Taking a trip to Las Vegas for a conference tournament was never a question for Dave Rice. Figuring out what team he’d be going with, however, was a bit of a mystery.
Life was good for Rice in Nevada. He was an assistant in Reno where the University of Nevada was building toward another big season. The Wolf Pack were coming off a 28-win campaign and a NCAA Tournament appearance. There was enough returning and incoming talent to ensure the 2017-18 season would lead to the Wolf Pack winning another Mountain West Conference Tournament.
But Rice received a phone call from an old friend in Mike Hopkins.