Nevada vs. Loyola Chicago: Game Preview, TV & Radio schedule, Livestream, Odds and More
Nevada seeking revenge for NCAA loss.
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Undefeated Nevada travels to Chicago for first true road game of the season.
Game 7: Nevada Wolf Pack (6-0) vs. Loyola Chicago Ramblers (4-2)
When: Tuesday, November 27 6:00 PM MT/5:00 PM PT
Where: Gentile Arena, Chicago, Illinois (4,963)
TV: ESPNews
Stream: ESPN3
Radio: 94.5 FM
Odds: Nevada is a 6.5 point favorite.
Nevada will be playing it’s first true road game of the season when it takes on the Ramblers of Loyola Chicago in a rematch of their sweet 16 game in the NCAA tournament. For Nevada this game has a revenge factor as it was the Ramblers that sent the Wolf Pack back to Reno while Loyola advanced all the way to the final 4.
Both teams return a number of starters from last years teams with Loyola being led by senior Marques Townes. Townes is a player all Nevada fans are familiar with as it was his game-winning shot that ended Nevada’s season last year. 6-9 sophomore Cameron Kutwig has been a force inside this season and once he gets to the rim, where he has a finishing rate of 89%, you can count it.
Keys to the game:
Pace: Nevada likes to point points up on the board and are very efficient at doing so. Loyola scored their season high 82 points against Richmond, that’s 1 point less than the fewest points Nevada has scored in their first 6 games this season. Loyola will be deliberate on offense and try to extend Nevada deep into the shot clock on defense. Nevada will try to get out and run whenever possible and try to get a good shot before the Ramblers half court defense settles in.
Nevada’s Defense: So far this season the Wolf Pack defense has been a case of Jekyll and Hyde, at times it has been stifling and effective, at other times he has caused flashbacks to the second half of their game last year against these very same Loyola Ramblers where it seemed that every shot Loyola took found it’s way to the bottom of the net. If Loyola is able to dictate pace and keep this game close then it will be up to the Nevada defense to make key stops at critical times and defend the pick and roll.
The bench: Eric Musselman has surprised many by having the same starting lineup the first 6 games of the season. Jazz Johnson has been nothing short of sensational coming off the bench this season. Johnson seems to have filled Kendall Stephens shoes as Nevada’s knock down shooter from distance. He also brings a bulldog-like attitude that reveals itself with his willingness to dive for every loose ball as well as ability to take it inside and get his shot off against players a foot taller. The Ramblers have a freshman sharpshooter coming off the bench with 6-3 Cooper Kaifes who has made 9-14 attempts from behind the arc.
