Nevada (22-10) vs. Arizona State (22-12)  

Wednesday, March 15 - 6:10 PM (PT) – University of Dayton Arena

TV: TruTV (Tom McCarthy // Avery Johnson) 

Radio: 94.5 FM/The Varsity Network (John Ramey // Len Stevens)  

Listen: https://bit.ly/3yuWNPM

Live Stream: https://bit.ly/401D71I

Live Stats: https://bit.ly/3JxhIb4

RENO, Nev. - The Nevada Men's Basketball team is set to open up the 2023 NCAA Tournament Wednesday evening, as they are slated to travel to Dayton, Ohio to take on Arizona State in the First Four.

The Pack earned an 11 seed in the NCAA Tournament in the West Region, as announced Sunday afternoon on the NCAA Selection Show.

The selection marks Nevada's 10th all-time appearance in the NCAA Tournament, and they enter Wednesday's contest with a record of 6-9 across their previous nine appearances. 

The Pack's selection also signifies Head Coach Steve Alford's 12th career appearance in the tournament. He has now tied the record for most NCAA Division I Tournament appearances at different schools, as he has taken five different teams to the tournament throughout his career (Missouri State, Iowa, New Mexico, UCLA, and Nevada). 

Alford owns an all-time record of 11-11 in the NCAA Tournament, and his teams have advanced to the Sweet Sixteen on four separate occasions (1999, 2014, 2015, 2017). 

After falling to San José State in overtime in the quarterfinals of the Mountain West Tournament, Nevada will aim to bounce back in a big way, as they will take on a talented Arizona State team Wednesday evening.

Nevada is coming off of a difficult 77-81 overtime loss to San José State; however, they have been impressive in games coming off of a loss this season, as they own a record of 7-2 in contests following a loss this year. The Pack has outscored their opponents by an average margin of 6.3 points per game in contests following a loss this year.

Jarod Lucas led the way offensively for the Pack in the loss to San José State, turning in an excellent performance in which he matched a career-high by scoring 28 points on 10-19 shooting from the field and 6-7 at the free throw line. It was one of Lucas' most complete performances of the season, as the senior guard also pulled down four rebounds, dished out three assists, and tallied two steals. 

Lucas has now reached double figures in scoring in 28 of 32 games this season, including scoring 20+ points in 10 contests this year. Over Nevada's past three games, Lucas has been exceptional, averaging 25.0 points per game on 53.7 percent shooting from the field and 86.2 percent at the free throw line.

Lucas continues to rank at the top of the Mountain West in a variety of individual statistical categories this season. He enters Wednesday's contest ranked third in the conference in made 3-pointers (78), third in free throw percentage (86.1%), third in minutes per game (34.6 MPG), and fifth in points per game (17.3 PPG). 

The Mountain West Newcomer of the Year has been particularly impressive for Nevada in games following a loss this season, averaging 18.9 points per game on 43.6 percent shooting from the field in contests following a loss this year.

Kenan Blackshear had a solid outing against San José State, scoring 16 points on 4-11 shooting from the field and 7-8 at the free throw line, while pulling down six rebounds.

The All-Mountain West Second Team honoree has now scored in double figures in 28 of 32 games this season for the Pack. Blackshear has also recorded at least three assists in 28 of 32 contests this year. 

As he has done throughout the entire season, Blackshear continues to rank in the top-15 of the Mountain West in a plethora of statistical categories. Blackshear ranks fourth in the conference in assists per game (4.6 APG), sixth in steals per game (1.5 SPG), 11th in minutes per game (32.9 MPG), 11th in free throw percentage (77.8%), 12th in points per game (14.4 PPG), and 12th in assist/turnover ratio (1.5). 

Freshman forward Darrion Williams had another impressive all-around outing in the Pack's loss to San José State, scoring nine points, pulling down seven rebounds, and dishing out three assists. 

The Mountain West Freshman of the Year has been exceptional on the glass all season, as he ranks first on the team and second overall in the Mountain West in rebounds per game, pulling down 7.3 boards per contest. Williams also ranks eighth in the conference in steals per game (1.5 SPG). He has led Nevada in rebounding in 18 of 32 contests this season and he has eclipsed double figures in rebounding in 10 different games. 

Fellow freshman Nick Davidson had one of his best performances of the season in the loss to San José State, scoring 13 points on 5-7 shooting from the field, 1-2 from behind the arc, and 2-2 at the free throw line, while pulling down a team-high eight rebounds. 

Redshirt junior center Will Baker did not have his best outing against San José State; but, similar to Lucas, Baker has consistently elevated his play in games following a loss this year. He is averaging 16.0 points per game on 60.0 percent shooting from the field and 88.2 percent at the free throw line, in addition to grabbing 5.6 boards per contest across nine contests coming off of a loss this season.

Baker, an All-MW Third Team selection, ranks fifth in the Mountain West in field goal percentage (55.8% FGP), sixth in free throw percentage (83.6% FTP), and 15th in points per game (13.5 PPG). 

Junior forward Tré Coleman matched a career-high by tallying three blocks in the loss to San José State. The Mountain West All-Defensive team selection has now tallied at least one block in 11 of Nevada's past 13 games and has recorded at least one steal in nine of the Pack's past 12 games. He enters Wednesday's contest ranked ninth in the Mountain West in total blocks (33) and 12th in steals (33).

As a team, Nevada's defense continues to rank in the top-five of the Mountain West in a handful of defensive statistical categories. Nevada is third in the conference in opponent field goal percentage (41.9%), fourth in opponent 3-point field goal percentage (32.3%), fourth in defensive rebounding (26.1 per game), fourth in turnovers forced (406), and fifth in steals per game (6.1 SPG). 

Offensively, Nevada has been incredibly efficient this season, as they rank first in the conference and 19th in the country in the least number of turnovers this season (319). 

Nevada has also been exceptional at the free throw line this season, as they currently rank first in the conference and sixth in the country in free throw percentage, knocking down 78.9 percent of their attempts at the line. Nevada also ranks fourth in the country in made free throws (525) and fifth in free throw attempts (666). 

Nevada will aim to win their seventh all-time NCAA Tournament game Wednesday evening, as they will take on an athletic Arizona State team with an impressive season under their belt.

Scouting Arizona State

Arizona State will commence Wednesday's contest with an overall record of 22-12, including a mark of 11-9 in Pac-12 play. 

The Sun Devils have been solid on both ends of the floor this season, as they rank sixth in the Pac-12 in points per game (70.0 PPG) and eighth in opponent points per game (67.7 PPG). 

Arizona State has been particularly good at forcing turnovers and creating offensive opportunities from it this season. ASU ranks third in the Pac-12 in steals per game (7.3 SPG), and second in turnovers forced (489). 

Arizona State has also been exceptional on the offensive glass, as they rank second in their conference in offensive rebounds per game, grabbing 11.3 per contest. 

Individually, the Sun Devils are led by fifth-year senior and former Nevada player, Desmond Cambridge Jr. He ranks first on the team in scoring this season, putting up 14.0 points per game on 39.8 percent shooting from the field and 33.2 percent from behind the arc. Cambridge Jr. also ranks first on the team in steals per game (1.8 SPG), third on the team in assists per game (2.2 APG), and fourth in rebounds per game (3.6 RPG). 

Junior guard DJ Horne is also having an exceptional season for the Sun Devils, as he ranks second on the team in scoring, averaging 12.5 points per game on 35.6 percent shooting from the field and 33.2 percent from behind the arc. Horne is pulling down 3.4 rebounds per game and dishing out 2.4 assists per contest, in addition to the 12.5 points per game. 

Sophomore guard Frankie Collins has formed a formidable backcourt trio with Horne and Cambridge Jr., as he leads the team in assists per game (4.4 APG), while ranking second in steals per game (1.4 SPG), third in scoring (9.9 PPG), and third in rebounding (4.2 RPG).

Senior forward Warren Washington, another former Nevada player, has provided a strong presence inside for the Sun Devils this season. Washington leads the team in rebounding, pulling down 6.9 boards per game. He also leads the team and ranks third in the Pac-12 in blocks per game, posting 1.7 per contest. 

The Sun Devils have struggled at times with offensive efficiency this season, as they rank 10th in the Pac-12 in both field goal percentage (41.3%) and 3-point field goal percentage (31.4%).

Nevada will need to have an efficient offensive outing, limit turnovers, and keep ASU off of the offensive glass in order to earn their 23rd victory of the season and move on to the Round of 64 in the NCAA Tournament.

Series History

Nevada and Arizona State have faced off four times throughout history, with the series tied at 2-2. The Pack is currently on a two-game win streak over the Sun Devils, most recently beating ASU 72-66 in December of 2018. 

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