One Play Tuesday:

 

Nevada at Toledo (-3.5, play to -5) - Game #717-718 - 4:00pm Pacific

With five starters back from a 20 win team of a year ago it is no secret why the Rockets are one of the favorites to win the MAC this year. They are led by conference player of the year candidate senior guard Kirk Triplett.  He led the team with a 19.6ppg scoring average and was runner-up for conference player of the year last season.  He is far from a one man team.  Sophomore point guard Justin Ingram and junior wing Sammy Villegas each won MAC freshman of the year honors the past two seasons.  6-10 center Allen Pinson and power forward "Tino" Valencia are solid on the inside.  They need to improve their rebounding and toughness but both are very capable.  Nine players have averaged double digit minutes through three games which were all competitive so depth is a strength on this team.  The Rockets are off to a disappointing 0-3 start but all three games were on the road, at Vandy, at Wright State, and at East Carolina.  Leading returning scorers Triplett and Villegas have struggled shooting the ball out of the gate.  In first three games they are a combined 8-for-37 from behind the arc, but those numbers figure to improve very soon, especially playing at home.  Toledo did show some life in last game at East Carolina.  They fell behind 26-9 in the first half but came roaring back to take a one point lead twice late in the game but could not hold on and lost by 2.  Tonight they return to Savage Hall for their home opener where they were 11-1 last season.  They have won 11 straight home openers and are 32-3 (.914) at home vs non-conference opposition under head coach Stan Joplin.

 

I am still down on Nevada.  The Wolfpack did beat UNLV by 6 last time out but it was in Reno and the Rebels are not playing well right now.  Nevada led by double digits throughout the first half due to very lackluster play by UNLV but it still ended up being a tie game with about 5 minutes to play with late free throws accounting for the final winning margin.  Nevada has now won 15 straight home games but is a much different team on the road which is accentuated this year by a first year starting backcourt, including a freshman point guard.  They were able to get by a very bad Georgia team, but scored just 57 points, and were blown out by Kansas, scoring just 53 points in their only two road tests to date.  Even last years experienced sweet 16 team went just 5-8 in road games.  Toledo is a very tough place to visit and I do not expect Nevada to perform well.

 

Toledo lost by 2 at Nevada last year on a buzzer beater as part of the Bracket Buster challenge.  It was the closest anyone came to beating Nevada at home all season.  Toledo is the better team, has much more returning experience, is playing at home, has revenge in mind, and is looking to end a three game losing streak to start the season which began with very high hopes.  Expect a big effort from the Rockets tonight.

 

Official Play: Toledo  -3.5  1 UNIT