[jwplayer jF5wU66N-sNi3MVSU]
Nevada vs. Pacific Preview: How to watch, odds, prediction
Wolf Pack looking to start 3-0.
Contact/Follow @Paschke_austin & @MWCwire
Lyle’s status is currently unknown at this time
Who: Nevada Wolf Pack (2-0) vs. Pacific Tigers
When: Monday, November 30 – 7:00 PM PST/9:00 PM CST/10:00 PM EST
Where: Lawlor Events Center; Reno, NV.
TV: None
Stream: Mountain West Network
Radio: TuneIn
Odds via BetMGM: Nevada -6
Preview:
The Nevada Wolf Pack look to win their third straight game of the season as the Pacific Tigers travel to Reno for an inter-conference matchup. Pacific looks to continue their 2019-20 season form as they went 23-10 under 5th year head coach Damon Stoudamire.
Nevada is currently 2-0 on the season after taking care of business against North Dakota State and Nebraska in the Golden Window Classic. Grant Sherfield has settled in nicely with his new team in Reno averaging 16 and a half points and five assists in his first two games with the Wolf Pack. Fellow transfer Desmond Cambridge is averaging 13 points per game making the two newcomers the Wolf Pack’s leading scorers.
Sophomore Robby Robinson is proving to be an incredible asset to Nevada as the 6’8 forward is averaging nine and a half rebounds per game. The surprise of the season is true freshman Tre Coleman who is averaging nine points and 26.5 minutes per game. Nevada was mediocre on defense last year ranking 263rd in the nation in points allowed. However, it looks as if Nevada has changed their ways during this young season only allowing an average of 57 points per game. This Wolf Pack team went into Nebraska and beat the Cornhuskers as a five point underdog. Nevada looks to continue the unbeaten streak Monday.
Pacific looks to improve to 2-0 when they come to Reno after a 66-60 win against UC Riverside and a canceled matchup with the Fresno State Bulldogs. The Tigers lose defensive player of the year and first-team all-conference stud Jahlil Tripp who anchored the squad averaging 16.5 points per game last season. While the Tigers don’t have Tripp, reigning WCC coach of the year Stoudamire has six players who started eight or more games last season.
The Tigers look to their starting five to produce the buckets as the bench only scored 12 points in their season opener. Leading the Tigers is 6’6 forward Jeremiah Bailey who scored 25 points against UC Riverside. Pierre Crockwell II and Daniss Jenkins also scored in double digits. The Tigers ranked 341st in three-pointers attempted last year and it looks like they will continue that trend only shooting 14 threes in their first game. Pacific takes pride in the defensive side of the ball and will look to contain Nevada’s one-two punch in Sherfield and Cambridge.
https://twitter.com/NevadaHoops/status/1332844085498028033
Key to victory:
If Nevada wants to keep their unbeaten streak going they are going to have to defend the paint at a high level. The Tigers like to score around the rim and do it at a high level shooting 43% against UC Riverside. Nevada needs to force Pacific to shoot the three ball, specifically anyone but Jeremiah Bailey. Bailey drained four three-pointers in their first game while the rest of the Tigers only scored one. For Pacific, they need to make someone besides Sherfield and Cambridge score the ball.
While the Wolf Pack have scorers in Zane Meeks, KJ Hymes and Tre Coleman, none have really stepped up during their first two games. If the Tigers take the ball out of Sherifled and Cambridge’s hands, they have a good chance of keeping the Wolf Pack’s scoring at bay which would give them a shot at getting the win.
Prediction:
Nevada should be able to get a home win in what will be a close and hard fought battle in the fanless Lawlor Events Center. It will be interesting to see if Nevada’s defense will continue to be so strong but they should continue to find the scoring boost in their combo of Sherfield and Cambridge. Nevada will be able to use their height advantage down low in 6’10 Hymes and 7’0 Warren Washington. The Tigers starting center is 6’9 and will struggle defensively against Nevada’s forwards. Nevada will improve to 3-0 and will look forward to a San Francisco squad that just defeated the fourth-ranked team in the country in Virginia.
Nevada wins 71-63.
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1372]