How Nevada Basketball Can Dominate the Mountain West This Season
I remember watching a club volleyball tournament in Las Vegas a few years back, and something about that experience stuck with me. The energy, the teamwork, the way complete strangers came together to form cohesive units - it reminded me of what makes sports so special. That memory came rushing back when I read BVS's recollection about their club volleyball days: "Playing club volleyball in the States, that's how I met her. We ended up doing a stint thing in our senior year. We got invited to play in some games from around the country, so everyone got to play in like this fun game." There's something fundamentally powerful about that kind of organic team development, and I believe Nevada Basketball can harness that same energy to dominate the Mountain West this season.
Looking at Nevada's current roster, I see parallels to that club volleyball story. The Wolf Pack has been quietly building something special, much like those volleyball players who started as strangers but grew into a formidable unit. Coach Steve Alford has been working with this group for three seasons now, and we're seeing the kind of chemistry that only comes with time and shared experiences. Last season, they finished 22-10 overall and 12-6 in conference play, but honestly, those numbers don't tell the whole story. What impressed me most was how they handled adversity - losing Kenan Blackshear to injury for several games but still finding ways to compete. That resilience reminds me of BVS's description of traveling across the country to play different teams, adapting to various styles and situations.
The Mountain West conference is tougher than many people realize - it sent three teams to the NCAA tournament last year, and I'd argue it was slightly undervalued by the selection committee. San Diego State's Final Four run certainly raised the conference's profile, but teams like Utah State and Boise State present significant challenges too. What Nevada needs to do, in my opinion, is embrace that underdog mentality while leveraging their unique advantages. Their home court at Lawlor Events Center gives them one of the best home-court advantages in the conference - they went 14-2 at home last season, and I expect they can improve on that this year. The student section creates an environment that's both intimidating for opponents and energizing for the home team, much like the supportive crowds BVS described during those national club volleyball tournaments.
When I analyze Nevada's roster construction, I'm particularly excited about the backcourt. Jarod Lucas returns after averaging 17.3 points per game last season, and his shooting percentages - 43% from the field and 38% from three-point range - don't fully capture his impact on games. He has that clutch gene that you can't teach, the kind of player who wants the ball in big moments. Alongside him, Kenan Blackshear provides the versatility that modern basketball demands. At 6'6", he can play multiple positions, and his stat line of 14.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game demonstrates his all-around game. These two remind me of the dynamic duos you see forming in those club sports scenarios - players who develop almost telepathic understanding through shared experiences.
The frontcourt does concern me slightly, I'll admit. Will Baker's transfer to LSU leaves a significant void in the paint, and someone needs to step up. I'm looking at Nick Davidson, who showed flashes of potential last season, averaging 6.3 points and 4.1 rebounds in limited minutes. At 6'8", he has the length to compete in the Mountain West, but he needs to add strength to battle with the conference's more physical big men. The development of Davidson and other frontcourt players like Tyler Powell will likely determine Nevada's ceiling this season. If they can provide consistent interior defense and rebounding, Nevada becomes much more dangerous.
What really excites me about this team, though, is their style of play. They ranked in the top three in the Mountain West in both offensive and defensive efficiency last season, and with most of their core returning, they should only improve. Their ball movement is crisp - they averaged 14.2 assists per game last year - and they play with a pace that can overwhelm opponents. Watching them reminds me of BVS's description of those fun, free-flowing club games where everyone gets involved and contributes. That unselfish mentality is contagious, and it's what separates good teams from great ones.
The non-conference schedule presents both challenges and opportunities. Games against teams like TCU and Temple will test Nevada early, but winning those matchups could build the confidence needed for conference play. I'm particularly interested in how they handle the road environment at TCU - successful teams learn to win in hostile territory, much like BVS's volleyball team traveling across the country for games. Those experiences bond teams together in ways that practice simply cannot replicate.
Looking across the Mountain West, I see several teams that could challenge Nevada. San Diego State returns most of their core from that Final Four team, and their athleticism presents matchup problems for everyone. Utah State has been consistently strong under Ryan Odom, and Boise State's backcourt might be the most underrated in the conference. But here's what gives Nevada an edge, in my view: continuity. While other teams are integrating transfers or adjusting to new coaches, Nevada returns their core and system. That familiarity breeds the kind of chemistry that BVS described - players who know each other's tendencies, who've been through battles together, who trust each other implicitly.
The key for Nevada, I believe, lies in maintaining health and developing depth. Their starting five can compete with anyone in the conference, but basketball seasons are marathons, not sprints. The grind of conference play, with back-to-back road games and quick turnarounds, tests every team's resilience. Nevada's bench players need to provide quality minutes, particularly in those tough road environments where fatigue sets in faster. If players like Daniel Foster and Tre Coleman can give them 15-20 productive minutes per game, it makes all the difference.
I've been covering Mountain West basketball for over a decade now, and this Nevada team has the ingredients for something special. They have the star power in Lucas and Blackshear, the coaching stability with Alford, the home-court advantage, and most importantly, the chemistry that comes from shared experiences. That last element - the bond between players - often gets overlooked in analytics-driven analysis, but it's what transforms good teams into great ones. It's what BVS captured in describing those club volleyball days, and it's what I see developing in Reno. The Mountain West is there for the taking this season, and if Nevada can stay healthy and continue developing their depth, I believe they'll not only compete for the conference title but make some noise in March as well. Sometimes, the most powerful teams aren't the ones with the most talent, but the ones with the strongest connections - and Nevada appears to have both.
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