RENO, Nev. - The University of Nevada men's basketball team will begin practice on Friday in preparation for the 2010-11 season. First action for the Wolf Pack is a home exhibition game versus Seattle Pacific on Nov. 6 with the season opener slated for Nov. 13 at home versus Montana at 2:05 p.m.
The Pack is coming off a 21-13 campaign and a second round appearance in the National Invitational Tournament. The 2010-11 team will be seeking an eight consecutive 20 win season this year.
David Carter is in his second season as Nevada's head coach. Last year, he became just the second first-year Nevada head coach to win 20 games leading the team to a 21-13 record and a tie for second place in the Western Athletic Conference posting a 11-5 mark. Carter is joined on his staff by associate head coach Doug Novsek who is in his fifth year with the program and assistant coaches Keith Brown and Dennis Gates who are in their second years at Nevada.
Nevada returns one starter and a total of six letterwinners from last year's team. Junior forward Dario Hunt, a member of the 2010 WAC All-Defensive Team, returns after starting 33 of 34 games last season. The Wolf Pack squad will also feature three players who redshirted last year, including Indiana transfer and sophomore guard Malik Story, Duke transfer and junior forward Olek Czyz and redshirt freshman guard Jerry Evans Jr., as well as seven other newcomers.
This year's team will feature one senior, five juniors, four sophomores, one redshirt freshman and five true freshmen. The Wolf Pack's seven newcomers include juniors Illiwa Baldwin and Derrell Conner and true freshmen Devonte Elliott, Jordan Finn, Jordan Burris, Deonte Burton and Kevin Panzer.
Nevada has made eight consecutive postseason appearances, advancing to the second round of the National Invitation Tournament last season. That marked the team's first trip to the NIT since 2003 and the Wolf Pack's 74-70 win at Wichita State in the NIT first round was its first postseason victory since 2007.
