Ryan Greene

Story Archive

UNLV promoting football ticket sales, but what will it really take to get you to buy?: Tuesday, July 26, 2011; Take away a 48-6 beatdown at the hands of TCU last season, and UNLV was a relatively decent football team on its home turf. Both of the Rebels' victories in Bobby Hauck's inaugural season at the helm came at home, and they also stayed within three touchdowns — yes, that's doing some sugarcoating — of Wisconsin, Air Force and Nevada-Reno.
A Day in the Life: On the recruiting trail with UNLV coach Dave Rice: One 15-hour marathon at a time, Rice and staff attempt to piece together important 2012 recruiting class; Tuesday, July 26, 2011; Fueled by what will turn out to be a vital bowl of cereal before leaving his Green Valley home, Dave Rice hits the road early Saturday morning. The first-year UNLV men's basketball coach can't tell you exactly how much sleep he got the night before, but he admits that it wasn't much.
Former UNLV commit Nigel Williams-Goss not in a rush to decide again: Findlay Prep junior-to-be likes his developing relationship with new Rebels staff, but still close with Kruger; Saturday, July 23, 2011; Nigel Williams-Goss learned the hard way that things in the game of recruiting can change in an instant and be completely out of your control.
Emerging Canadian big man Matt Willms likes what he sees in Las Vegas and UNLV: 6-foot-11 forward indicates that Dave Rice and UNLV have his utmost attention as he nears a decision; Saturday, July 23, 2011; If you look at Matt Willms now, you'd never believe that he played competitive hockey for most of his life. But that came to an end two years ago, when Willms, well, looked more like a hockey player. Willms, who hails from Leamington, Ontario, located roughly 30 miles from Detroit, gave up his country's national pastime after the eighth grade. Then he was 5-foot-10. His dad told him that if he gave up hockey, he had to pick up another sport, and a 13-inch growth spurt over the next two years made the choice pretty easy.
UNLV target Katin Reinhardt impresses, soaks in local attention at Fab 48: 6-foot-4 sharpshooter shows off all-around skill and athleticism, says UNLV is strongly in the mix; Friday, July 22, 2011; UNLV coach Dave Rice caught Katin Reinhardt's attention by being one of the first coaches to contact him after the 6-foot-4 shooting guard de-committed from USC in May. But two words really helped Rice grab his attention: Jimmer Fredette.
As his star grows, Gorman's Shabazz Muhammad focuses on avoiding hype: 6-foot-6 wing, the biggest hoops recruit in Las Vegas history, trying not to look past this weekend; Friday, July 22, 2011; Ron Holmes can remember when his son struggled to handle pressure. Before he was a prized basketball recruit, Shabazz Muhammad would psych himself out in the family's garage, shooting baskets in an undersized hoop.
After late maneuvering, UNLV releases completed 2011-12 non-conference schedule: Rebels to play 18 non-conference games after only 14 a year ago, with toughest tests coming on the road; Thursday, July 21, 2011; After Louisville requested to postpone its upcoming trip to the Thomas & Mack Center until the 2013-14 season, first-year UNLV coach Dave Rice and his staff had to maneuver and get crafty to round out this season's non-conference schedule. The finished product was officially released on Thursday.
Baltimore PG Daquan Cook becomes UNLV's first 2012 hoops commit: 6-foot-1 point guard will not play in Las Vegas this weekend due to summer school schedule overlap; Thursday, July 21, 2011; Just 24 hours before a huge evaluation weekend in Las Vegas began for Dave Rice and his UNLV coaching staff, some big news came through their offices at the Thomas & Mack Center. The first of five vacant scholarships in their 2012 recruiting class is now spoken for, as 6-foot-1 point guard Daquan Cook from Baltimore, Md., committed to the Rebels.
Father helps Gorman's Ben Carter stay focused as a player rather than a recruit: 6-foot-7 UNLV target's unique AAU upbringing helped breed one of the nation's fastest-rising senior prospects; Wednesday, July 20, 2011; On the basketball court, Ben Carter is his father's son. Five years ago, Mike Carter made sure that would be the case today. That's when he formed the AAU program that Ben is now a cornerstone of — the Las Vegas Lakers.
When and where to see UNLV's top 2012 recruiting targets this weekend in Las Vegas: Dave Rice and staff will be tracking 15 2012 prospects in particular as several AAU tournaments come to town; Tuesday, July 19, 2011; It's that time of year: The annual mid-summer weekend when thousands of prep basketball players with NCAA Division-I dreams and hundreds of college coaches descend upon Las Vegas for around-the-clock hoops. Headlined by the adidas Super 64 based out of Rancho High and the Fab 48 at Bishop Gorman, games at gyms across town begin early Friday morning and will go through the weekend. It's still a non-contact period between coaches and prospects through the end of the month, but it's a crucial evaluating period for many staffs, including UNLV's.
UNLV fan trying to go viral to help Rebels land Shabazz Muhammad: Monday, July 18, 2011; Apparently, UNLV fan Josh Meeter is taking the 'enough screwing around' approach when it comes to doing his part to help his beloved Rebels lure in the biggest hoops recruit in the city's history. Meeter, who by trade is an art director, created a 30-second fake Nike commercial set to a T.I. track, portraying Shabazz Muhammad waving his arms to a crowd while wearing a No. 15 UNLV jersey.
After a trying stretch in the shadows, Mike Moser is ready to headline for UNLV: 6-foot-8 UCLA transfer, thanks to a strong support system, is primed for a breakout season in a perfect situation; Friday, July 15, 2011; When Lon Kruger and the now-departed UNLV coaching staff landed 6-foot-8 UCLA transfer Mike Moser a year ago, they looked at it as a big-time steal. When Dave Rice and his staff took the wheel in April, they almost immediately realized that having a hungry and talented Moser with three years of eligibility remaining at their disposal was a gift. But it was the space between those revelations during which Moser experienced some of his most valuable growth as an athlete.
How the humble big man Armen Gilliam ended up at UNLV: Rebels' seventh all-time leading scorer collapsed during pick-up basketball game Tuesday night; Wednesday, July 6, 2011; Mark Warkentien thought he had discovered a gem of a basketball recruit. He was scouting a tournament in the early 1980s when he stumbled upon a monstrous 6-foot-9 power forward.
As July AAU season kicks off, a closer look at UNLV's top 2012 recruiting targets: The year's most intense evaluation period is key for Rebels staff, who has five scholarships to fill this year; Tuesday, July 5, 2011; Tuesday afternoon, on the heels of a relaxing holiday weekend, the start of a crazy four weeks for the UNLV coaching staff came in the form of plane tickets, rental car keys and hotel beds.
UNLV receives first commitment for class of 2013 from 6-foot-8 Christian Wood: Palmdale, Calif., native will transfer to Henderson's Findlay Prep for his final two years of high school; Friday, July 1, 2011; Dave Rice’s UNLV basketball coaching staff on Friday secured is first commitment for the 2013 recruiting class. The commitment comes from Christian Wood, a 6-foot-8 wing from Palmdale, Calif.
Shawn Marion, Tim Grgurich give Mavericks' NBA title some UNLV flavor: Former Rebels player and coach each claim first NBA championships as Dallas upsets Miami in six games; Monday, June 13, 2011; The Dallas Mavericks' first NBA championship in franchise history is something many in Las Vegas feel as though they can brag about. The reason? The UNLV ties within the organization.
Growing hype already surrounds 6-foot-10 incoming Bishop Gorman freshman Stephen Zimmerman: Talented 14-year-old already holds a scholarship offer from UNLV and is getting better by the day; Friday, June 10, 2011; Hiding in the background on a loaded Bishop Gorman basketball squad that features four seniors bound for high-major Division-I programs should be easy for an incoming freshman. For obvious reasons, it won't be for Stephen Zimmerman.
Derrick Jasper set to join former coach's staff as a grad assistant at Texas Tech: Despite speculation about the past, former Rebels guard comfortable heading off to work with Billy Gillispie; Wednesday, June 1, 2011; Derrick Jasper is well aware of the reaction many familiar with the story of his college hoops career have upon hearing about his new job. "It's kind of shocking to some people," the 6-foot-6 former UNLV guard said. "This is a business, too, though. And this is a great opportunity for me to start my career and finish off my master's (degree)." The gig? Jasper will be working as a graduate assistant under newly hired Texas Tech men's basketball coach Billy Gillispie.
After J.J. O'Brien chooses SDSU, UNLV set to reach out to Dwayne Polee Jr.: If Polee isn't in the cards, Dave Rice will likely roll open scholarship into 2012 recruiting class; Wednesday, May 25, 2011; Utah transfer J.J. O'Brien will not be taking UNLV's final open scholarship for the 2011-12 season. The 6-foot-7 Rancho Cucamongo, Calif., native, who averaged 6.3 points and 5.5 rebounds in an injury-shortened freshman season in Salt Lake City, chose San Diego State over UNLV on Tuesday as his next destination.
UNLV, Arizona agree to four-year series starting in 2013-14: Series with Louisville pushed back to 2013-14 as well; Rebels set up home-and-home with Hawaii; Tuesday, May 24, 2011; Not long after UNLV escaped Arizona's McKale Center with a 74-72 double-overtime win on Dec. 2, 2009, first-year Wildcats coach Sean Miller requested that the non-conference series be put on hold for a bit while he got the program back on solid ground.
UNLV lands key commitment from USC transfer Bryce Jones: 6-foot-5 shooting guard will be eligible as a redshirt sophomore in 2012-13 campaign; Sunday, May 22, 2011; Ever since his official visit to UNLV in late March, it was speculated that the Rebels were the consistent frontrunner to land USC transfer Bryce Jones. Even after a coaching change that altered the program's landscape and future, that held true, and on Saturday, the pledge finally came.
UNLV forward Chace Stanback arrested Friday on suspicion of DUI: Rebels top returning scorer and rebounder a year ago begins summer facing legal woes; Monday, May 16, 2011; Senior forward Chace Stanback, who is the Rebels' leading returning scorer and rebounder, was arrested on Friday for suspicion of driving under the influence in Las Vegas.
Offseason musings: Former Rebel Tre'Von Willis cashing in on his likeness: Graduated guard selling game-worn jerseys online now that eligibility has expired; Friday, May 13, 2011; Over the past two years, in stores around Las Vegas and bookstores on campus, Nike-produced No. 33 UNLV jerseys were available for sale, and several of them could be seen in the stands at Rebels home games. Surely, UNLV didn't bank off of Tre'Von Willis' likeness nearly as much as, say, BYU did off of Jimmer Fredette's No. 32, but Willis is cashing in on it himself now that his eligibility has expired.
Stacey Augmon arrives at UNLV confident heading into new endeavor: Rebels legend excited to develop younger players and hit recruiting trail for the first time; Wednesday, May 11, 2011; When Stacey Augmon left UNLV in 1991 to embark on what would be a 15-year NBA career, he never saw himself coming back to sit on the bench at the Thomas & Mack Center in a suit and tie. When legendary coach Jerry Tarkanian was forced out not long after, and the program began a downward spiral it wouldn't emerge from for more than two decades, the chances grew even slimmer. Whatever hatchet that may have existed has now been officially buried, as Augmon left a cherry post as an assistant coach with the NBA's Denver Nuggets to join the staff of former Rebels teammate Dave Rice.
Stacey Augmon accepts third and final UNLV assistant coaching position: Dave Rice hires Rebels legend and former teammate, left with just director of basketball operations spot to fill; Tuesday, May 3, 2011; The answer that new UNLV men's basketball coach Dave Rice was waiting for finally came just before he attended a 6 p.m. fundraising event Tuesday night, when he was informed that former Rebels teammate Stacey Augmon will be joining his staff as an assistant coach. Augmon, who is the program's third all-time leading scorer and helped lead UNLV to the 1990 NCAA title, joins Rice, Justin Hutson and Heath Schroyer on the bench.
UNLV Notebook: Re-energized Heath Schroyer excited for new opportunity: UNLV awaits Augmon's decision, Dantley Walker signs, Rebels host weekend visitor and Marshall undergoes wrist surgery; Saturday, April 30, 2011; Like Dave Rice, new UNLV assistant coach Heath Schroyer got a good, close look last season at just what the returning group of Rebels is capable of. One of Schroyer's final games at the helm at Wyoming before he was let go on Feb. 8 was a 74-65 loss to UNLV in Laramie, Wyo., on Jan. 26. In that game, the Cowboys led by eight after UNLV played one of its more sluggish offensive halves of the season.
Heath Schroyer's hire at UNLV made official, leaving Dave Rice with two spots to fill: Rebel great Stacey Augmon mulling over decision to either return to alma mater or remain an NBA assistant; Friday, April 29, 2011; In Heath Schroyer's first season as a head coach in 2002-03, Portland State went 5-22 and finished eighth in the Big Sky Conference. Two years later, the Vikings were 19-9 and atop the league standings. His new boss — Dave Rice — isn't taking over a rebuilding project at UNLV as a first-time head coach, but he sees Schroyer as a rich source to draw from as he goes through the dance for the first time himself.
Former Wyoming head coach Heath Schroyer to join Dave Rice's UNLV staff: Rice still has two positions left to fill after hiring former MWC mates Schroyer and Justin Hutson; Tuesday, April 26, 2011; Dave Rice is officially halfway done putting his UNLV coaching staff together. Joining Rice and associate head coach Justin Hutson on the bench will be former Wyoming head coach Heath Schroyer, the Sun learned on Tuesday evening.
UNLV 2011 signee Grandy Glaze requests release, will re-open recruitment: Following coaching change at UNLV, Glaze set to explore his options again, including Oklahoma; Thursday, April 21, 2011; While none of UNLV's current players are opting to leave the program following the hire of coach Dave Rice, the team's lone signee in the 2011 recruiting class will not be on campus this summer. Canadian forward Grandy Glaze, who just completed his senior campaign at Notre Dame (Mass.) Prep, requested a release from his National Letter of Intent on Thursday morning, and plans to re-open his recruitment, according to AAU coach Mike George. The request will be granted by Rice.
Findlay Prep sophomore Nigel Williams-Goss officially de-commits from UNLV: Dave Rice and UNLV still a potential suitor for Portland native, who will start his recruitment over from scratch; Sunday, April 17, 2011; When Findlay Prep sophomore point guard Nigel Williams-Goss made an earlier-than-expected commitment to UNLV back in December, it felt like the right thing to do. He'd become fond of Las Vegas since moving to the desert from Portland two years ago with his family, he'd developed a solid, trusting relationship with then-UNLV coach Lon Kruger and liked the idea of staying in town to be a potential local hero. And when he officially de-committed over the weekend, it also felt right.
UNLV Notebook: Justin Hutson joins Rebels staff one step closer to long-term goal: Dantley Walker, again, set to become a Rebel; USC transfer Bryce Jones still standing pat with one visit left; Friday, April 15, 2011; In most professions these days, titles carry a lot of weight. Coaching is one of them, and the opportunity to become an associate head coach is what ultimately tipped the scales for Justin Hutson. It helped lure him to the desert, where, this week, he officially became the first member of newly-hired UNLV coach Dave Rice's staff.
Former Rebels player Dave Rice lands his dream job: Ex-UNLV assistant gets first head coaching gig, will be introduced today; Sunday, April 10, 2011; Dave Rice had waited almost two decades for the phone call that came late Sunday morning. UNLV athletic director Jim Livengood placed it, offering Rice the opportunity to become the 15th head men's basketball coach in Rebels history.
Source: No decision on UNLV hoops hire to be made until 'at least Sunday': UNLV athletic director Jim Livengood eyeing Monday afternoon press conference to introduce new coach; Friday, April 8, 2011; A source close to UNLV's search for a new men's basketball coach confirmed to the Sun early Friday morning that no official decision or announcement will be made until 'at least Sunday.'
Loaded junior class wows coaches at Gorman, waits to see what happens at UNLV: Shabazz Muhammad, Ben Carter and Rosco Allen all paying close attention to search for Kruger's replacement; Friday, April 8, 2011; While the UNLV men's basketball coaching situation is still in limbo, the recruiting world keeps moving, as evidenced by the scene on Thursday afternoon at Bishop Gorman High. The Gaels held an intense 90-minute workout, which just so happened to fall on the first day of the spring contact period, in which college coaches can talk with prospective recruits. That said, given Gorman's loaded upcoming senior class, the gym provided quite a scene.
Former BYU players recall Dave Rice's impact, believe he's earned shot at dream job: Recent Cougar standouts cite Rice's offensive mind, work ethic and hands-on experience as top qualities; Wednesday, April 6, 2011; BYU guard Jackson Emery can recall several flights home from wins on the road in recent years during which he and his teammates would sit back, relax and talk about their most recent triumph. A few rows up, though, he said, there would always be at least one laptop screen glowing. It belonged to associate head coach Dave Rice.
Money talks. Just ask Lon Kruger.: Wednesday, April 6, 2011; The UNLV men's basketball coach admitted money played a role in his decision for Oklahoma.
UNLV announces official list of finalists for vacant men's basketball job: Dave Rice to interview in Las Vegas on Wednesday, while Mike Dunlap, Reggie Theus and Ernie Kent will do the same by week's end; Wednesday, April 6, 2011; It's widely believed by several sources close to the UNLV men's basketball program that the hunt for a new coach is still down to a choice between Dave Rice and Reggie Theus. However, the athletic department on Tuesday night sent out a press release, setting a firm group of four candidates considered to be finalists.
Livengood returns to Las Vegas today; coaching search hitting home stretch: Dave Rice still the front-runner while both he and Reggie Theus will be in town this week to interview; Tuesday, April 5, 2011; UNLV athletic director Jim Livengood's trip to Houston for the Final Four was in no way a vacation, and upon returning to Las Vegas on Tuesday afternoon, he still won't have much time to unwind. The search for the school's next men's head basketball coach was barely more than 72 hours old, but it already appeared to be hitting the home stretch.
UNLV football wraps up spring with plenty of lingering questions remaining: Caleb Herring, Sean Reilly will take quarterback competition into the fall; Sunday, April 3, 2011; As expected, UNLV's spring football season came and went without most of the lingering questions being answered. But Saturday's showcase at Rebel Park may have at least helped create a bit of fanfare. The annual spring wrap-up scrimmage was moved to the UNLV campus and away from Sam Boyd Stadium, and it coincided with an apparel sale put on by the athletic department, bringing in a bit of added revenue.
Notebook: UNLV AD Jim Livengood's coaching search heats up in Houston: Livengood meets with Dave Rice at Final Four, also has feelers out to Reggie Theus and Mike Dunlap, among others; Saturday, April 2, 2011; Now, the process kicks into full gear for UNLV Athletic Director Jim Livengood. He arrived in Houston for the Final Four weekend on Friday afternoon, and the timing of head coach Lon Kruger's departure from UNLV for the same job at Oklahoma likely couldn't have been better.
UNLV players, recruits react to news of Kruger's sudden departure: 'Shocked' is the general consensus as seventh-year Rebels coach bolts for same job at Oklahoma; Friday, April 1, 2011; A few days ago, Lon Kruger gathered his players following a team workout on the UNLV campus to address some rumors that had been swirling connecting him to job openings around the country. Some had heard these rumors or read about them, some had not.
Lon Kruger changes course, accepts head coaching position at Oklahoma: Former Rebels Dave Rice, Reggie Theus emerge early as likely candidates for UNLV vacancy; Friday, April 1, 2011; Lon Kruger began his Friday as the UNLV men's basketball coach, packing for a trip to the Final Four and annual coaches' convention in Houston. A few hours later, he'd finally given in to Oklahoma's persistence.
Findlay Prep falls short of third straight national title, losing 70-61 to Dwyer: Pilots upset in ESPN Rise NHSI quarterfinals, now must look to still-bright future; Thursday, March 31, 2011; When booking a trip to Bethesda, Md., for the 2011 ESPN Rise National High School Invitational, Findlay Prep had a good chance to be just as busy through Saturday as it was the last two years.
USC transfer Bryce Jones enjoys weekend visit to UNLV, in no rush to decide: 6-foot-5 shooting guard also looking into San Diego State and Gonzaga during recruiting process; Thursday, March 31, 2011; Bryce Jones's visit to UNLV last weekend was about more than just checking out the campus and facilities for the first time. He's doing some deeper research on the side. "I'm kind of looking more at backgrounds this time," he said. "Where the coach came from, why he left where he came from, talk to some other people who have played for him." It was a tough separation from the USC program for Jones when he decided to transfer back in January. At the time, playing time and broken promises appeared to be the clear culprit.
Slighted Johnson leads Findlay Prep into third annual ESPN Rise national tourney: Arizona-bound shooting guard hopes to help Pilots to third consecutive title; Wednesday, March 30, 2011; Nick Johnson not being named a McDonald's All-American could turn out to be a blessing in disguise for Findlay Prep, who on Thursday begins its quest for a third consecutive ESPN Rise National High School Invitational title. The other half of the Pilots' senior backcourt duo — Texas-bound point guard Myck Kabongo — took part in the annual all-star showcase on Wednesday night in Chicago, then hopped on a flight to join his team in Maryland for Thursday's quarterfinal round. Johnson — a 6-foot-3 do-it-all guard who will suit up for Arizona next season — watched on TV.
Kruger says no thanks to Oklahoma interview request, staying at UNLV: Rebels coach has also rejected feelers put out by Utah, N.C. State; Plans on being back for eighth season in Las Vegas; Wednesday, March 30, 2011; In the first spins of the annual college hoops coaching carousel, a popular name was Lon Kruger, who just wrapped up his seventh season at UNLV.
Sources: UNLV-Wisconsin 2011 opener likely moving to Thursday night on ESPN: Sunday, March 27, 2011; Sources confirmed to the Sun on Sunday that a deal should be reached by the middle of this week for UNLV's 2011 football season opener at Wisconsin to be moved to Thursday, Sept. 1, and aired on ESPN.
USC transfer Bryce Jones to take official visit to UNLV this weekend: Staff welcomes former Desert Pines star Pierre Jackson for unofficial visit; Dantley Walker to visit next month; Friday, March 25, 2011; The recruiting season is officially picking up steam for the UNLV coaching staff. This weekend, Lon Kruger & Co. will host a pair of transfer prospects on campus, with one scholarship still open for next season. Getting into town on Friday for the start of an official visit is 6-foot-5 guard Bryce Jones, who left USC in January.
Livengood hopes to help take program forward entering important offseason: UNLV athletic director out to aid Kruger and staff with crucial summer on tap; Friday, March 25, 2011; Among the hundreds of fans behind the UNLV bench who wore blank stares during the second half of the Rebels' NCAA tournament loss to Illinois last Friday night was athletic director Jim Livengood. Livengood boarded a plane with the team to head back from Tulsa, Okla., on Saturday morning. Over the next couple of weeks, he'll be meeting with Kruger and members of the coaching staff to assess the state of the program and help them figure out where improvements can be made.
The Rebels fell hard, but could be a 2012 conference favorite: Wednesday, March 23, 2011; Las Vegas Sun sports reporter Ryan Green looks forward to UNLV's 2012 basketball season.