There was a whirlwind of ups and downs for Nevada over winter break. During December, the Wolf Pack carried an eight-game losing streak including losing games to lesser opponents such as Cal State Fullerton and Pacific. Nevada then rallied off four straight wins including guard Marqueze Coleman hitting a go-ahead jumper with four seconds to defeat UNLV and effectively silence the entire crowd at the Thomas and Mack Center.
However, Nevada has fallen back on hard times, losing its last two games, including a 49-point shellacking at the hands of Colorado State. This week the Wolf Pack looks to get back on the winning track as it hosts Utah State on Tuesday and will then travel to California for its rematch against Fresno State.
NEVADA HOSTS UTAH STATE
There are two things that stick out when looking at Utah State: the size of the team’s starters and its point production. Four of the five Aggie starters are over 6 feet 2 inches. Its two big men Justin Moore and David Collete, tower over opponents at 6 feet 8 apiece. Luckily for the Wolf Pack, size is also something it thrives one with all of its starters standing taller than 6 foot 3.
The size matchup is a huge focal point of the game because the bigger the squad the more rebounds the team will be able to pull down, and usually the team who wins the rebound battle wins the game.
The Wolf Pack may struggle with is the production that Utah State’s starters bring to the table. Four of the Aggie’s five starters averaging double figures, Nevada has three starters in double figures but nobody in the Wolf Pack averages more than 11 points per game. The Aggies have three starters that score more than that mark.
The Wolf Pack will be able to neutralize Utah State if the Aggies is forced to rely on its bench. Per game this season, Utah State is averaging 65.4 points per game with the starters scoring 54.9 of those points. If the Wolf Pack is able to play solid defense and force the Aggies to rely on its bench then Nevada will have a favorable chance of ending its current losing streak.
NEVADA PLAYS FRESNO STATE IN REMATCH
Nevada and Fresno State will play their second contest of the season. On Jan.10 the Bulldogs were able to defeat The Wolf Pack 69-66 at Lawlor Events Center behind a career-high 40 points from junior guard Marvelle Harris.
If the Wolf Pack is going to even up the season series its main job will be to stop Harris from scoring. This season Harris has averaged 18.1 points per game including 12 games this season where Harris has topped 20-plus points.
The key to Harris’ game is that he is such an efficient perimeter scorer, shooting over 46 percent from the field. Nevada guards D.J. Fenner and Marqueze Coleman are going to have to defend well on the perimeter if the Wolf Pack is going to come out with a victory over the Bulldogs.
Stone Harper can be reached at sharper@sagebrush.unr.edu and on Twitter @StoneHarperNVSB.
