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Nevada (1-0) At San Diego (0-1)
GAME NOTES: The Nevada Wolf Pack tries to pick up their second road win of the new season in as many chances as they drop in on the San Diego Toreros at Jenny Craig Pavilion tonight. Nevada, which lost to New Mexico State in the Western Athletic Conference Tournament a season ago and then bowed to Houston in the College Basketball Invitational at home, began the 2008-09 campaign on the road in Bozeman where it defeated Montana State in a 72-63 decision on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Toreros are settling in for their second game against a team from the Silver State, after dropping a 65-60 outing against UNLV at the Thomas & Mack Center on Saturday afternoon. After this USD heads to the Virgin Islands to take part in the Paradise Jam over the weekend. As far as the all-time series is concerned, Nevada is ahead of the Toreros by a count of 11-3 after winning two in a row, including a 76-62 decision in Reno last December.
Luke Babbitt had his coming out party in the opener against Montana State over the weekend, posting a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds, both of which were team highs for the Wolf Pack. Off the bench, Armon Johnson contributed another 16 points and seven boards, yet he shot only 5-of-17 from the floor and 1-of-5 behind the three-point line. Ray Kraemer chipped in another 12 points and seven rebounds, but he too had some issues with his shot, converting 4-of-11. Then again, the team as a whole had problems finding the range because they shot a collective 34.3 percent and just 4-of-18 (.222) beyond the arc. Luckily, Nevada saved itself by hitting 22-of-28 at the free- throw line and turning the ball over just six times. As the five-time defending WAC champions, the Pack are considered by many to be the favorite to make it six titles in a row, but having junior guard Brandon Fields, one of the top players in the league, still on indefinite suspension, the team might have some problems in the early going.
Before fouling out, Rob Jones posted 19 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and a couple of steals, not to mention five turnovers, as the Toreros lost to UNLV in Las Vegas. Jones finished the afternoon 8-of-16 from the field in 35 minutes of action, while Brandon Johnson added 14 points but was nearly as accurate from the floor as he converted a feeble 3-of-14 and came up empty on six tries beyond the arc. The team as a whole shot just 4-of-16 form three- point range and was guilty of 19 turnovers. The team was at a disadvantage however, with Gyno Pomare serving a one-game suspension which means the Toreros missed out on the sort of play that garnered him 14.1 points and 7.4 rebounds a game last season. Johnson is actually the top returning scorer for San Diego after he tallied 16.9 ppg and was also the team leader in terms of assists (124) and steals (77) over his 34 starts in 35 appearances. Having Jones (9.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg) handle the ball can be both a blessing and a curse as he turned the ball over almost twice as many times as he had assists in 2007-08.
As long as Pomare makes it back for the Toreros tonight, the home team should be in good shape for its first win of the season. However, should Pomare not hit the floor then it could change the entire dynamic of the game.
Predicted OutcomeSan Diego 73, Nevada 70Copyright 2008 Courtesy of The Sports Network.
