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| INSIDE THE NUMBERS |
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2000-01 record: 17-13;
9-9 in WAC (Tied 5th)
Postseason: None. Last NCAA appearance was in 1995.
RETURNING LEADERS
Points: Green 16.3
Rebs: Paul 4.8
Assists: Green 2.5
FG: Paul 48.5%
3pt: Green 34.1%
FT: Nevada | WAC
KEY LOSSES
Andre Hazel | 6.7 ppg
Corey Jackson | 9.6 ppg
PROJECTED STARTERS
G | Ter. Green | Senior
G | G. Thomas-Hill | Senior
F | Kirk Snyder | Soph
F | Sean Paul | Junior
C | Matt Ochs | Senior
Player to Watch
Terrance Green
Senior Guard
Has led Nevada in scoring since he arrived three years ago.
DATE TO REMEMBER
When you know the non-conference could be a successful one: It's the first of two games against San Diego this season.
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NEVADA WOLFPACK
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The Reno campus is filled with optimistic thoughts, considering last year's 17-win team loses just two starters. But to equal or better such an effort might be difficult without Corey Jackson, who ranked fifth nationally in rebound average (11.1) and posted 11 double-doubles. Junior forward Sean Paul is a three-year starter and athletic wing Kirk Snyder (6-6, 219) could be the league's top pro prospect. The roster includes four players who each played 18 or more games at forward last season. Despite that experience, this is a guard-orientated team, led by two of the league's best in senior Terrance Green (16.3 ppg last season, 1,220 career points) and Garry Hill-Thomas (15.6 ppg). Jerry Petty also returns, a senior who started nine games at the point last year. More consistency is needed on a nightly basis. Last season, Nevada beat Hawaii and Fresno State (twice), and trailed by four in the last minute at Tulsa. It also lost to Arkansas State by 30 and to UTEP by 29. Head coach Trent Johnson has plenty of time to continue building his program, having signed a three-year contract extension over the summer.
TOUGH ENOUGH..............................
Green is a four-year starter and will likely bounce between both guard positions. He's the team leader and has started 78 of a possible 87 games in his career. Hill-Thomas, meanwhile, is more mid-range scorer than three-point shooter. He shot 46.8 percent last season. This backcourt can rival any in the WAC. A newcomer to watch is shooting guard Marcelus Kemp (6-3, 205), one of the best prep players in the Seattle area last year.
TOUGH ENOUGH?..............................
You can't understate how important all those rebounds Jackson gathered were to Nevada's winning record. But he is gone and players like Paul (top returning rebounder at 4.8 per game) and senior center Matt Ochs (6-9, 237) need to replace the boards. Snyder joined the team last December and is a brutal matchup for most. But his shooting percentage (37.7) needs to improve and he -- lime everyone else -- needs to rebound effectively.
BOTTOM LINE..............................
Nevada is capable of a top five WAC finish, especially if those up front play well. If the Wolf Pack can again out-rebound opponents by an average of four, the non-conference schedule (at Arizona State is by far the toughest test) is inviting enough to think Nevada can again come close to 19 or 20 wins at season's end. That could mean an NIT berth.
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