(04-19-2022 05:29 PM)PojoaquePosse Wrote:  

(04-19-2022 05:20 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  

(04-19-2022 05:02 PM)FirstandGoal Wrote:  Show me the upside for any of the corona virus hold overs for NMSU to stay. Playing for a new coach in probably a new system. Depending on whom from the outside GH can recruit it is likely a rebuilding year. Rice is a very good player, but everyone saw the NMSU wasn't dominant if Teddy buckets had a subpar game so I doubt Rice would be the guy to put the team on his back and lead them to another championship, so why not go to where maybe you have the best chance to get back to the tourney one more time. College sports is no longer about any kind of loyalty on either side. Maybe some between a coach and a player but definitely not between a school and an athlete.

Jabari Rices plateaued in his production after his sophomore year. He was still probably our second-best scorer on the team last season behind Teddy Allen but his production has waned. He was virtually nonexistent offensively in the NCAA tournament.

Talent wise, NMSU had players with greater upside sitting on the bench than Rice. For instance, if Chi Chi Avery can adapt to Heiar's system, I feel he could be a future star in the making and possibly the second most talented player on this past Aggie roster behind Allen.

If Rice wants to leave NMSU, I have no problem with that. What I have a problem with is a former Aggie player (or Coach) working directly against the program they help build and bring conference championships to in their fan beloved time here.

Rice's scoring production plateaued, but not his overall production. Assists and rebounds were up. Improved leadership. Played PG. And he guarded the other team's best player very night. Scoring isn't everything.

Defensively, Rice's game improved considerably. But still his "offensive" game did not expand as much as I and many Aggie fans would have liked. Rice was a very good spot up shooter and moved very well without the ball. But he was never a one-on-one break you down off the dribble scorer. He will be missed though. He had Jovan Blacksher's number defensively; making him non-factor in all three games against NMSU.