Detailed Nevada scouting report....if you like to read

[NetflixAndClone]

Someone said this earlier but according to Kenpom Nevada is like TCU offensively and Oklahoma State defensively. Should be a close game for the first half but I think 10 plus victory in the end.

 

[Cyclonepride]

The scariest part of this match up, probably from the perspective of both Nevada and Iowa State fans, is the unknown. Nevada has talent, and is obviously well coached, but they haven't had the schedule to prove it either way. St. Mary's is their best, but you throw that out the window due to the first game of the year. So are they world beaters that just haven't had the chance to prove it, or are they a good team that benefited from a somewhat mediocre schedule? We may not know that until after the game has been going a while.

I think ISU is the proven commodity, and has a wealth of NCAA experience to draw on. So so start with an awesome finish (similar to UCONN as the 6 a couple years back). But for every UCONN, there's a similar team that just gets cold on a given night. Anywho...

Send help. I'm cracking under the pressure.

 

[carvers4math]

Send help. I'm cracking under the pressure.

This is why I said in the other thread I just am not going to look at their players too closely. Otherwise, I think their starting lineup is Lebron, Durant, Curry, Kyrie, and Klay Thompson.

 

[@Tlemieux72]

I was trying to think up comps for Nevada's players.

after watching a bunch of tape, it's clear there are two sets. Marshall, Caroline and Oliver make them go, and King, Fenner and Hall are "just guys". They do their job, they can all handle, drive and shoot the 3, but those 3 don't stand out.

Marshall reminded me a lot of Devonte Graham at Kansas - if he was the main scorer at a mid-major. I can't decide if that's too high of praise or not. He mainly plays off the ball, scores kinda quietly, but moves over to the main handler late in the games and takes (and makes) the big shots. I just looked up the advanced stats and they are almost identical from shooting percentages to physical size to assist rate. The only major difference is usage %.

Oliver was tricky, but I decided his best comparison is Deonte Burton stretched 4" taller and down about 10 pounds. They really do play similarly. Shoot 3's, drive to the rim, putbacks. With a real mission to punish the rim with highlight dunks. Oliver rebounds a bit better (15% vs. 12%) and blocks more shots, but Burton has more steals. Burton shoots less 3s and more 2s, Oliver doesn't love the mid-range like Deonte. Shooting percentages and passing are very similar. It'll be fun to watch them guard each other when ISU goes small

Caroline is a harder comp for me. Can shoot the 3, very good at offensive rebounding for being slightly undersized, but his main strength is putting his head down going to the rim and getting fouled. He's made 30 more FTs than anyone on ISU has attempted - and he only makes 58%! Looking through the stats I figured out who he plays like - Aaron White! But, you know, without out all the pasty Iowa-ness. And White was two inches taller and could actually make his FTs, and Caroline is a bit better rebounder.

Nice post, but I can almost guarantee you Caroline will draw the Burton assignment and Cam will play his usual help side shot block D.

 

[@Tlemieux72]

What impresses me most about Nevada is their coach Eric Musselman. Not sure how you guys ever landed him but he's got one helluva resume. Nevada's destiny is to become one of the most dangerous teams in America if he stays.

Believe me, every Nevada fan is praying he stays...but odds are he doesn't.

How did we get him? We have an amazing AD, Muss happened to be the head coach at the D league team in Reno and his wife fell in love with the city. Supposedly she told him, if you ever get the opportunity I want to move back there.

 

[bawbie]

Nice post, but I can almost guarantee you Caroline will draw the Burton assignment and Cam will play his usual help side shot block D.

The freshman Solomon Young (6'8" 250) will start on Oliver, and Oliver will be able to play help D off of him some - although watch out for drop offs / lobs from Morris or Burton for dunks.

But ISU will go small at some point with Burton guarding Oliver, I almost guarantee it. And when ISU goes small, there's no one to help off of. I doubt Nevada has had anyone all year go small to the point where the other team has a quickness advantage at every position. Watch for it, especially late in the first half if our bigs pick up some fouls.

 

[@Tlemieux72]

The freshman Solomon Young (6'8" 250) will start on Oliver, and Oliver will be able to play help D off of him some - although watch out for drop offs / lobs from Morris or Burton for dunks.

But ISU will go small at some point with Burton guarding Oliver, I almost guarantee it. And when ISU goes small, there's no one to help off of. I doubt Nevada has had anyone all year go small to the point where the other team has a quickness advantage at every position. Watch for it, especially late in the first half if our bigs pick up some fouls.

I'm sure you're right about your side of the ball, but I doubt Muss puts Cam on Burton at all. Jordan will draw the assignment and barring foul trouble will play all 40.

 

[@Tlemieux72]

The freshman Solomon Young (6'8" 250) will start on Oliver, and Oliver will be able to play help D off of him some - although watch out for drop offs / lobs from Morris or Burton for dunks.

But ISU will go small at some point with Burton guarding Oliver, I almost guarantee it. And when ISU goes small, there's no one to help off of. I doubt Nevada has had anyone all year go small to the point where the other team has a quickness advantage at every position. Watch for it, especially late in the first half if our bigs pick up some fouls.

Sorry, didn't see the question in there. No...is the answer

 

[CycloneBBFan]

The scariest part of this match up, probably from the perspective of both Nevada and Iowa State fans, is the unknown. Nevada has talent, and is obviously well coached, but they haven't had the schedule to prove it either way. St. Mary's is their best, but you throw that out the window due to the first game of the year. So are they world beaters that just haven't had the chance to prove it, or are they a good team that benefited from a somewhat mediocre schedule? We may not know that until after the game has been going a while.

I think ISU is the proven commodity, and has a wealth of NCAA experience to draw on. So so start with an awesome finish (similar to UCONN as the 6 a couple years back). But for every UCONN, there's a similar team that just gets cold on a given night. Anywho...

Send help. I'm cracking under the pressure.

I think you just hit the nail on it's head. A known ISU vs an unknown. I can run the numbers all day and watch tape but there's no real way to judge Nevada.

 

[BWRhasnoAC]

First play of the game, Deonte Burton down the lane for a tomahawk dunk over their shot blocker.

You mean like when Royce drove it full court and blew past UCONN's entire team and dunked the ever living beejesus out of the basketball? Man I loved watching Royce play.

 

[bawbie]

Question for the Nevada fans here:

What's with the weird leg kick on Oliver's three point shot? Does he draw fouls with it?

And did Marshall copy it for some of the year? I saw it consistently on Oliver's shot, but Marshall's seemed to come and go.

 

[VTXCyRyD]

Oliver should be the best athlete on the floor

Did that say All Mountain West 3rd Team? And he will be the best player on the floor?

He was only second team this year.

 

[BattleReady]

Question for the Nevada fans here:

What's with the weird leg kick on Oliver's three point shot? Does he draw fouls with it?

And did Marshall copy it for some of the year? I saw it consistently on Oliver's shot, but Marshall's seemed to come and go.

I can count the times on one hand that Oliver's leg kick has actually drawn fouls. It seems to be more for creating separation for the actual shot than for drawing fouls.

I don't think that was Marshall's intent. He's been able to make crazy threes with a few different kinds of releases this year, depending on how contested the shot is. In general, MW refs have been really reluctant to put either of them on the line for three free throws.

 

[@Tlemieux72]

Question for the Nevada fans here:

What's with the weird leg kick on Oliver's three point shot? Does he draw fouls with it?

And did Marshall copy it for some of the year? I saw it consistently on Oliver's shot, but Marshall's seemed to come and go.

No just bad form imo

 

[srjclone]

No just bad form imo

If it ain't broke don't fix it