Court Report: Nevada hopes for postseason run
Wolf Pack snubbed from NIT, looks for CBI success
Nevada men’s basketball coach Mark Fox said he thought his team was good enough to play in the National Invitation Tournament last week.
Even though the Wolf Pack was snubbed, despite having a better Ratings Percentage Index than a few of the teams that are playing in the NIT, the Wolf Pack is playing in the College Basketball Invitational against Houston today at 6 p.m.
Despite the snub, Fox was happy to be playing in the postseason even if it’s not the NCAA Tournament, where it played the last four years.
If the Wolf Pack wants to make a run this postseason, this is what it will have to do against Houston.
Contain perimeterHouston’s leading scorer Robert McKiver (23 per game) and Dion Dowell both shoot better than 38 percent from behind the arc.
Earlier this season Boise State thrashed Nevada from 3-point range and ended up losing by 15. Nevada had trouble getting around screens, thus leaving good shooters to take open shots.
Nevada has to disrupt the shots from 3-point range and force the Cougars to take more difficult shots.
Limit offensive reboundsHouston averages 12 offensive rebounds per game and 37 total per game.
In the Wolf Pack’s last game, an 83-75 loss to New Mexico State, the Wolf Pack allowed 23 offensive rebounds and 52 total. New Mexico State filled the paint with rebounders and boxed out very well. Even the guards were sneaking in and stealing rebounds.
Nevada has to work hard in the paint and box out efficiently on defense. Because even if Nevada holds the Cougars to poor shooting, the second-chance points from the offensive rebounding can change a ball game drastically.
Relive postseason experienceThe Wolf Pack advanced in the NCAA Tournament in three of the past four seasons. In 2004 it went to the Sweet Sixteen and in 2005 and 2007 it made the second round.
The 2006 loss to Montana was the only time Nevada was bounced in the first round in the past four years.
Nevada has a lot of potential on its young team that starts two sophomores and a freshman.
If Nevada can win a few games in the tournament, it can really help the squad for next year in terms of experience. The feeling that if you lose you go home is plenty of motivation to win.
Photo by Amy Beck
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on Tuesday, March 18th, 2008 at 12:10 am and is filed under Court Report, Sports.
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