Now When:<\/strong> Thursday, 1:30 p.m. Pacific time 1. Rebounding: <\/strong>This has not been a persistent drawback, however rebounding has been a difficulty in Nevada's losses. The Wolf Pack ranks 209th within the nation in offensive rebounding, 91st in defensive rebounding and 118th total in complete rebound price. These aren’t nice numbers for an NCAA Match workforce. Physicality will likely be key on this recreation as a result of Dayton could be overwhelmed on the within as Holmes is the one put up participant on the Flyers' roster who performs a minimum of 10 minutes per recreation.
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by Chris Murray
The Nevada males's basketball workforce performs Dayton within the first spherical of the NCAA Match on Thursday. Right here is our overview of the 2 groups main into the sport.
Data: <\/strong>No. 7 seed Dayton (24-7, 14-4 Atlantic-10) vs. No. 10 seed Nevada (26-7, 13-5 Mountain West) <\/p>\n
The place: <\/strong>Delta Middle (20,000 capability) in Salt Lake Metropolis
TV: <\/strong>TBS (Brad Nessler, Brendan Haywood, Dana Jacobson)
NET rating: <\/strong>Nevada 34; Dayton 23
KenPom rating: <\/strong>Nevada 36 (fortieth offense, thirty sixth protection); Dayton 32 (18th offense, 87th protection)
Energy of schedule: <\/strong>Nevada 89th (231st non-league); Dayton 88th (thirty eighth non-league)
Coaches: <\/strong>Nevada's Steve Alford (11-12 in NCAA Match video games); Dayton's Anthony Grant (1-3 in NCAA Match video games)
All-time NCAA Match file: <\/strong>Nevada (6-10); Dayton (19-20)
Three strengths for the Flyers<\/strong>
1. DaRon Holmes II:<\/strong> The 6-foot-10, 220-pounder Holmes was voted a second-team AP All-American and is arguably the nation's greatest energy ahead. He averages 20.4 factors, 8.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and a pair of.1 blocks per recreation, taking pictures 54.5\/38.5\/70.7. The previous top-40 nationwide recruit is now a junior who ranks 53rd on ESPN's NBA draft massive board. He will get to the free throw line at will and has scored 20-plus factors in 18 of 31 video games with 9 video games tallying a minimum of 25 factors.
2. 3-point taking pictures: <\/strong>Dayton ranks third within the nation in 3-point taking pictures at 40.2 p.c. Fourth-year participant Koby Brea, who comes off the bench, is an elite shooter. He's made 49.2 p.c of his 185 3-point makes an attempt, hitting 91 threes on the 12 months. His 49.2 p.c taking pictures ranks first within the nation (by 4.8 p.c!). He's not a one-man present. Dayton has six gamers who’ve hit a minimum of 24 threes with 4 gamers making a minimum of 45 threes whereas hitting at a 37.5 p.c clip or higher.
3. Avoiding fouls: <\/strong>The Flyers don't have an elite protection, however they do one factor elite on protection. That's avoiding fouls. Dayton's opponents shoot 12.9 free throws per recreation, the second fewest within the nation. That's partially a results of the Flyers enjoying at a slower tempo. However Dayton nonetheless ranks twelfth within the nation when taking a look at fewest fouls per possession (20.2 p.c). That has allowed the Flyers to make extra free throws (14.5 per recreation) than their opponent makes an attempt (12.9 per recreation).
Two weaknesses for the Flyers<\/strong>
1. Protection: <\/strong>Regardless of not fouling, Dayton's protection isn't nice. The Flyers rank 87th in KenPom protection, the fourth-worst rank of any NCAA Match at-large workforce. There are two essential causes for this. Dayton doesn’t pressure turnovers, getting a takeaway on 15.3 p.c of its defensive possessions (276th within the nation). And the Flyers have points on the defensive glass (171st within the nation). This isn’t a foul protection, nevertheless it's not a high-pressure unit that creates miscues.
2. Depth: <\/strong>Dayton principally performs a seven-man rotation with a wonderful beginning 5 and Brea as the important thing gunner off the bench. Whereas foul hassle has not been a difficulty for this workforce, if the Flyers do get fast fouls and should go to their reserves, that might spell hassle. Brea averages 10.9 factors per recreation off the bench however the remainder of the Flyers reserves chip in round 5 factors per recreation. Dayton has six gamers who common eight-plus factors, nevertheless it's a steep dropoff from there.
High-five wins (per KenPom rank)<\/strong>
1. St. John's (KenPom 25), 88-81
2. Cincinnati (KenPom, 37), 82-68
3. SMU (KenPom 71), 65-63
4. VCU (KenPom 80), 91-86 OT
5. Duquesne (KenPom 86), 72-62 and 75-59
Three strengths for the Wolf Pack<\/strong>
1. Backcourt: <\/strong>Nevada has one of many West's high backcourts with fifth-year seniors Jarod Lucas (17.8 ppg) and Kenan Blackshear (15.1 ppg, 4.9 apg, 4.9 rpg). The duo averages 32.9 factors per recreation. Lucas is an elite shooter who hits 39.7 p.c of his threes but additionally will get to the free throw line 5.4 instances per recreation. Blackshear is without doubt one of the nation's largest and strongest level guards who’s an elite defender whereas taking pictures 49.9 p.c from the sector, together with 5.9 free throw makes an attempt a recreation.
2. Getting fouled: <\/strong>The Wolf Pack attracts a foul on 31.1 p.c of its offensive possessions, rating second nationally. That led to 24.8 free throw makes an attempt per recreation, ninth nationally. Nevada's accuracy from the road can come and go along with the Pack having some nice performances and a few performances which have left loads to be desired. Total, Nevada makes 72.1 p.c of its free throws (one hundred and seventy fifth nationally). The Wolf Pack will get 23.8 p.c of its factors from the road (tenth within the NCAA).
3. Size on protection: <\/strong>Nevada has three elite perimeter defenders in Blackshear, Tr\u00e9 Coleman (a two-time All-MW defensive participant) and Daniel Foster, which permits it to modify on screens and assign Coleman the opposing workforce's high perimeter scorer. Nevada ranks thirty sixth within the nation in protection, per KenPom, and held opponents to 31.8 p.c taking pictures from the 3-point line, which ought to assist its trigger because it faces arguably the nation's greatest 3-point taking pictures workforce.
Two weaknesses for the Wolf Pack<\/strong><\/p>\n
2. Put up scoring: <\/strong>Nevada will get 28.5 factors per recreation within the put up, which ranks within the twenty fourth percentile nationally. Now, that does underrate the Wolf Pack a little bit as a result of Nevada will get to the foul line loads, and people are generated partially by having success within the put up. However outdoors of Nick Davidson (12.1 ppg, 54.9 FG%), there's not quite a lot of put up scoring for this workforce. Okay.J. Hymes (5.8 ppg, 60.8 FG%) is succesful however should not get in foul hassle whereas defending Holmes to remain on the court docket.
High-five wins (per KenPom rank)<\/strong>
1. San Diego State (KenPom 21), 70-66 OT
2. TCU (KenPom, 33), 88-75
3. Colorado State (KenPom 38), 77-64 and 77-74
4. Boise State (KenPom 39), 76-66
5. Utah State (KenPom 48), 77-63
1. Nevada's free throw makes an attempt: <\/strong>That is an apparent stat as Nevada depends on the free throw line to attain whereas Dayton not often fouls. The Wolf Pack averages 24.8 free throws per recreation; the Flyers allowed 12.9 free throws per recreation. That's a 12 free throw hole. If Nevada will get 20 free throw makes an attempt on this recreation, it's a win for the Wolf Pack. Something within the low teenagers would imply Nevada would require a giant recreation from the 3-point line to make up for that deficit.
2. Dayton's made 3-pointers: <\/strong>The Flyers' largest energy is its 3-point taking pictures, so Nevada should hold them from getting open seems to be. This can be a arduous workforce to defend as a result of it surrounds an elite put up participant (Holmes) with succesful shooters. In case you double workforce Holmes, you're most likely giving up an open three, which isn’t preferrred. Dayton has made 41.7 p.c of its threes in wins and 34.8 p.c of its threes in losses. Maintaining Dayton within the single-digits in made threes could be a win for Nevada.
3. Nick Davidson's factors: <\/strong>Dayton has a vulnerability defending the put up, which additionally contains yielding offensive rebounds. So, Davidson, the Wolf Pack's third-team All-MW massive man, should play effectively for Nevada to win this recreation. After a robust run of kind in February, Davidson has averaged simply 9.4 factors and seven.4 rebounds over the past 5 video games, taking pictures 44.7 p.c from the sector and 23.1 p.c from the 3-point line. He should return to that February kind for the Wolf Pack.
4. Kenan Blackshear's turnovers: <\/strong>Blackshear is usually a difference-maker however may also get sped up at instances and battle to run Nevada's offense. He'll be a key participant on this recreation, and it's an excellent matchup for him. Dayton doesn't have an elite perimeter defender and doesn't create turnovers, so Blackshear ought to be capable of discover a rhythm not like final 12 months's NCAA Match recreation when he acquired into foul hassle and had extra turnovers (5) than factors (4) in a 25-point loss to Arizona State.
5. Fouls drawn by DaRon Holmes II:<\/strong> Scouts will likely be in attendance to observe Holmes, who’s a possible NBA draft choose this spring. He's going to get his factors, however Nevada can't permit him to utterly dominate this recreation and put the Wolf Pack's frontcourt on the bench by drawing fouls. He's a extra versatile participant than San Diego State's Jaedon LeDee, however he'll pose related issues, so Nevada has expertise in opposition to a participant like this. If Holmes attracts eight-plus fouls, Nevada may very well be in hassle.
Columnist Chris Murray offers perception on Northern Nevada sports activities. Contact him at crmurray@sbgtv.com or comply with him on Twitter @ByChrisMurray.<\/em><\/p>\n