Silver lining in Nevada’s loss at Wyoming is there are not any extra street video games

The Nevada males’s basketball crew misplaced to Wyoming, 83-73, on Tuesday night time at Arena-Auditorium to fall to 19-11 total and 11-8 within the Mountain West. Here are three takeaways from Nevada’s loss to the Cowboys.

1. At least they’re no street video games remaining

Good groups win at house. Great groups win on the street. And whereas it’s troublesome successful street video games within the Mountain West, that was a weak level for Nevada this season. The Wolf Pack went 3-7 in its 10 league street video games with victories over Air Force, Fresno State and Colorado State. Nevada did not need to play at Grand Canyon, one of many league’s most troublesome atmospheres, with MW street losses at San Diego State, New Mexico, Utah State, Boise State, San Jose State, UNLV and Wyoming. This additionally was a difficulty final 12 months, with Nevada going 3-7 in MW street video games. During its two NCAA Tournament seasons in 2023-24, the Wolf Pack was 10-8 in MW street video games, which underlines how exhausting it’s to win on the street on this league. But Nevada’s stage actually dropped away from Lawlor Events Center. In house video games this season, Nevada’s common recreation rating (out of 100) has been 79.6. Away from house, it has been 61.1. That has included six straight street losses to finish the common season, defeats to New Mexico, Boise State, San Diego State, San Jose State, UNLV and Wyoming. As for Wyoming, the Wolf Pack has now misplaced seven straight video games in Laramie regardless of being favored in six of these video games. That’s wild.

2. No option to defend the Wolf Pack’s protection

The three largest keys to taking part in good protection are (a) no straightforward layups; (b) no open 3-pointers; and (c) restrict fouls and free throw makes an attempt allowed. Nevada failed every of these in pretty spectacular vogue within the double-digit loss at Wyoming. The Cowboys repeatedly broke down Nevada’s protection and bought uncontested layups, hitting 20-of-25 pictures contained in the arc (80 p.c). That poor on-ball strain additionally led to loads of beauty from three, with Wyoming making 9-of-21 pictures (42.8 p.c) from past the arc after rating final within the MW in 3-point taking pictures in convention video games. And the Cowboys tried 27 free throws, reaching the bonus with quarter-hour, 15 seconds left within the second half. Elijah Price incomes his fourth foul with 17:13 remaining within the recreation primarily ended Nevada’s comeback effort as a result of he was an issue for the Cowboys’ frontcourt (20 factors in 23 minutes). The Wolf Pack allowed 125.2 factors per 100 possessions, its third-worst mark of the season. The solely worse video games had been in a loss to Santa Clara (139.1) and a win over Wyoming in Reno (134.8). The Cowboys’ ball motion and fast guards gave Nevada main points, particularly in a 49-point first half.

“Just a miserable effort for 20 minutes,” Nevada coach Steve Alford mentioned after the sport. “The first 20 minutes, that wasn’t our basketball team. I have no idea what team that was in the first half. In the second half, the guys that played really battled and really competed. I thought our defense was way better in the second half, our offense was way better in the second half. But we did nothing we set up to do in the first half, offensively or defensively. Very, very upset in the first half.”

3. Starting lineup unsure after main shakeup

Nevada modified its beginning lineup in opposition to Wyoming, eradicating Joel Armotrading and changing him with Kaleb Lowery. An much more drastic change awaited within the second half as Nevada trailed by 21 factors at intermission. Tyler Rolison began the second half instead of level guard Tayshawn Comer, who did not play a single second after intermission. Alford mentioned that transfer was a coaches choice and never attributable to an damage. Comer performed 9 first-half minutes and had two assists, two turnovers and no shot makes an attempt or factors. Comer ranks third on the crew in scoring and minutes and first in assists. He had not performed fewer than 17 minutes in a recreation this season earlier than Tuesday night time’s 9-minute efficiency. Comer compiled a minus-23 box-score plus-minus throughout these 9 minutes; Rolison was plus-25 in 23 minutes. As for Armotrading, he additionally struggled, going 1-of-5 from the sphere with a number of missed dunks whereas being outplayed by Wyoming freshman Gavin Gores, who tallied 11 factors, three rebounds, a block, a steal and an help in 20 minutes whereas going 3-of-3 from the sphere and 5-of-6 from the free throw line. With only one recreation earlier than the MW Tournament begins, Nevada’s beginning lineup and rotation is in flux.

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The Wolf Pack has now misplaced management of its future for a first-round bye on the MW Tournament. It sits in a three-way tie for fifth place within the league with Colorado State having the prospect to hitch that tie if it beats New Mexico on Wednesday night time. Grand Canyon should solely beat Fresno State at house Saturday to earn the fourth and ultimate convention match bye. Nevada can end wherever from the No. 4 seed to the No. 8 seed because it awaits its regular-season finale at house in opposition to Air Force, which is 0-19 in MW play. I’ll present a full breakdown of the seeding eventualities Thursday after the Colorado State-New Mexico recreation.

Columnist Chris Murray gives perception on Northern Nevada sports activities. Contact him at crmurray@sbgtv.com or observe him on Twitter @ByChrisMurray.