THREE KEYS FOR NEVADA TO WIN
1. Play some defense: Nevada?s defense has taken a huge step back over the past four games, a stretch in which the team has yielded 80.3 ppg and allowed 49 percent shooting (it held foes below 39 percent shooting in its first nine Mountain West games). This is a game in which Nevada?s defense should get back on track. SJSU ranks 349th out of 351 D-I teams in field-goal shooting and averages just 54.2 ppg in conference play (seven fewer than any MWC game). The Spartans can hit a 3-pointer, but are really limited other than that offensively. Nevada should hold SJSU under the 60-point barrier.
2. Use your size: The Wolf Pack has a decided advantage down low and should take advantage of that fact. SJSU plays a smaller lineup and has a serviceable center in Chris Cunningham (8.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg), but the frontcourt is not the Spartans? strength. Nevada needs to establish A.J. West and Cole Huff in the post early and often. The duo combined for 23 points (on 9-of-18 shooting), 19 rebounds and three blocks in the win at SJSU earlier this season. Those two should have a big night. Nevada also should have a decided advantage on the glass. SJSU has been out-rebounded this season.
3. Get Burton in an early rhythm: Wolf Pack PG Deonte Burton, who was dealing with the flu last game, needs to get off to a fast start. Burton has scored just three points (on 1-of-6 shooting) with three assists in the first half of the past two games. Burton needs to be more aggressive to start the game like he was at the beginning of the season. He needs more than three shots per half. In an ideal world, Nevada would take control of this game early and let Burton and the starters rest late in the game. But if Burton sits back and lets SJSU crawl into this one, anything can happen late. Nevada usually goes as Burton goes, so the all-league player must lead the way and attack the basket from the outset.
THE X FACTOR
*The 3-point line
The only way San Jose State wins this game is if it gets really hot from beyond the 3-point arc. The team is limited in so many ways, it has to ride a hot shooting night into contention. The Spartans are surely going to trigger a lot of threes. The team averages almost 26 3-point attempts per game, the most of any MWC school (comparatively, Nevada averages 19.8 3-point attempts per game). SJSU started the year hitting the 3-pointer, shooting 37.9 percent in nonconference play. But that figure has fallen to 31.3 percent in MWC play. Nevada must make SJSU make plays off the dribble. If it lets SJSU hoist up open 3-pointers, the Spartans could become dangerous.
*Simply put, SJSU is one of the worst teams (if not the worst) on the West Coast. If Nevada loses this game, it?s an unmitigated disaster. The Wolf Pack isn?t playing well, but it should win this game by double-digits. SJSU is 0-13 in MWC play and has lost its road conference games by margins of 26, 25, 21, 11, 15 and 19 points (a minus-19.5 margin). If Nevada wants to get a bye in the first round of the MWC Tournament, it has to win both games this week (vs. SJSU and at Air Force).
* Chris Murray: Reno Gazette-Journa
1. Play some defense: Nevada?s defense has taken a huge step back over the past four games, a stretch in which the team has yielded 80.3 ppg and allowed 49 percent shooting (it held foes below 39 percent shooting in its first nine Mountain West games). This is a game in which Nevada?s defense should get back on track. SJSU ranks 349th out of 351 D-I teams in field-goal shooting and averages just 54.2 ppg in conference play (seven fewer than any MWC game). The Spartans can hit a 3-pointer, but are really limited other than that offensively. Nevada should hold SJSU under the 60-point barrier.
2. Use your size: The Wolf Pack has a decided advantage down low and should take advantage of that fact. SJSU plays a smaller lineup and has a serviceable center in Chris Cunningham (8.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg), but the frontcourt is not the Spartans? strength. Nevada needs to establish A.J. West and Cole Huff in the post early and often. The duo combined for 23 points (on 9-of-18 shooting), 19 rebounds and three blocks in the win at SJSU earlier this season. Those two should have a big night. Nevada also should have a decided advantage on the glass. SJSU has been out-rebounded this season.
3. Get Burton in an early rhythm: Wolf Pack PG Deonte Burton, who was dealing with the flu last game, needs to get off to a fast start. Burton has scored just three points (on 1-of-6 shooting) with three assists in the first half of the past two games. Burton needs to be more aggressive to start the game like he was at the beginning of the season. He needs more than three shots per half. In an ideal world, Nevada would take control of this game early and let Burton and the starters rest late in the game. But if Burton sits back and lets SJSU crawl into this one, anything can happen late. Nevada usually goes as Burton goes, so the all-league player must lead the way and attack the basket from the outset.
THE X FACTOR
*The 3-point line
The only way San Jose State wins this game is if it gets really hot from beyond the 3-point arc. The team is limited in so many ways, it has to ride a hot shooting night into contention. The Spartans are surely going to trigger a lot of threes. The team averages almost 26 3-point attempts per game, the most of any MWC school (comparatively, Nevada averages 19.8 3-point attempts per game). SJSU started the year hitting the 3-pointer, shooting 37.9 percent in nonconference play. But that figure has fallen to 31.3 percent in MWC play. Nevada must make SJSU make plays off the dribble. If it lets SJSU hoist up open 3-pointers, the Spartans could become dangerous.
*Simply put, SJSU is one of the worst teams (if not the worst) on the West Coast. If Nevada loses this game, it?s an unmitigated disaster. The Wolf Pack isn?t playing well, but it should win this game by double-digits. SJSU is 0-13 in MWC play and has lost its road conference games by margins of 26, 25, 21, 11, 15 and 19 points (a minus-19.5 margin). If Nevada wants to get a bye in the first round of the MWC Tournament, it has to win both games this week (vs. SJSU and at Air Force).
* Chris Murray: Reno Gazette-Journa
