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Nevada Basketball: Three Keys For Nevada Vs San Diego State
The Nevada Wolf Pack travel to San Diego to take on the Aztecs. Here are the three keys for this contest in Wednesday night.
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Three Keys For Nevada Vs San Diego State
The Nevada Wolf Pack head out to San Diego as they face off against the San Diego State Aztecs. The Wolf Pack are looking to extend their winning streak to 11 games on Wednesday night but will face of tough test against the Aztecs on the road.
The Wolf Pack under head coach Eric Musselman have had their struggles against San Diego State. The Wolf Pack is 2-5 against San Diego State under Musselman and Viejas Arena is the only Mountain West arena that Coach Musselman has never won a game at as head coach of Nevada.
This is the first meeting between Nevada and San Diego State since the 2018 Mountain West Tournament Semifinals when the Aztecs defeated the Wolf Pack 90-73 on their way to winning the Mountain West tournament and the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
This game between Nevada and San Diego State will pit two teams who are playing excellent basketball right now as the Wolf Pack have won ten straight games and the Aztecs have won six of the last seven games.
Here are the three keys for this contest between Nevada and San Diego State
Nevada must contain Jalen McDaniels and Devin Watson
Jalen McDaniels leads San Diego State in points per game this season as he is averaging 17 points per game. McDaniels also leads the team in rebounds per game as he averages close to nine rebounds a game.
Watson is the second leading scorer on the Aztecs as he averages 16 points per game but leads the team in assists per game at four and Watson shoots 40 percent from the three point line.
McDaniels and Watson are a talented duo that the Wolf Pack defense (first in the Mountain West in scoring defense and 26th in the nation in adjusted defensive efficiency per KenPom) must account for and contain on Wednesday night.
Trey Porter Must Continue His Good Play
In Nevada’s last two games against New Mexico and Wyoming, Trey Porter’s play has been stellar. In the win over New Mexico back on February 9th, Porter scored 20 points and added nine rebounds and in the win over Wyoming last Saturday, Porter had another double digit scoring day as he scored 14 points and grabbed six rebounds.
For Nevada, Porter will need to have another fine performance in the painted area against this Aztec team that is third in the Mountain West in defensive rebounding and in rebounding margin. If Porter and the Wolf Pack can control the board on Wednesday, they stand a very good chance of beating San Diego State on the road.
Jordan Caroline Must Step Up Big Time
Jordan Caroline has had an incredible season for the Nevada Wolf Pack. Caroline is averaging 18 points per game and nine rebounds again this season and has tallied up 15 double doubles this season. Caleb and Cody Martin are prime weapons for Nevada but its Caroline’s play that propels the Wolf Pack into the conversation as a Final Four team.
Nevada is going to need Caroline to be at his best in Viejas Arena in order to beat a talented San Diego State team that is playing their best basketball right now. If the Wolf Pack can get a stellar game from Caroline to go along with Caleb and Cody Martin and Trey Porter, then the Wolf Pack’s chances of leaving San Diego with a win over the Aztecs will improve greatly.
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