Chace Stanback's arrest may end up being a good thing for him

The punishment for UNLV's Chace Stanback has finally been decided upon.

With a court date originally scheduled for the middle of the season, Stanback opted to avoid that nuisance and plead guilty to driving under the influence of marijuana. He'll get a 30 day suspended sentence, one he won't have to serve if he completes 40 hours of community service and pays a $585 fine by March 8th.

Stanback also got some closure in regards to his standing with the basketball team on Thursday, as UNLV head coach Dave Rice came to the decision that the 6'8" forward and potential Mountain West Player of the Year would be suspended for one game.

"Chace is a quality person who has had an outstanding track record in three-plus years at UNLV," first-year coach Dave Rice said in a statement. "That said, he made a bad decision that negatively impacted our program. We can't have that."

"I think it's really important for this day to come prior to the season. Going into the season, we could know what we were looking at, and he’s a really important member of our team, we're expecting big things from him. Had (his court date) stayed at Dec. 1, we would have dealt with it, but I think it’s important going into the season to have as few variables as we possibly can."

This is the correct decision from Rice.

This is a first offense from Stanback. He had a clean track record prior to the May 13th incident, he claimed responsibility and made no excuses about what happened, and he's already proven that he is changing the way that he carries himself. Stanback learned his lesson, and it didn't take the court system of a one game suspension to make that happen. In fact, Stanback's renewed focus on the game of basketball may be the best thing that has ever happened to him as a player.

Words like DUI and marijuana and arrest are not one that a head coach wants to hear, especially when they are all associated with a key player on your new team.

But this arrest may end up being a blessing in disguise.
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Chace Stanback popped for suspicion of DUI

Dave Rice hasn't been been at the helm of the UNLV basketball team for two months and he is already being forced to determine his behavioral policies.

Chace Stanback, the Rebels leading returning scorer and rebounder at 13.0 ppg and 5.9 rpg, was arrested early Friday morning for speeding, failing to show proof of insurance, and (the big one) suspicion of drunken driving. Ryan Greene has the deets:

According to Metro Police spokesman Jay Rivera, the stop came at 2:23 a.m. at the intersection of Colby Ave. and Swenson St. — in the shadows of the Thomas & Mack Center and just a few blocks from his off-campus residence near Swenson and Flamingo. Stanback was pulled over for speeding, and also failed to provide proof of insurance.

Stanback is out of custody and scheduled to appear in court to face charges on Aug. 11.

If you remember, last summer Tre'Von Willis was arrested on a charge of domestic violence, but he only missed one game (and two exhibitions), a decision that was heavily criticized. I'm sure Rice is thrilled to have his disciplinary tactics tested this early in his tenure.
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