.
As a coach, he’s put in the time to get the experience. I’m hoping that he gets his own program one day. He just needs someone to give him a chance because he has proven himself as an assistant.
I like to wish everyone a safe and happy New Year. I generally don’t go out anymore on New Year’s Eve.
Don't even get me started about Anthony fouling out!!! That wasn't a charge (if it was at least the basket should have counted). I still hate DUKE
It was a charge, a blocking charge on Hurley! We should have received the basket and a free throw. That play was turning point. If it went our way, we would have won the game and eventually the national championship. Damn refs!
A horrible call against Anthony on that horrible night in Indianapolis I was there and that bad call still makes me sick.
I don't hate Duke
Our charter flight to that final four dropped us off and that same plane then went to North Carolina to pick up Duke fans
Rice could excel as a head coach in a smaller, less pressure filled environment.
In fact, two Rebel opponents this season could be perfect fits for him when/if they decide to make a change: Southern Utah U and Weber State.
Either of those jobs would be really good fits for Rice.
i hope rice pukes in his mouth a little bit every time he has to sit on the byu bench... has to be tough for the guy to be so passionate about such an aweful BYU team. cant wait till he leaves and takes the reins elsewhere.
he doesnt have to be passionate about BYU, he is just coaching and getting experience for a bigger and better job!!
We had our chance to let Rice keep helping the program here and we didn't keep him. I, personally, loved having a former player on the staff to assist with recruiting.
Dave Rice is pure class and a true athelete and student and will someday be a fine head coach
I hate BYU....Rice is fine.
Sorry, still can't bear to talk or even think about that game. Won't ever stop hurting!
Byu is going to be tough. They carved up Arizona in Tucson. And they crushed Nebraska who is the best defensive team in the Big 12. Rice is a classy guy. Lets hope the Rebels beat the cougs again.
Dreaming about the past is an old man's perogative...Jerry Tarkanian you have become an old man. You can't change the past so get on with living, or get on with dying.
Get a hobby, maybe Golf...forget your dreams of what could have been at UNLV...its over, FINE,finished, done...time to move on, JERRY.
PLEASE no more reminiscing about the past.... what was, what happened cannot be changed because fate dealt her hand; sometimes we win, sometimes we lose....
One name for you - Laettner! He was the best clutch college player to ever play the game (yes, an NBA flop I know, but I can't stand that league of thugs).
Go DUKE!
As usual it is great hearing about the UNLV days.Reminiscing can be enjoyable so keep it coming.To some others comments kick rocks DB.
may b they would have beat duke if a couple of the players werent sitting in a hot tub w/richard"the fixer" perry
I STILL haven't gotten over that lousy call on Anthony.....wound up getting drunk on Cuervo 1800, and going on a rampage that should have got me arrested.
Between that BS charge & Augmon going MIA in the 2nd half, I have yet to heal from that game. I've sworn off tequila, but I remain a loyal fan!
REBBBBBB-ELLLLLLLLLLS!!!!!!!
Tark - Talk about anything that you want to...the past, the present, the future...just don't stop please. True Rebel fans will never forget you and I love to read your article when it is updated. Continue to get better (healthy) and keep us informed in 2010.
Coach Tark your the man and the reason why there is a rebel!...Love everything you talk about..Matt O? now thats a name from the past. was on the frosh bb team when he was a senior and he was a stud to look up to. But we should've won that game with or without him. "O" gave us a lickin his 1st year at UofA but we got them back in the sweet 16 (too bad for Matt)! Coach stay healthy please...from the convention center to the Mack and Back!!!We ARE THE REBELS!!!!!
Your past put UNLV on the map, Tark, so by all means, talk about whatever you want, including the past. Heck, talk about the Hardway Eight if you want.
I'm with you lcr, I still hurt about that '91 loss to the Puke Blue Devils, probably always will. It wouldn't hurt so much if coach K wasn't such an arrogant *ss. I still remember him whining about the officials after the 1990 beat down, giving no credit to our guys. Laettner? He didn't help Puke much when we dropped 'em by 30 that night in Denver now did he? I think that record blowout still stands no?
I'm glad I'm too young to remember that game. If a bad call cost us a national championship I'd go beserk in the arena, jail would not be a possibility, it'd be a certainty.
Go Rebels!
How much time would you get for knocking out a ref anyway? You'd just be doing what every fan and coach has wanted to do at some point, LOL.
Coach, thank you for the 17 years (I didn't arrive in LV until '76) of pure enjoyment. Obviously I'm no kid. In the 50+ years I have been an avid sports fan, there has been no game so devastating, no loss so crushing, as the Duke '91 game. It still hurts to think of it.
My second-most disappointing loss would be the Dean Smith,Phil Ford four-corner-stall game. Not nearly as annoying as the first, but the Rebels were still fairly unknown nationally at that point, and they were easily the best team.
Please keep posting your thoughts, as I consider you one of my heroes in life, and greatly enjoy your contributions.