Category: Nevada

Basketball Preseason Series 24-25: Best Shooters

Contact/Follow @aztecbreakdown Over the weeks leading up to the season Mountain West Wire will be looking at the best players at different aspects of the game. As basketball has become more and more positionless it’s more about being the best at …

Contact/Follow @aztecbreakdown

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Over the weeks leading up to the season Mountain West Wire will be looking at the best players at different aspects of the game. As basketball has become more and more positionless it’s more about being the best at specific skills than it is being the best at a certain position.

For previous articles, look here:

Best Scorers

Best Rebounders

Best Passers

Three point shooting has never been more important in basketball than it is in the current day. The way modern basketball is played, any team that has two players considered non-shooters on the floor at the same time is seriously hampering their offensive capabilities. A recent saying is “any player who isn’t a shooter, is a center.” Their lack of outside shooting ability limits them to playing close to the basket, which hurts the spacing of the team and often forces teammates to settle for inefficient midrange shots.

Given how important shooting is, having the best shooters can be important. Lots of different factors determine what a good shooter is. It is not simply a question of who has the best percentage. That being said, as a general rule a player shooting between 32%-34% is a roughly average shooter. A player who shoots 40%+ is considered elite. Other important factors include being able to hit contested shots, being able to shoot on the move, shooting after coming off of a screen, shooting off the dribble, and more.

Honorable Mention – Reese Waters, SDSU. 

Before getting hurt last season Waters was shooting 45% from deep. He was hitting shots standing still, and on the move, and off the dribble. Then he got hurt in the conference opener and never regained his form. If he is back and healthy he can show that those numbers weren’t a fluke. 

  1. David Douglas Jr, Fresno State –

Douglas doesn’t have as flashy of percentages as some other players, but he is probably the best at getting open looks. His ability to find holes in the defense and get uncontested shots off is elite. When a defender is close by he struggles with accuracy, but when he successfully loses his defender he connects on roughly 40% of his shots. 

  1. Tucker Anderson, Utah State –

Standing at 6’9, Anderson has an advantage of being able to shoot over most defenders. Regardless of whether there is a defender in front of him Anderson shot about 40% in catch and shoot situations last season. Anderson excels at hitting shots off of kick outs, he is also great playing in pick and pop situations, and can hit shots coming off of screens as well, albeit less efficiently.

  1. Xavier Dusell, Nevada –

Dusell has made a whole career off of being able to shoot the ball. He took 216 three’s last season and connected on 84 of them, good for 39%. Dusell also seems unaffected by the defense, as he connected on 40.5% of his shots when guarded. He excels at shooting both in spot up as well as transition situations. His one weakness is shooting on the move or coming off screens. Shooting off the dribble and coming off of screens were both sub 30% shots for Dusell last season. Alowing him to shoot off the catch optimizes his abilities.

  1. Beau Becker, Air Force –

Do not leave this man open behind the arc. Becker hit 52.5% of his open jump shots last season. When Becker is given time to shoot he treats the ball like a laser guided missile. Playing tough defense can disrupt his shot, so defenses have to choose whether or not to help and leave Becker open, or not help and give up something else. Given how good Becker is, sticking to him like glue is the best bet.

  1. Dontaie Allen, Wyoming –

What makes Dontaie Allen stick out as a shooter is his ability to hit shots on the move. Most players who shoot high percentages do so solely in stand still, catch and shoot situations. Allen didn’t get many chances to show his movement shooting ability at Western Kentucky, but Allen is great at hitting shots even when he doesn’t have his feet set. He can come off screens or relocate behind help and hit the shot, which is how shooters can truly break a defense.

 

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Basketball Preseason Series: Best Scorers

Contact/Follow @aztecbreakdown Over the weeks leading up to the season Mountain West Wire will be looking at the best players at different aspects of the game. As basketball has become more and more positionless it’s more about being the best at …

Contact/Follow @aztecbreakdown

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Over the weeks leading up to the season Mountain West Wire will be looking at the best players at different aspects of the game. As basketball has become more and more positionless it’s more about being the best at specific skills than it is being the best at a certain position.

When it all comes down to it, basketball is about scoring more points than your opponent. Having players that can put the ball through the hoop is key to accomplishing that goal. Doing so in high volume isn’t enough though. If a player scores 20 points a game but takes 30 shots to do so, they aren’t helping the team. Players need to score in volume, and do so efficiently. Players can’t be elite scorers if they only possess one of those two qualities.

Honorable Mention: Keyshawn Williams, Colorado State – Before being injured, Williams was averaging almost 18 points per game, on a solid 56% True Shooting percentage. That was two seasons ago, and took place over 13 games, so there’s no telling if those marks would have held over a full season, or if Williams will return to that level post injury. If he is fully recovered though, he will likely deserve a spot on this list.

Donovan Dent, New Mexico – Dent runs the New Mexico offense, and is the first option for the Lobos. Last season he scored 14 points per game. College basketball is a guards game, and Dent is arguably the best in the conference. His play in transition is elite, leading to easy baskets. What helps Dent be a great scorer is his ability to shoot off the dribble. He ranks in the 78th percentile in jump shots off the dribble. His ability to gain separation and lose his defenders helps him get clean looks and keep his efficiency up. His only down side is that he isn’t great from the free throw line, shooting only 68%. It’s not a terrible mark, but it’s below average for a guard.

Deyton Albury, Utah State – Albury played in transition more than most any player in the country while at Queens University. That will likely continue with the Aggies, as it is a key facet in Albury’s game. In the half court he is less efficient, but not enough to hurt the team or his overall efficiency. He maintained a true shooting percentage of 56%, helped by his ability to draw fouls and get to the free throw line. He scored 17 points per game last season. That number may go down a bit as he’ll have more offensive talent around him, but the tendency to play in transition should translate.

Ian Martinez, Utah State – Martinez scored 13.3 points per game as a third option behind Great Osobor and Darius Brown. Having two other players draw so much defensive attention allowed Martinez to play extremely efficiently. He had a 62% true shooting percentage, the highest of any player on this list. In overseas play this summer Martinez was the leading scorer on the team, and displayed a versatile scoring skill set. As defenses key in on him his efficiency will likely drop some, but his floor is still higher than most players in the conference. 

Kobe Sanders, Nevada – In the past five years only 3 Mountain West players have scored 20+ points per game (Jaedon LeDee, Bryce Hamilton, Jalen Harris). Sanders scored 19.7 last season in the Big West. The leave of competition is tougher in the Mountain West, but Sanders has shown he can put up points. His combination of size and ball handling ability makes him tough to guard, similar to Kenan Blackshear last season, but Sanders is even taller. Most guards can’t contest a 6’8 shooter.Thanks in part to his size, Sanders scored 1.123 points per possession in isolation last season, ranking in the 91st percentile in that category. He also finished in the 75th percentile in pick and roll scoring per possession. With the departures of Blackshear and Lucas, the Wolfpack will be looking to Sanders to put up points in bunches. 

Tyson Degenhart, Boise State – What makes Degenhart such a good scorer is his versatility. At 6’8, 235 lbs he is big and strong enough to play around the rim, and also skilled enough to play around the perimeter. His outside shot isn’t great, but it’s good enough to keep opponents honest, helping him rack up 1.093 points per possession when spotting up around the outside, good for 82nd percentile nationally. He also scored 1.112 points per possession when posting up last season, which finished 13th in the nation among players with at least 100 post up possessions. For context, all american Jaedon LeDee finished 16th in the same metric, and player of the year Zach Edey finished 27th. Degenhart’s versatility lets him truly attack big players off the dribble, and small players in the post.

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What to expect from the Mountain West and friends?

With a few new friends joining an already-enigmatic bunch, this is gearing up to be a very Mountain West-like season . Seven of the conference’s 12 teams will be showcasing a first-year head coach, one of which is returning to the Mountain West …

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With a few new friends joining an already-enigmatic bunch, this is gearing up to be a very Mountain West-like season. Seven of the conference’s 12 teams will be showcasing a first-year head coach, one of which is returning to the Mountain West coach and two of which still have an interim tag attached. Of those two, one is the youngest coach in the FBS and the other took the job so recently that it was his predecessor at Mountain West Media Days. To add to the strangeness and excitement, the 12-team playoff has arrived, providing a clear and defined path to the College Football Playoff. This has given the Mountain West a real opportunity and the stakes have never been higher. If things fall into place just right, the Mountain West championship could mean a chance to play in the College Football Playoff.  

The Mountain West is a tough league but until proven otherwise, it will appear to be a race to play, or replace, Boise State in the title match. The Broncos will have to ward off some formidable suitors. Fresno State, UNLV, and Wyoming will be gunning for a top spot. At the bottom, a trio of Nevada, New Mexico, and San Jose State will be looking to find their footing with the rest of the pack fitting somewhere in between.

Before we take a look at the conference, let’s take a look at the friends of the Mountain West. This year the Mountain West will have some visitors from the Pac-12. Oregon State and Washington State have both taken a beating on and off the field. Left behind as the only remaining members of their conference the two teams couldn’t even field a schedule. The two teams entered into a scheduling agreement with the Mountain West, so even though they won’t be eligible for the title game, they will be playing a Mountain West schedule. 

Washington State

Jake Dickert’s Washington State didn’t get the kindest draw in the Mountain West slate and doesn’t have the easiest non-conference schedule either. 

The Cougars open with Portland State, Texas Tech, Washington, San Jose State, and Boise State before their first bye. Portland and San Jose State represent winnable games, but the other three will be tough and they could pretty easily be 2-3 to open the season. 

Coming out of the bye they will be met with a tough game against Fresno State, at which point the season could be at a pretty dangerous juncture. After what could easily be a 2-4 start, the Cougars would have to win at least four of their last six games against Hawaii, San Diego State, Utah State, New Mexico, Oregon State, and Wyoming. It’s possible, but the path to six wins is a rocky one for Washington State this year. Wazzu should end up between 3-9 and 8-4. 

Oregon State

Oregon State is in slightly better shape and gets a slightly better draw. Like most of the Mountain West teams, the Beavers will be led by a first-year head coach in Trent Brady, who has been coaching defense within the program in some capacity since 2018. He was previously the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. 

The schedule for the Beavers is broken up into three four-game pods broken up by bye weeks. Their first set includes Idaho State, San Diego State, Oregon, and Purdue. Oregon State should take care of the Mountain West portion of that schedule but will have a harder time against the Big Ten portion. 

After a bye, Oregon State will face Colorado State, Nevada, UNLV, and Cal. The Nevada schools stand out in this section of the schedule. The toughest team in this stretch is UNLV while the Wolf Pack will be in a rebuild. 

The final stretch starts with a game against another rebuilding team in San Jose State. Then the Beavers play at Air Force and host Washington State. Then the Beavers close their season on the road against Boise State. The Broncos won’t go down easy, but if the Beavers can survive against Air Force, the Beavers should best the Cougars, and a winning season should be in play even if they drop their season finale. Oregon State could land anywhere from 3-9 (though that seems like it would be a long shot) and 9-3. A record closer to 7-5 seems more reasonable. 

Air Force Falcons

Air Force is Air Force, and that’s just about all there is to it. Troy Calhoun, the longest-tenured coach in the Mountain West by a large margin, has amassed a record of 130-82. In his 18 years, his Falcons have only missed a bowl game five times. In the 13 bowl games they have gone to, they are 8-5. That’s probably indicative of what’s to come. 

The Falcons have plenty of holes to fill with a slew of departures headlined by quarterback Zac Larrier, but in Colorado Springs, it’s just rinse and repeat. The Falcons are coming off three consecutive bowl games and have won ten, ten, and nine games in the past three seasons. So, even with the substantial losses to the roster, anyone who has been watching Air Force for the past decade knows better than to count them out. 

The Falcons open conference play early and will host San Jose State in week two. Their week three matchup on the road against Baylor should be interesting. After that, they get a bye week and proceed with a pretty standard Air Force schedule with games against the rest of the Mountain West, Navy, and Army. They avoid Boise State, but travel to Laramie and host the Bulldogs. Air Force could go 4-8 on the low end or 9-3 on the high end. 

Boise State Broncos

As much as the other 11 teams — and their fan bases — hate to admit it, Mountain West football runs through Boise. This year looks like it won’t be different.

Much could be said about the dramatics of last season and the unlikely rise of an untested coach in Spencer Danielson, but none of that would discredit what is happening at Boise State. In fact, much could be said of the entire program, but not much discourse is necessary to sum up what the Broncos have. That’s all because of one Ashton Jeanty.

Jeanty is, without question, one of the most impressive ball carriers in the nation. He’s the best running back in the conference and one of the most dangerous offensive players. In a lackluster program, he can single handedly make up for deficiencies around him, be it insufficient help on offense or poor coaching. In a competent program, he can elevate the team from good to great and from great to titanic. The Broncos could have done anything this offseason and it wouldn’t matter one bit. As long as Jeanty is in a Bronco uniform, Boise State will be a contender. Boise State should expect to go between 9-3 and 11-1. 

Colorado State Rams

Colorado State is going into year three of the Jay Norvell experiment and it hasn’t gone as well as the Rams would have hoped when they poached the offensive tactician from Nevada. All the Rams have really managed to do so far is sabotage their conference foe on the way to mediocrity (Nevada has gone 2-20 while Colorado State has gone 8-16 since then). The Rams hope that will change this season. 

The Rams haven’t seen a bowl game since 2017, when they capped off a five-year run of bowl appearances, but got just about as close as possible last year. They got within a game of bowl eligibility last season and came up just short of adding that last win multiple times, including a 43-35 overtime loss at Colorado, a 25-23 loss at UNLV, a 24-15 loss at Wyoming, and a 27-24 loss at Hawaii. 

As is standard with Norvell’s teams, the story here will be the offense. Norvell likes to throw the ball around and he has a team that should be able to pass to his liking. Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi showed flashes of being a really high-level quarterback last year and Tory Horton is one of the best wide receivers in the conference. Horton was All-Mountain First team last season and Fowler-Nicolosi earned an honorable mention. Horton was also named to the Preseason All-Conference team this year. 

Overall, the Rams should be able to take a step forward this year. If everything clicks, Norvell, Fowler-Nicolosi, and Horton could create a solid, if not dangerous, offense. The defense, led by linebacker Chase Wilson, should at least be able to keep up. 

An adept defense and a Jay Norvell offense would certainly do the trick in Fort Collins, but only time will tell if the Rams will hit those marks. Colorado State should finish within 4-8 and 8-4. 

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Nevada vs SMU Game Preview

Nevada vs SMU Nevada vs SMU Game Preview Nevada vs SMU: How to Watch Date: Saturday, August 24, 2024 Game Time: 6:00 pm MST Venue: Mackay Stadium How to Watch: CBS Sports Network Stream: FuboTV ( Get a free trial) 2023 Records: Nevada (20-10) SMU …

Nevada vs SMU

Nevada vs SMU Game Preview

Nevada vs SMU: How to Watch

Date: Saturday, August 24, 2024
Game Time: 6:00 pm MST
Venue: Mackay Stadium
How to Watch: CBS Sports Network

Stream: FuboTV (Get a free trial)

2023 Records: Nevada (20-10) SMU (7-3)

Spread SMU -25 Over/Under 57 points

The 2024 college football season kicks off on Saturday with a light Week 0 schedule.

It features a key non-conference matchup between the 24th-ranked SMU Mustangs and the Nevada Wolf Pack in Reno, Nevada.

SMU, now part of the Atlantic Coast Conference after an 11-3 season in 2023, is heavily favored to win, with the odds set at 24.5 points.

The game marks the debut of Nevada’s new head coach, Jeff Choate, as the Wolf Pack seeks to improve on their disappointing 2-10 record from last year.

Former WAC rivals SMU and Nevada are set to meet in SMU’s first game as a member of the ACC.

The teams last faced off on Christmas Eve in 2009 when SMU dominated with a 45-10 victory over Nevada.

The betting line currently favors SMU at -25, with the potential for a further increase before kickoff.

Initially opening at -19.5 in May, the spread has steadily grown. Likewise, the total has risen from 53.5 to 57.

It is one talk about a baptism of fire with powerful SMU coming to play the Wolfpack at Mackay Stadium in Reno, NV.

Set to start at 8 pm ET at Mackay Stadium, this matchup revives an old rivalry tied at 3-3, with SMU winning the last two encounters.

However, in previous years, Nevada has won both home games against SMU at Mackay Stadium.

The last meeting was in the 2009 Hawaii Bowl, where SMU dominated with future NFL stars Cole Beasley and Emmanuel Sanders.

SMU returns with a strong lineup, including junior quarterback Preston Stone, who had an impressive 2023 season with 3,197 passing yards and 28 touchdowns.

The Mustangs bring back key offensive players, contributing to last season’s average of 38.7 points per game.

SMU scored eighth in FBS last year with 38.7 points per game and is poised for success as it transitions to the ACC.

The Mustangs returned three All-AAC First-Team offensive players. They bolstered their defense with DB Isaiah Nwokobia, who led in interceptions last year, and pass rusher Elijah Roberts, who was second in sacks.

According to Marshall, with solid performances expected on offense and defense, Bruce Marshall (TGS) predicts the Mustangs will secure a four-touchdown win and comfortably cover the spread as big favorites.

Nevada’s quarterback, Brendon Lewis, also returns after a solid but challenging 2023 season, where he passed for 1,313 yards and rushed for 495 more.

SMU Mustangs:

  1. Preston Stone (QB): The junior quarterback is coming off a strong 2023 season with 3,197 passing yards and 28 touchdowns. Stone is expected to lead SMU’s high-powered offense, which is crucial to their success in their first ACC game.
  2. Jaylon Knighton (RB): Knighton rushed for 745 yards last year and is a crucial part of SMU’s balanced offensive attack. His ability to gain yards on the ground will keep Nevada’s defense on its heels.
  3. Isaiah Nwokobia (DB): Nwokobia led the American Athletic Conference in interceptions last season and will be a crucial figure in SMU’s secondary. His playmaking ability can shift momentum and create opportunities for the Mustangs.
  4. Elijah Roberts (DL): Second in the AAC in sacks last year, Roberts will be looking to disrupt Nevada’s offense and put pressure on quarterback Brendon Lewis. His pass-rushing skills are crucial for SMU’s defensive success.

Nevada Wolf Pack:

  1. Brendon Lewis (QB): Returning as Nevada’s starting quarterback, Lewis had 1,313 passing yards and 495 rushing yards last season. His dual-threat capability makes him a key player for Nevada, especially against a strong SMU defense.
  2. Sean Dollars (RB): Dollars rushed for 527 yards and six touchdowns last year. He’ll be central to Nevada’s offense in the running game and as a potential target out of the backfield.
  3. Jaden Smith (WR): One of the new additions to Nevada’s receiving corps, Smith is expected to impact the offense significantly. His performance could be crucial for Nevada’s ability to keep pace with SMU.
  4. Cortez Braham (WR): Another newcomer to the Wolf Pack’s offense, Braham is set to play a key role as a wide receiver. His contributions will be significant as Nevada looks to improve on last season’s struggles in the passing game.

These players will likely be the difference-makers in this Week 0 showdown.

Despite the odds, Choate’s team aims to make a strong start, knowing the high stakes in his first game as head coach.

The game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network, and radio coverage will be available on 105.7 FM in Northern Nevada.

As both teams face their earliest season opener in history, this matchup promises to set the tone for the challenges ahead.

For Nevada, if you’re a half-glass-full type of person, you get to play on national TV audience at home, playing a formidable opponent and seeing how you match up.

 

College Football 25: The Mountain West Conference

CFB25: The Mountain West Conference According to EA Sports College Football 25, Nevada and Boise State will play for the Mountain West Conference Championship. Contact/Follow @Sean or @MWCWire Just three empty Saturday’s stand between us and Week …

CFB25: The Mountain West Conference

According to EA Sports College Football 25, Nevada and Boise State will play for the Mountain West Conference Championship. 

Contact/Follow @Sean or @MWCWire

Just three empty Saturday’s stand between us and Week Zero’s slate of games to kick off the NCAA Football season! I know, I know, it’s been a long off-season and we are all yearning for some game action. Well, there is some good news.

Two weeks ago, EA Sports finally released the College Football 25 video game after a decade long absence for their signature franchise series. To say this has been a much-anticipated return would be a colossal understatement. EA Sports sold over 2 million copies of their premium edition, which granted gamers access three days in advance of it’s announced July 19th standard release date.

As a long time enthusiast of this games series, I was one of the 2 million who secured early access. While there is no replacing a Saturday (or the myriad of other days that games are now played on) of Mountain West action, CFB25 provides a nice bridge to the official start of the 2024 season.

Recognizing that not every college football fan has, or will purchase the CFB25 game, we want to share some of the fun with everyone. So here is what we’ve done.

WE’VE SIMULATED THE 2024 SEASON

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Using the Dynasty feature on the CFB25 game, we’ve simulated the entire 2024 football season. In case you’re wondering, Jacksonville State did make the playoff in our simulation as the lone representative from the Group of Five. As if being snubbed from the playoff wasn’t bad enough, the MWC fans aren’t going to be happy to learn that BYU didn’t just make the college football playoff but earned a bye week as well.

So sure, the introduction of the new 12-Team College Football Playoff is exciting, but we’re here for the Mountain West Action! Even though no Mountain West Conference team made the playoff in our simulation, there were plenty of interesting yields from the season.

HOW THE (MOUNTAIN) WEST WAS WON

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Probably not surprising to many, the Boise State Broncos were your Mountain West Conference Champions. Who did they have to defeat to win the championship? Nevada. That’s right, the Nevada Wolf Pack weren’t just Bowl eligible, but were nearly crowned Conference Champs in our simulation.

Joining Boise State and Nevada in Bowl eligibility were Air Force, Fresno State, San Diego State, New Mexico and Hawai’i.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

One of the first things that stood out was the New Mexico Lobos surrendered the fewest points defensively. One of the reasons for the strong defensive showing was their defensive end, Gabriel Lopez who recorded 15.5 sacks on the year. Lopez was third in voting for the Nations Best Defensive End award. It didn’t hurt that Tavian Combs was tied for the Conference lead in interceptions too.

The All-Conference First Team was littered with Broncos, as seven players from Boise State earned spots. Brayden Schager represented Hawai’i well, as he was the recognized as the top quarterback in the Conference. Somewhat shocking, Ashton Jeanty was not the first team running back, nor was Tory Horton an All-Conference nominee at all. However, Jeanty was on the second team, while Horton actually sustained a season ending injury on the simulation. Injury is the only thing that could keep that guy from snagging passes.

It was also interesting to see that three Mountain West quarterbacks threw for 30 or more touchdowns. Malachi Nelson (38), Brayden Schager (32), Devon Dampier (31) and Spencer Petras (30) all cleared 30 tudd’s and 3,000 yards on the year! And not surprising at all, Air Force’s Dylan Carson led the Conference in Rushing yards. Video game or not, get acquainted with that name.

SNUBBED

It was a lot of fun running this simulation and seeing how some of our favorite teams and players fared. But the level of disrespect for the Mountain West was undeniable. No teams in the playoff. Noone ranked in the top 25. And there wasn’t a single player from the Conference recognized as a consensus All-American.

Coaches across the Mountain West may want to print this and hang it up as motivation for the season. Our EA Sports College Football 25 season may have slept on the Mountain West, but we know better. We just can’t wait for the actual season to kick off and do the fact checks!

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2024 Mountain West College Football Schedule

2024 Mountain West College Football Schedule The schedule is out! Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire Get ready for some football! The Mountain West released its football schedule for this fall, without TV schedules so there could be changes. The league …

2024 Mountain West College Football Schedule

The schedule is out!

Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire

Get ready for some football!

The Mountain West released its football schedule for this fall, without TV schedules so there could be changes.

The league includes Washington State and Oregon State which are quasi-members of the Mountain West.

Those two schools will play seven games against the Mountain West but they are not eligible to win the conference title.

Television assignments for Fox and CBS will be released at a later date.

Saturday, Aug. 24

Delaware State at Hawai‘i
SMU at Nevada
Montana State at New Mexico

Thursday, Aug. 29

Sacramento State at San José State

Saturday, Aug. 31

Merrimack at Air Force
Boise State at Georgia Southern
Colorado State at Texas
Fresno State at Michigan
UCLA at Hawai‘i
Nevada at Troy
New Mexico at Arizona
Texas A&M Commerce at San Diego State
UNLV at Houston
Robert Morris at Utah State
Wyoming at Arizona State
Idaho State at Oregon State
Portland State at Washington State

Saturday, September 7

San José State at Air Force
Boise State at Oregon
Northern Colorado at Colorado State
Sacramento State at Fresno State
Georgia Southern at Nevada
Oregon State at San Diego State
Utah Tech at UNLV
Utah State at USC
Idaho at Wyoming
Texas Tech at Washington State

Saturday, September 14

Air Force at Baylor
Colorado at Colorado State
New Mexico State at Fresno State
Hawai‘i at Sam Houston
Nevada at Minnesota
New Mexico at Auburn
San Diego State at California
Kennesaw State at San José State
UNLV vs. KansasUtah at Utah State
BYU at Wyoming
Oregon at Oregon State
Washington State vs. Washington

Saturday, September 21

Portland State at Boise State
UTEP at Colorado State
Fresno State at New Mexico
Northern Iowa at Hawai‘i
Eastern Washington at Nevada
San José State at Washington State
Utah State at Temple
Wyoming at North Texas
Purdue at Oregon State

Saturday, September 28

Air Force at Wyoming
Washington State at Boise State
Fresno State at UNLV
New Mexico at New Mexico State
San Diego State at Central Michigan

Saturday, October 5

Navy at Air Force
Utah State at Boise State
Colorado State at Oregon State
Hawai‘i at San Diego State
Nevada at San José State
Syracuse at UNLV

Saturday, October 12

Air Force at New Mexico
Boise State at Hawai‘i
San José State at Colorado State
Washington State at Fresno State
Oregon State at Nevada
San Diego State at Wyoming
UNLV at Utah State

Saturday, October 19

Colorado State at Air Force
Fresno State at Nevada
Hawai‘i at Washington State
New Mexico at Utah State
Wyoming at San José State
UNLV at Oregon State

Saturday, October 26

Boise State at UNLV
New Mexico at Colorado State
San José State at Fresno State
Nevada at Hawai‘i
Washington State at San Diego State
Utah State at Wyoming
Oregon State at California

Saturday, November 2

Air Force at Army
San Diego State at Boise State
Colorado State at Nevada
Hawai‘i at Fresno State
Wyoming at New Mexico

Saturday, November 9

Fresno State at Air Force
Nevada at Boise State
UNLV at Hawai‘i
New Mexico at San Diego State
San José State at Oregon State
Utah State at Washington State

Saturday, November 16

Oregon State at Air Force
Boise State at San José State
Wyoming at Colorado State
Hawai‘i at Utah State
Washington State at New Mexico
San Diego State at UNLV

Saturday, November 23

Air Force at Nevada
Boise State at Wyoming
Colorado State at Fresno State
San Diego State at Utah State
UNLV at San José State
Washington State at Oregon State

Saturday, November 30

Air Force at San Diego State
Oregon State at Boise State
Utah State at Colorado State
Fresno State at UCLA
New Mexico at Hawai‘i
Nevada at UNLV
Stanford at San José State
Wyoming at Washington State

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New Mexico Steals 83-82Road Win From Nevada, Thanks to Jamal Mashburn Jr.

Game Recap: New Mexico 83, Nevada 82 New Mexico sweeps Nevada for the first time since the Craig Neal era. Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire New Mexico secures the sweep of Nevada with down to the wire road win in Reno. Reno, NV-The name of …

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 Game Recap: New Mexico 83, Nevada 82

New Mexico sweeps Nevada for the first time since the Craig Neal era.

Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire

New Mexico secures the sweep of Nevada with down to the wire road win in Reno.

Reno, NV–The name of the game this Mountain West season is, win. By any means necessary, on any court possible & any given night. Yes, that’s certainly plenty of any’s for just one article. But that is the only way to survive in this conference this season. As teams are prepared to win at home and on the road on any given night.

Given all of the history between New Mexico & Nevada over the years, fan bases tend to show out when the other Wolf related team comes to town. The last time these two teams met was not too long ago on January 28th, when the Lobos beat Steve Alford’s Wolf Pack 89-55 in front of a packed Pit in Albuquerque.

It was a tale of two shooting performances that night, as the Lobos could not miss. Logging 50% & above shooting numbers from the field, behind the arc & from the charity stripe. While Nevada struggled from all areas of the court.

That game could be notated as the tail end of the Lobos dominant run in the Mountain West. It was also the first win for New Mexico over Nevada in nine previous meetings to go along with being the program’s first win over their former Head Coach, the proverbial cherry on top of the silver sundae.

This far into February though, both teams find themselves fighting for their own post season hopes. Even the Wolf Pack who are coming off of two impressive quad one wins over Top-25 ranked Colorado State & San Diego State just last week.

For both benches, the stakes were high inside the Lawlor Events Center Tuesday night, with eyeballs around the nation staying up late to see Nevada defend their home against New Mexico in the “Biggest Little City on Earth”.

The Lobos started as quick as they began the last time these two met. Taking a 5-2 lead with a Jaelen House three pointer. Both squads would miss a few shots until a Nick Davidson layup gave Nevada their first lead of the game. Back-to-back 4-0 runs on both sides kept things leveled at 11 a piece before a media timeout.

That media driven timeout cooled things down. As both sides received scoring from four different players in those first five minutes of action. Someone didn’t notify Jaelen House, as a quick steal & layup out of the break caused another timeout just seconds later. This time by the Nevada coaching staff.

After another Davidson layup in the paint, Jemarl Baker Jr. knocked down a much needed three pointer. That along with a defensive stop on the other end gave way for a Donovan Dent layup. The Lobos would go on to outscore their hosts 9-5 after that. With yet another Baker Jr. three pointer giving New Mexico a little cushion in their biggest lead of the game.

That lead only continued to grow, with a Mashburn Jr. three pointer increasing it to double digits (32-22) with 6:36 left in the first half.

Nevada wouldn’t stay down for long, not in their own house. Scoring seven points, including a Tre Coleman three pointer which shrunk the lead back down to single digits. But the Lobos answered back, with their long running backcourt duo of House & Mashburn Jr. chipping in four more points to get their lead back to a favorable place.

Each team gave it all they had until the half-time buzzer, as Jarod Lucas scored four straight points to keep his Wolf Pack within striking distance. It was enough to keep his team in the game. But a Mustapha Amzil three pointer was the last bucket before the half, to give New Mexico the 45-35 lead heading into halftime.

Things were pretty leveled on each side. With similar shooting totals, & longtime friends Jaelen House leading his team with 11 points & Jarod Lucas with 8 of his own. Something unexpected was New Mexico’s shooting performance at half-time, knocking down 5-8 three pointers to help give them the 10 point lead.

Nevada started scoring quickly, with a Coleman pull up jumper opening up scoring in the first possession of the second-half. One of three field goals made in the first minute of play.

The Wolf Pack wouldn’t stop there, going on a 7-0 run after having sent Lobo JT Toppin to the free throw line to make the three point play. That 7-0 run shrank the New Mexico lead to just four (48-44), their smallest deficit since the ten minute marker in the first half.

The Wolf Pack’s hot shooting on their home floor to open the half continued. With a Kenan Blackshear pull up, followed by a Nick Davidson dunk down low bringing Nevada to within one point of the Lobo lead (49-48). Prompting a much needed Richard Pitino timeout.

After the break, the two squads stayed neck and neck. Until back-to-back layups by Toppin combined with another from fellow freshman Tru Washington helped the Lobos create some cushion in their lead. Going up 58-52 before Nevada called a timeout of their own. After several misses on each side, a pair of Washington steals would lead to a pair of Donovan Dent field goals.

With the lead back to double-digits (62-52), a media timeout couldn’t have come sooner for Coach Alford. His team responded well, making shots & making New Mexico earn theirs at the charity stripe (next 4 Lobo points, come from Mashburn Jr. FTs).

But in the face of continuous comeback attempts from their hosts, New Mexico stayed composed. With Amzil’s second three pointer of the night helping widen their lead, only for a Jarod Lucas three on the other end to help close it yet again.

As both teams approached the five minute mark, a pair of Daniel Foster free throws brought the Wolf Pack back to within four. New Mexico would fail to capitalize on their next two possessions. Ultimately sending Kenan Blackshear to the line to tie things up at 71-71 with 4:43 left in the game. Nevada would take their first lead of the second-half shortly after, with Toppin sending Davidson to the line for two easy free throws.

A much needed Amzil three pointer gave New Mexico back their lead (74-73). Which was a part of a clutch performance off of the bench from the Finnish big man (12 points in 21 minutes), who went 3-6 from deep against Nevada.

There would be two more ties after that, at 75 & 77 a piece before a defensive blunder would nearly turn the tides.

A Jaelen House foul on Jarod Lucas beyond the arc sent the sharpshooter to the line for three easy ones. Giving Nevada the 80-77 lead with under two minutes to play. House would go on to miss a three pointer on the other end, but New Mexico would retain the ball.

In comes the Mountain West magic & after being subbed out only seconds prior, in comes Jamal Mashburn Junior. Draining a three pointer that would silence the crowd inside the Lawlor Events Center while tying the game at 80-80. Get ready for the tweets.

If that wasn’t enough to keep Mountain West spectators on the edge of their seat, Nevada would take the lead after another Davidson layup with just thirty seconds to go. No one called a timeout, as offensive maestro Donovan Dent was entrusted to put the ball on the hardwood & drove to the basket only to find one of his team’s best scorers ready for the ball.

A slight lapse in defensive coverage by the Wolf Pack left Mashburn Jr. briefly open in the upper corner. As the clutch shooting guard came under pressure, he fired.

With Mashburn Jr.’s clutch three pointer, he was subbed right back out for the larger Baker Junior. Tasked with preventing a shot that Lobo fans were all too familiar with, a Kenan Blackshear final possession game winner.

With that miss New Mexico earned the 83-82 road win, another quad 1 win & their first sweep over Nevada since the 2015-2016 season.

It was truly a night for scoring in Reno. With New Mexico receiving double-digit scoring from five different players, including Nelly Junior-Joseph’s fifth double-double of the season (11 points, 13 rebounds). While Nevada had four players in double figures, led by 19 point performances from Nick Davidson & Jarod Lucas.

Player Spotlights

Nevada F–Nick Davidson

Stat line: 19 points & 7 rebounds & 2 blocks on 8-15 (53.3%) shooting from the floor, including 3-3 (100%) from deep in 35 minutes on the floor

To choose just one Wolf to highlight after tonight’s edge of your seat game was difficult. I could have easily pointed to Lucas’s offensive efficiency or Blackshear’s ability to get to the free throw line all night while also dishing out 7 assists. But, I don’t think Nevada even comes close to taking New Mexico down to the wire if it wasn’t for Davidson’s play in the post.

Shooting above 53.5% against one of the more talented & lengthy frontcourts in the conference isn’t easy. And Davidson managed to do so with consistency while also challenging for boards & making some clutch free throws when needed.

Playing at maybe Nevada’s shallowest position on the depth chart, the sophomore is vital to their success.

New Mexico G-Jamal Mashburn Jr.

Stat line: 17 points on 4-7 (57.1%) from the floor, including 3-3 (100%) from deep & 6-6 (100%) from the line in just 23 minutes on the floor

Mashburn Jr. definitely deserves his flowers for Tuesday night’s performance in Reno. He was quiet but efficient for most of the game, only logging 23 total minutes on the floor.

As Coach Pitino continuously subbed him in & out, in favor of size to try in order to find their defensive edge. That didn’t shake the mental toughness of this senior guard.

He returned to the floor time & time again to contribute in a highly efficient way. Ending the night shooting 100% from both the free throw line & from deep range. That deep range performance was vital to New Mexico’s win. As they’ve struggled with effective three point shooting all season.

If you would have asked me Tuesday morning if the Lobos would win tonight’s game off of back-to-back three pointers, I would have offered you a coffee to sober up. But big players show up in big moments, and no Lobo stands taller tonight than Jamal Mashburn Junior.

Three Takeaways:

  • After getting swept by UNLV last Saturday with that tough loss at home, New Mexico needed this win. Not only for their morale & momentum to finish out the season, but for their tournament resume. The sweep of Nevada this season is also significant, having not done so in nearly eight years. Not to mention beginning a two game winning streak against their former Head Coach. A second straight win this week in San Diego could be the momentum this team needs heading into a brutal second half of February.
  • Jamal Mashburn Jr. has been overshadowed this season. With the surge in production from sophomore Donovan Dent & the always crowd pleasing & energetic Jaelen House sharing the back court with him, minutes along with praise are sometimes scarce. His team high of 17 points to go along with those two clutch three pointers to win the game for his squad on the road are huge. His confidence & production along with others on this team like Amzil, Junior-Joseph, Washinton & Baker Jr. will be needed come tournament time & to finish strong the rest of the conference season.
  • Nevada played very well Tuesday night against New Mexico. Boasting a three game winning streak coming into this one, which includes back-to-back wins over Top-25 opponents in conference front runners Utah State & perennial powerhouse San Diego State just last week. Even after the loss, they made the correct adjustments throughout the game, which eventually led to them taking control in the closing minutes. The Wolf Pack appear primed & ready to compete for their spot in the Big Dance come March. I can’t wait to see this team thrive going forward, with a favorable stretch to overcome.

Next Up:

The Lobos only get three days off & stay on the road to hopefully finish their week 2-0. With a rare Friday night game against San Diego State on February 16th. New Mexico could secure two sweeps over two of their more problematic conference foes this year. It’s a tall task but remember, any team on any night.

The Lobos haven’t swept the Aztecs since 2017. Which happened to be Craig Neal’s last season in Albuquerque & it was still called Wise Pies Arena back then. That game tips off at 8:00 PM MT and can be seen on FS1.

While the Wolf Pack stay in Reno to host their southern in-state rivals, UNLV. The first game in the hardwood edition of the Battle for Nevada takes place on Saturday February 17th.

This rivalry may have seen some better days with UNLV’s inconsistency & NCAA Tournament drought over their last decade or so. Both programs are attempting to fight their way out of their mid-table positions.

But have proven their lethality to other team’s tournament hopes this season. That matchup tips off at 8:30 PM PT and can be seen on FS1.

Larry Muniz covers college basketball as a writer for Mountain West Wire and WAC Hoops Digest. Also as a co-host of the college basketball podcast “Hoops Talk W/Jay & Larry”. He is also a USWBA Member.

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New Mexico vs. Nevada: Preview, Odds, How To Watch

New Mexico vs. Nevada: Preview, Odds, How To Watch Lobos take to the road this week Follow @MWCwire Wolf Pack will try to defend the home court. Game: Nevada Wolf Pack vs New Mexico Lobos When: Tuesday , February 13, 2024 Where: Lawlor Events Center …

New Mexico vs. Nevada: Preview, Odds, How To Watch

Lobos take to the road this week

Follow @MWCwire

Wolf Pack will try to defend the home court.

Game: Nevada Wolf Pack vs New Mexico Lobos

When: Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Where: Lawlor Events Center Reno, NV

TV: CBS Sports Network

Live Stream: FuboTV (Try for free.)

On Tuesday, the No. 25 New Mexico Lobos (19-5, 7-4 MWC) will face off against the Nevada Wolf Pack (19-5, 6-4 MWC) at Lawlor Events Center on February 13 at 11:00 p.m. ET.

According to our computer prediction, this matchup is anticipated to end with a 76-73 victory for New Mexico, which our model slightly favors.

The New Mexico men’s basketball team kicks off a two-game road stretch on Tuesday with a matchup against Nevada and Friday against SDSU. 

The game will tip off at 9:00 p.m. MT (8:00 p.m. PT) in Reno and will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network and the Lobo Radio Network.

Currently boasting a record of 19-5 this season, with a conference standing of 7-4 in the Mountain West, the Lobos sit at No. 22 in the NET rankings.

Their recent road performances have been impressive, securing victories in their last three away games, all with double-digit leads. 

They aim to extend this streak to four consecutive conference road wins, a feat not achieved since the 2013-14 season when they had a five-game streak.

 In their latest road game against Wyoming last Tuesday, JT Toppin’s outstanding performance marked his eighth double-double of the season, setting a freshman record at UNM.

Saturday’s match highlighted the Lobos’ most formidable challenge this season: losing the battle in points scored in the paint. 

Saturday was by far the worst game of the season the Lobos have had in terms of losing the points in the paint battle; 48-26 screams this point. 

“I think we were better in the second half (at the rim), but they were getting to the rim — they’re strong at the rim. They’re tough at the rim,” said UNM coach Richard Pitino.

 “We need to do a much better job of making those (shots near the rim). They were there. 

“They were shooting like 70% at the rim, so we’ve got to be way more disruptive and not allow the ball to get there (to the big men so close to the basket), but also give them credit. They were really good.”

Against Boise State, it was pretty much the same, with the Lobos being outrebounded 46-38, so this must be fixed to allow them a chance to get road wins, especially.  

Therefore, expect the Wolf Pack to prioritize packing the paint again, meaning the Lobos’ big men must display great physicality to remain competitive.

The Rebels were clearly the more athletic team and had the length to impose their defensive will on the Lobos, hence sweeping the Lobos this year. 

They packed the paint defensively, and other teams are noticing, so the Lobos must put their “mean socks” for them to have a chance to pick up some road wins.  

The Lobo guards have faced challenges with their shots being blocked and have struggled against the length of opposing teams.

 This was anticipated, especially given the decision to start three shorter guards in Jaelen House (6-foot-0), Donovan Dent (6-2), and Jamal Mashburn Jr. (6-2).

“Yeah, me and Mash gotta do a better job boxing out the ‘2’ and the ‘3’ down there,” Dent said. “They had how many offensive rebounds? Twelve offensive rebounds, mostly from Boone and Rodriguez. We gotta do better there.”

You can bet Steve Alfords Wolf Pack will emphasize that they must outrebound Richard Pitinos Lobos, putting them in the driver’s seat. 

UNM might consider putting three bigs on the court at the same time as Nelly, Topping and Amzil when the other teams are packing the paint. 

Or even a 2-3 zone when opposing teams show their hand early, at least change it up so they are not so predictable on defense. 

This is especially true when one of your guards is showing off that night; at least you cannot get outrebounded. 

Dent acknowledged the size advantage of UNLV wings Luis Rodriguez (6-6) and Keylan Boone (6-8) over himself and Mashburn.

 This led to the Rebels securing six offensive rebounds (three each for Rodriguez and Boone) out of UNLV’s total of 12. 

Many of these offensive rebounds translated into easy buckets near the rim and in the paint for the Rebels.

Both games against the UNLV Rebels and the Jan 31st game against the Broncos outscored the Lobo big men, making it very challenging to get the Lobos to attack the rim themselves. 

Nelly Junior Joseph and freshman JT Topping must step up against the Wolf Pack for the Lobos to win by rebounding and scoring on the road. 

Opposing Coaches watch the film of the losses of their next opponent and try to duplicate the same strategy. Of course, they must have the personnel to do so. 

This is something that Coach Pitino’s staff have to figure out , as you can get Steve Alford for Nevada, who will be looking to duplicate this same effort. 

Additionally, there have been shortcomings in feeding the ball to big men JT Toppin and Nelly Junior Joseph in favorable scoring positions, with much of their interior offense coming from second-chance points off missed shots.

When the Bigs have the ball in the low post-block area, he is a force for UNM, but there is no doubt they must get more production, both rebounds and scoring, from him. 

So opposing teams recognize this, knowing that the Lobos will not feed the post players very much, so they can emphasize defense on the smaller guards. 

This offense must have more balance, and one feeds the other with an inside-out game because the other team can concentrate on one aspect only. 

Now, that’s expected for a team with so much guard play, but the guard must recognize when they are having an off night and feed the bigs. 

However, they have faced difficulties, including having shots blocked and struggling against the length of opposing teams. 

This challenge was anticipated, especially with a lineup featuring three shorter guards 6-foot-0 Jaelen House, 6-2 Donovan Dent, and 6-2 Jamal Mashburn Jr.

Dent highlighted the size disadvantage faced against UNLV’s wings, Luis Rodriguez (6-6) and Keylan Boone (6-8), which led to the Rebels securing offensive rebounds and easy baskets inside the paint.

The Lobos must return to “We Ball and not Me ball” and distribute the ball on assist instead of simply taking a jump shot with 10-12 seconds still on the shot clock. 

Their opponent, Nevada, holds a similar 19-5 overall record, with a conference standing of 6-4 in the Mountain West. 

Nevada comes off impressive victories against ranked opponents last week, triumphing over No. 22 Utah State on the road and defeating No. 24 San Diego State at home in overtime.

 Nick Davidson’s standout performances in these games earned him the Mountain West Player of the Week title and will be a big challenge for the lobos big man. 

New Mexico claimed victory in the first encounter between the teams this year, dominating with an 89-55 win on January 28 at The Pit, snapping Nevada’s nine-game winning streak in their head-to-head history.

 Jaelen House led UNM with 21 points, six assists, and six steals in that game. However, the Lobos have faced difficulties in Reno, losing six consecutive games since their last victory in the 2015-16 regular-season finale.

Despite playing poorly at times, the Lobos overcame a deficit and took the lead at halftime, ultimately losing the game by just three points. 

I expect this Lobo team to bounce back, understanding the significance of securing these two wins to prove their worth for this year’s NCAA tournament. 

With crunch time upon them, they must demonstrate their ability to secure crucial road victories, especially in obtaining a few significant Quad 1 wins.

 I firmly believe they will rise to the occasion; this team possesses abundant talent, good coaches, and a competitive will to win. 

As Steve Alford, in a podcast, told Geoff Grammer from the Albuquerque Journal, it’s not so much teams being inconsistent from game to game. Still, there are a lot of really good teams in the Mountain West Conference this year. 

Look at UNLV, who wins in the PIT but loses to Air Force, “It’s the teams that can probably show the maturity that can handle game to game, week to week are the ones that are going to surface to the top” 

“We have a lot of ball to play with four weeks and eight games; there’s a lot of ball to be played, so you have to be playing your best basketball now.” 

So the reality is as much as the Lobos have enjoyed the ride this year in the Mountain West Conference, it is time for them to show they belong at the upper tier in this conference.

 They must step up the game and play their best ball or risk being all flash and no fire; that is what champions are made of going strong when the going is tough. 

 The Lobos will conclude their road trip on Friday with a visit to San Diego State, with the game scheduled at 8:00 p.m. MT (7:00 p.m. PT) at Viejas Arena, airing on FS1.

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No. 25 New Mexico Continues Hot Streak, Beating Nevada 89-55

The Lobos achieved their first win over the Wolf Pack in five years, in convincing fashion. Ending a 9-0 losing streak to Nevada on Sunday.

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 Game Recap: New Mexico 89, Nevada 55

New Mexico slams Nevada by 34 points at home Sunday night.

Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire

The Lobos achieved their first win over the Wolf Pack in five years, in convincing fashion.

Albuquerque, NM–A conference rivalry like no other. Two programs that share a similar mascot, a lopsided series record as of late & a shared appreciation for Steve Alford. The latest installment of that rivalry, was also the lone Mountain West game on Sunday night.

Meaning there were plenty of fans, regionally & bystanders nationally tuned in to see if New Mexico was the real deal & if Nevada was going to be the team to expose them.

Richard Pitino’s group put peddle to the metal against their visitors Sunday night, opening things up with a 10-0 run and not really looking back. Receiving contributions from seven Lobos in the first twenty minutes of action, New Mexico took the lead from the get go and never let go of the reins. Heading into half-time up 38-24, after what was an 18-point Lobo lead was chipped away by Nevada in the closing minutes.

It was a team effort in the first half, but New Mexico was led by 10 points, 6 rebounds & 2 blocks from Nelly Junior-Joseph. While Pitino’s trio of guards went for 17 of his squad’s 38 points, shooting 7-14 from the floor. Stud freshman JT Toppin was sidelined early with 5 points & two fouls, but it didn’t matter, not tonight.

Nevada struggled to knock down shots, looking for their first bucket for nearly five minutes into the game & trailing the rest of the way. Their best chance came with around 12:57 left to go in the second-half. As a Nick Davidson dunk sparked a 7-0 Wolf Pack run, which helped Nevada shrink their deficit to just nine points (their smallest all night).

That momentum was short lived as New Mexico responded with back-to-back three pointers, which livened the crowd inside the Pit. The home team’s lead reached 20-points soon after and only got larger as time went on.

As the final nail in the coffin coming in the form of a 7-0 run around the five minute mark, the Lobos had done it. Earning their first win over Nevada since January of 2019. Not to mention their first win over Steve Alford since his return to the Mountain West.

It was an impressive display from the Lobos and much needed after what Kenan Blackshear did inside that arena just a year ago. The win was also their fifth straight, all by double-figures & by an average margin of victory of 20.8 PPG. Also placing them in sole possession of second place in the Mountain West, behind No. 18 Utah State, whom the Lobos have already beaten once this season.

Player Spotlights

New Mexico G-Jaelen House

Stat line: 21 points, 6 steals & 6 assists on 7-13 (53.8%) shooting, including 4-8 (50%) from deep

House had one of his most impressive games of the season. Which seems like something I’ve written multiple times this season. But Sunday’s performance had flair, passion & efficiency to boot. Shooting a monster 53.8% from the floor & knocking down shots from everywhere on the floor. Thanks to a huge second-half, where he had 14 of his 21 points.

Not to mention a 2:1 assist to turnover ratio and a dominant defensive performance on the perimeter with six logged steals & countless other disruptions. House has always had poise and confidence but shooting 50% on a night with four other Lobos reaching double-figures was what was needed to send the Wolf Pack home in convincing fashion.

Nevada F–Tylan Pope

Stat line: 5 points, 4 rebounds & 1 block in just 12 minutes on the floor

Maybe the toughest player spotlight choice of the season, as no Wolf Pack player’s performance stood out. A player who played hard during his time on the floor & didn’t look intimidated by the score was Tylan Pope.

Nevada Sports outlets have been praising the Tulane transfer for his play off of the bench as of late. I see why after this dunk through traffic that the Nevada Twitter account doesn’t have a video of.

Three Takeaways

  • This Nevada loss was bound to happen sometime during Alford’s tenure in Reno. An undefeated record against his old employers is nothing to snuff at, but Sunday’s bombardment likely changes the power dynamic between these two programs for now. It wasn’t the most dignified way to lose (34 points and all), but New Mexico is one of the hottest teams in the country at the moment. Not to mention they’ve already done the same to Utah State & San Diego State this season.
  • Back in early January when UNLV handed the New Mexico their second loss in conference play I said things needed to change in the Lobo locker room. They couldn’t have an amazing non-conference performance just to fold in conference play like they did last year. Someone in that locker room felt the same way and since New Mexico has looked like a different team. One with confident stars playing in rhythm and role players like Junior-Joseph & Amzil thriving to give Richard Pitino one of the more dangerous squads in the country. Anything short of a No. 20 ranking come Monday would be a bit of an insult.
  • This Lobo team is playing with a passion, energy & confidence that I haven’t seen in maybe over a decade. One of the moments that I feel perfectly encapsulates this idea, is one of the many Lobo fast breaks of the night. A defensive stop from a mix of House, Junior-Joseph & Dent that led to all three of those players well ahead of any Wolf Pack player, which resulted in House rising in support of a then Dent slam dunk. It’s great to see, a revitalized fan base, student section & along with players inside the program.

Next Up:

The Lobos take their win and continue their two game homestand against a struggling but always dangerous Boise State squad. The two sides split their home and home series last season, but each team defended their home courts. That 8:30 PM MT tip-off can be seen on FS1 as the sole MWC game of the night.

While Nevada return home to host San Jose State on Friday February 2nd inside the Lawlor Events Center. The Wolf Pack look to return to their winnings ways after dropping four of their last five. That 8:00 PM PT tip-off can be seen on the FS1.

Larry Muniz covers college basketball as a writer for Mountain West Wire and WAC Hoops Digest. Also as a co-host of the college basketball podcast “Hoops Talk W/Jay & Larry”. He is also a USWBA Member.

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No. 25 New Mexico vs. Nevada: Game Preview, How To Watch, Prediction & More

New Mexico vs. Nevada: Game Preview, How To Watch, Prediction & More The Lobos head back home to put their winning momentum on the line. Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire No. 25 New Mexico heads home to host Steve Alford & his Nevada Wolf Pack …

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New Mexico vs. Nevada: Game Preview, How To Watch, Prediction & More

The Lobos head back home to put their winning momentum on the line.

Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire

No. 25 New Mexico heads home to host Steve Alford & his Nevada Wolf Pack in Super Sunday Showdown.

WHO: No. 25 New Mexico (17-3, 5-2 in the MWC) vs. Nevada (16-4, 3-3 in the MWC)

WHEN: Sunday, January 28th, 8:00 PM MT/7:00 PM PT

WHERE: University Arena aka “The Pit”, Albuquerque, NM

TELEVISION: FS1

STREAM:  FuboTV – Get a free trial

Line: KenPom ($), The Lobos are favored by 6 Points

A date circled on many Lobo fans calendars this time of year, the return of maybe their “winningest” Head Coach ever. A day that stirs up emotion among the New Mexico fan base, both good and bad. But another gameday to overcome nonetheless, regardless of who fills the opposing team’s bench.

Steve Alford left New Mexico for a dream job at one of college basketball’s blue chip gigs, UCLA. Fans understood why he left, but never truly forgave their former head coach. Lobo basketball since his departure has struggled to climb back to what is seen as their peak of the 21st century.

Because of that history, fans pack the pit when the other wolf team comes to town. Look no further than last season’s matchup, where 15,004 fans packed University Arena to witness one of the biggest buzzer beaters in Mountain West history. It was one of two Lobo losses last season resulting from a buzzer beater at home and one of two losses to the Wolf Pack last season.

In fact the last time a ranked Lobo team went up against Nevada was just a little over a year ago inside the Lawlor Events Center. The Wolf Pack added to the win column in Coach Alford’s record against his old employer. Which is perfectly intact at 8-0.

The Lobos will put their red hot momentum and top-25 ranking on the line Sunday night. As they prepare to host a team, like themselves, make opposing coaches hold their breath until the final buzzer sounds. New Mexico is coming home after a two-game road trip that resulted in convincing wins over Air Force & San Jose State.

Those are games the Lobos needed to win & couldn’t afford to lose, so give Richard Pitino and his group some credit for not fumbling those road wins. Maybe give more credit to their nationally renowned perimeter trio of Jaelen House, Jamal Mashburn Jr. & Donovan Dent who have led this New Mexico team to potentially their first NCAA Tournament trip since current Nevada Assistant Coach Craig Neal took them to ten years ago.

It really has been a team effort for the Lobos this season. Certainly led by that trio of guards but supported by stellar transfers & impactful freshman. New Mexico has slowly become the team national media were giving attention to in the offseason.

While Nevada is coming off of a 77-64 win against No. 24 ranked Colorado State on Wednesday. A much needed win that ended a three game losing streak for the Wolf Pack. A team like their hosts, are looking for an NCAA Tournament birth come March.

They are led by former transfers and now longtime Wolves Kenan Blackshear & Jarod Lucas. A perimeter duo who are making their last run around the Mountain West before running out of eligibility.

The guys over at Heat Check CBB have Nevada as one of the First Four Out in their most recent Bracketology release while other outlets have them as a Last Four In selection.

The path both of these teams have taken to Sunday’s matchup appear similar. Great non-conference performances, some tough losses but some high value “upsets” in conference play.

As the lone Sunday game of the entire Mountain West Conference slate, there will be eyeballs aplenty available to watch this clash of wolves.

Players to Watch:

F JT Toppin–New Mexico

23-24 Stats: 13.4 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 1.8 BPG & 1.2 SPG while shooting 66.3% from the floor in 25.0 MPG

Last time out: 14 points, 10 rebounds, 5 block on 5-11 (45%) shooting, including 4-5 (80%) from the line against San Jose State

If you haven’t gotten a chance to see a Lobo game this season, make time. New Mexico is a deep and talented team this year with leadership and true potential. With maybe JT Toppin having one of the more exciting freshman seasons since Kendall Williams well over a decade ago.

The 6-9 freshman four man is a site to see in the paint. Recently tying the record for most double-doubles by a freshman (7), previously held by Lobo legend & former NBA journeyman Kenny Thomas.

Toppin’s offensive game is primarily focused around the rim, with second chance layups & turnaround hook shots being his weapons of choice. Along with finishing in transition. While defensively he has active hands, which lead to opponent turnovers and those aforementioned dunks in transition. Big Lobo wins are usually accompanied by big Toppin nights, so they may need one from him in order to put away a team they haven’t beaten in a long time.

F Kenan Blackshear –Nevada

23-24 Stats: 16.2 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.9 APG while shooting 51.3% from the floor in 31.1 MPG

Last time out: 20 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists on 9-12 (75%) shooting against Colorado State

Blackshear’s name will live in infamy inside the heads of Lobo fans after his buzzer beating mid-range jumper inside the Pit last season. The true definition of a dagger that deflated an entire arena filled with fifteen thousand people in an instant.

Blackshear’s game is tough to stop. A 6’6 combo guard who often towers over his opponents on the perimeter. He has a deadly inside game, a 1.8 assist to turnover ratio but virtually no outside game.

An element of his game that you think would make him easier to guard or at least point to where on the floor opponents should push him towards, but it doesn’t. I don’t see Nevada securing the win without a big night from Blackshear.

Keys to the Game

For New Mexico:  Force Turnovers, Get to the line & minimize fouls

The Lobos make their money in transition off of missed field goal attempts and more often turnovers. If you blink you’ll miss it, but New Mexico’s points off of turnovers are no joke. They’ll need plenty of those to avoid playing to one of Nevada’s strengths, which is getting to the line & knocking them down.

The Wolf Pack are ranked in the top-20 in the country in free throw attempts (14th) and makes (16th). The Lobos need to play smart and keep them off of the line Sunday night. A foul heavy night in Albuquerque could doom the Lobos. As that slows down the game and possibly takes away one of their own strengths/advantages.

By the same token, the Lobos need free throws of their own if three-point & mid-range jumpers aren’t falling, which they rarely do. It’s an odd mix but one New Mexico needs to find to secure the win.

For Nevada:  Get to the line, Control the tempo & Crowd the Paint

The Lobos make plenty of their money at the line, but the Wolf Pack does it better. If Nevada can slow down the tempo and take New Mexico’s elite transition offense out of the game while getting to the free throw line at the same time. I can’t see a better reason to use the phrase, two birds with one stone in college basketball more than that exactly.

The Wolf Pack don’t necessarily have a dominant big man down low like say a Jaedon Ledee or Great Osobor. In my opinion that’s an advantage, because they won’t be as cautious when it comes to foul trouble or relying on points from their frontcourt to secure the win.

Instead, they can use that frontcourt on the defensive side and make it difficult for New Mexico’s bigs to earn their living down low. They can do so by sending those bigs to the line, where as a whole, they shoot a poor 59.2% from the charity stripe.

Prediction: New Mexico 80, Nevada 74

The power of the Pit has treated the Lobos well all season (10-0). With their only three losses of the season coming on the road. KenPom has New Mexico as 6-point favorites, which feels accurate given the margin of victory the Lobos have dealt to their opponents as of late but not forgetting Nevada’s offensive abilities any given night.

Though at this point in the season, teams are playing for their tourney resumes and at-large bids. A win in Albuquerque over a ranked New Mexico team means a heck of a whole lot for Nevada. While a homestand win for the Lobos not only gives them their first win over Steve Alford, but a solid quad 2 win to add to their own resume.

I think the current form the Lobos are in combined with their homecourt advantage gives them the win. It could be close but I see New Mexico pulling out the win Sunday night.

Larry Muniz covers college basketball as a writer for Mountain West Wire and WAC Hoops Digest. Also as a co-host of the college basketball podcast “Hoops Talk W/Jay & Larry”. He is also a USWBA Member.

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