Marcelus Kemp won Western Athletic Conference player of the week honors Monday after averaging nearly 30 points over three games to lead Nevada.

The senior guard exploded for a career-high 35 points in a scoring shootout against Utah State star Jaycee Carroll on Monday, helping the Wolf Pack to an 85-80 win against the then conference-leading Aggies.

Senior Editor predicts that Daniel Day-Lewis and the dark drama, ‘There Will Be Blood’ will be the big winner this year at the Oscars.

After winning three games in five days at Lawlor Events Center, the Nevada men’s basketball team reverted to old form in a 77-68 loss to Boise State at Taco Bell Arena on Thursday.

When Nevada guard Marcelus Kemp drilled a 3-pointer from the top of the key Monday against Utah State to give the Wolf Pack a 78-70 lead, he held his right hand in the air for just a few extra seconds before nodding his head as he jogged back up the floor.

There were still two minutes left in the game, and the Wolf Pack still had to survive a late run by the Aggies, but the message was clear – the Wolf Pack’s still not ready to concede the Western Athletic Conference championship.

The Nevada men’s basketball team waited all season long to wear its silver jerseys.

The players finally got a chance this weekend and they responded by beating Hawaii 88-68 on Saturday and Western Athletic Conference leader Utah State 85-80 on Monday.

After the pair of wins, the silver unis might get a little more time in the laundry.

Nevada guard Ray Kraemer is quickly becoming a fan favorite – hooking the fans up with free pizza will do that for a guy.

Kraemer capped a euphoric “Silver Saturday” – where the Wolf Pack wore silver uniforms and the 9,000-plus fans in attendance were given free silver t-shirts – by making two 3-pointers in the final minute of an 88-68 win against Hawaii to give the Wolf Pack 11 for the game.

On Jan. 10, the Nevada men’s basketball suffered one the most embarrassing losses of the Mark Fox Era in a 62-60 defeat to San Jose State, a team the Wolf Pack had beaten 10 straight times.

In Thursday’s rematch, the Wolf Pack scored almost as many points in the first half (43) as the Spartans did for the game in an 84-46 win.

God I’m glad it wasn’t Cleveland State.

Or Cal State Northridge. Or Ohio. Or any of the other one-hit wonder mid-majors the Nevada men’s basketball team could have drawn for ESPN’s BracketBusters on Feb. 23.

The Wolf Pack needed one of those matchups like a Playboy playmate needs a third nipple.

The Nevada men’s basketball team will play on the road against Southern Illinois for ESPN’s sixth annual BracketBusters weekend on Feb. 23, ESPN announced Monday.The Salukis (11-11) of the Missouri Valley Conference have won six straight conference championships and appeared in six straight NCAA Tournaments, including two Sweet 16 runs. They were ranked in the preseason top 25 this season, but have struggled in the tough MVC.

As part of the deal, the Salukis will come to Reno next season for a return game. The Wolf Pack’s home schedule also includes North Carolina.

The Salukis are No. 80 in the Real Time RPI while the Wolf Pack is No. 82.

Nevada men’s basketball coach Mark Fox hasn’t had a full head of hair since he took over as coach of the Wolf Pack in 2004, but don’t be surprised if he’s looking even thinner up top by the time this season is over.

While Fox has been named top coach in the Western Athletic Conference three straight seasons for leading the Wolf Pack to conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances, this season might stand as his best, and most challenging, effort.

Man, the Nevada men’s basketball team is playing ugly right now.

First the Pack plays uninspired against Idaho, then Boise State comes into Lawlor Events Center and shoots its way to a 15-point win.

The Wolf Pack hadn’t been pasted at home like that since before coach Mark Fox started destroying clipboards and throwing blazers (it was actually 2002 against Southern Methodist).

Hug High grad scored at least 20 points in his last two games. After spending the first half of the season adjusting to Division-I basketball, Nevada freshman point guard Armon Johnson is starting to show the form that enabled him to break the Nevada high school career scoring record last season.

Nevada and New Mexico State are very similar.

From a talent standpoint, they are the two best teams in the Western Athletic Conference.

More importantly, however, both teams have struggled to find continuity this season despite tremendous talent. Both teams are athletic and dangerous on the boards, but turn the ball over too much and struggle with shot selection.

Lawlor Events Center had been a safe haven for the Nevada men’s basketball team.

While coach Mark Fox’s young team struggled on the road early this season, the Wolf Pack managed to stay above .500 by winning seven of eight at home. Home doesn’t feel so safe anymore.

The Wolf Pack fell Saturday night 95-80 to Boise State in its first double-digit home loss since losing by 14 to Southern Methodist in 2002.

Last Tuesday featured one of Nevada’s most anticipated prep basketball games in recent memory.

In a matchup between the last two Nevada 4A champions, fans packed Reno High’s gym to watch an experienced, athletic Huskies squad take on defending champ Galena High.

The Galena fans sitting around me seemed pretty excited when the Grizzlies held on for a 73-69 win.