Questions about job security shadowed Dave Rice in the spring. The UNLV basketball coach was granted another year, at least, to find the right answers. Four months from now, he hopes to avoid a "Groundhog Day" scenario and the same questions.
In Rice's first four seasons, the Rebels' win totals declined from 26 to 25 to 20 to 18. The past two seasons ended abruptly with no NCAA Tournament invitations, and the low point of last season was a seventh-place finish in the Mountain West.
After a suspenseful weekend in March, UNLV athletic director Tina Kunzer-Murphy retained Rice for what is being interpreted as his make-or-break year.