Slow Burton: Nevada point guard Deonte Burton has averaged 25 points per game in five true road games this year. He was the key for the Aggies last year defensively and they held him to 5-of-20 shooting in the Aggies two wins over Nevada last year. Obviously Burton has improved in his second year, and it's hard to take the ball away from a point guard, but I wouldn't mind seeing the Aggies double him in certain situations tonight, even late in the game if it's close. I'm not sure Evans and Czyz want the ball in their hands when the game is on the line, but I know Burton does.
Wen must win: There are probably two power forwards in the WAC who are skilled enough offensively to get McKines in foul trouble. Hawaii's Thomas and Nevada's Olek Czyz. Against Hawaii, McKines doesn't have to guard Thomas. I'm not sure if the Aggies have many options other than McKines to guard Czyz in man to man. Tyrone Watson could, but that would put McKines on a wing player. I think McKines needs to reach his averages while Czyz is held below his 11 and 6 averages or get Czyz in foul trouble.
Come out ready: NMSU showed against Hawaii that they are capable of coming back, so that was good to see. But they need the home crowd tonight and playing from behind big would make that difficult. NMSU can come back, but the Aggies are much more effective in close games because they get out in transition and get to the foul line.
Evans as a X factor: Malik Story can't loose for 3s like Zane Johnson did. Most of his 3s come in transition or spotting up off the drive or inside out touches. Nevada doesn't run stuff like Hawaii, USU or Idaho. But Story is a good shooter and will knock some down. The Aggies can't let Jerry Evans hurt them. Evans is the overlooked piece to the Nevada puzzle. Evans is shooting 55 percent from 3 in WAC play but is only 0-2 from long range in the last two games since going 5-6 from 3 against San Jose. The SJSU game showed what he's capable of, but the Aggies need to make sure he stays around hjis 6 ppg average.
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seeing Olek Czyz play last year he didn't seem unstoppable like Wesley for past USU teams. My gut tells me the Nev outcome will be similar to USU 2 weeks ago. Reno won't capitulate quite as early as UTags did, but they will start thinking about the rematch up there.
This year I think that Coach Brown will have bodies boxing out both Czyz and Hunt and you are going to see Wendell getting a lot of defensive boards if Nev misses. Thing about the HI game is they just weren't missing shots. Brown and Delk give Aggies the edge.
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