Chasing Big John.

[Soapy]

Injury bug continues to impact Wolfpack as star center Holloway sidelined with ankle injury
Jerry Howard -- Reno Gazette Journal Sports Writer

Nevada Wolfpack sophomore center Ira Holloway will most likely miss the rest of the season after suffering a high ankle sprain in the Wolfpack's 90-70 win over Utah State.

"We're certainly preparing for the rest of the season without him," head coach Isaiah Mohammed told the media after the game, "Just a tough break for the kid, these are the type of games that you practice all year for."

Holloway splashed onto the scene last season, starting every game at center as a true freshman and making the Freshman All-American team as well as winning WAC Freshman of the Year and was a second team selection for all-conference in the WAC. Holloway averaged 13.6 points per game this season and 5.7 rebounds per game along with a team leading 1.9 blocks per game.

While Josip Lewandowski will certainly be able to replace Holloway's offensive contributions as evident by his 25-point performance in relief of Holloway against Utah State, the biggest void is on the defensive side. No other player on the team averages more than a block per game and the Wolfpack struggled on the boards against Utah State, particularly at stopping second chance opportunities.

[James]

You started off conference play bad but bounced back hard. Whipping Boise in the second game after they beat you by 20 in the first game probably instilled a lot of confidence. Great updates. Good luck in the rest of the postseason!

[Soapy]

You started off conference play bad but bounced back hard. Whipping Boise in the second game after they beat you by 20 in the first game probably instilled a lot of confidence. Great updates. Good luck in the rest of the postseason!

thanks brudda, injuries might have cost us a deep tourney run but we'll see

[Soapy]

Nevada Neutralizes Crandle With Foul Trouble, Rout Vandals to Win the WAC
Highlight Game: Mar. 17, 2013 - Pan American Center, Las Cruces, New Mexico

@

UID | 26 | 24 | 54
NEV | 37 | 36 | 73

Starting Lineups
Melvin Howel, Sr. - G - Ruben Rickert, Sr.
Salim Nicholas, Sr. - G - Christano Bitee, So.
Stevin Patterson, Sr. - F - Rashod Hood, Sr.
Jimmy Strawberry, Sr. - F - Lubor Shepard, Jr.
Hassan Crandle, Sr. - C - Josip Lewandowski, Jr.



Idaho Vandals (25-8) Top Performers:
G Melvin Howel, Senior: 7 pts, 2 reb, 6 ast, 2 stl, 3 to, 3-8 FG, 1-4 3PT, 0-0 FT
G Salim Nicholas, Senior: 15 pts, 2 reb, ast, 2 to, 5-12 FG, 1-5 3PT, 4-6 FT
F Stevin Patterson, Senior: 10 pts, 4 reb, stl, to, 4-13 FG, 1-3 3PT, 1-1 FT
F Jimmy Strawberry, Senior: 7 pts, 11 reb, 3 stl, blk, 2-12 FG, 1-5 3PT, 2-2 FT
C Hassan Crandle, Senior: 3 pts, 5 reb, 2 stl, blk, 1-2 FG, 0-0 3PT, 1-2 FT, 4 fouls, 9 minutes played

Nevada Wolf Pack (25-6) Top Performers:
G Ruben Rickert, Senior: 8 pts, 6 reb, 2 ast, stl, 2 to, 3-8 FG, 0-2 3PT, 2-3 FT
G Christano Bitee, Sophomore: 6 pts, 8 reb, 3 stl, 2 to, 2-8 FG, 1-4 3PT, 1-1 FT
F Rashod Hood, Senior: 10 pts, 8 reb, 4 ast, 3 stl, blk, 2 to, 3-14 FG, 0-4 3PT, 4-4 FT
F Lubor Shepard, Junior: 4 pts, 8 reb, stl, 2 to, 1-4 FG, 0-0 3PT, 2-4 FT
C Josip Lewandowski, Junior: 32 pts, 8 reb, stl, 3 to, 16-20 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-3 FT
F Isaac Ridnour, Sophomore: 9 pts, 5 reb, 3 stl, 2 blk, to, 4-7 FG, 0-0 3PT, 1-1 FT

[Soapy]

Don't expect Josip Lewandowski to be surprised by his recent performances as he leads Nevada into the postseason
Jerry Howard -- Reno Gazette Journal Sports Writer

In Nevada's six losses this season, junior center Josip Lewandowski averaged eight minutes per game, scoring just 1.8 points per game serving as the third big to come off the bench behind sophomores Isaac Ridnour and Marko Mance.

Lewandowski admits that he considered transferring dating back to last offseason after losing the starting job to then freshman Ira Holloway. He eventually returned to Nevada only to find his role diminished and his minutes lessen. Nevada head coach Isaiah Mohammed stayed in his ear though, reminding him that games in March are won by bigs, not the cliché experienced guard play.

"I knew once I started to get minutes, the production would come. I go against some great guys in practice every day and we compete hard," Lewandowski told the media after his career high 32-point performance in the WAC Championship Game to beat Idaho, "We have a great coach that emphasizes the bigs, that really believes that we're the key to winning games so this isn't surprising to me."

Lewandowski's crafty offensive game got Hassan Crandle in foul trouble early in the WAC Championship, forcing the WAC's leading scorer to play just three minutes in the first half and nine in the entire game. Lewandowski continued to aggressively go at Jimmy Strawberry and Gus Haynes, both listed at six-foot-eleven with no fear or hesitation.

It was the type of fearlessness Nevada needed with two of their top players, Holloway and guard Manourou Francois, sidelined for the rest of the season with injuries. With seniors Ruben Rickert and Rashod Hood scoring a combined eighteen points on six of 22 shooting, Lewandowski reminded everyone that bigs win games in March and that theory will once again be tested in the first round against DePaul who have just one player over six-foot-ten on their roster in center Paris Zachery while the Wolfpack have three, led by the seven-footer Lewandowski.

NCAA Tournament Tree
Play-in Game:
New Hampshire vs. Radford

--

East Regional
#1 Providence vs. TBD
#8 Oklahoma vs. #9 Bradley
#5 Marquette vs. #12 Kansas State
#4 Buffalo vs. #13 Davidson
#6 Towson vs. #11 Georgetown
#3 Texas vs. #14 Idaho State
#7 West Virginia vs. #10 Oklahoma State
#2 Miami vs. #15 Jacksonville State

--

West Regional
#1 Louisville vs. #16 Oral Roberts
#8 NC State vs. #9 Missouri
#5 Notre Dame vs. #12 Gonzaga
#4 UCLA vs. #13 Wright State
#6 Stanford vs. #11 BYU
#3 Connecticut vs. #14 Pepperdine
#7 Kentucky vs. #10 Indiana
#2 Duke vs. #15 Texas A&M - Corpus Christi

--

South Regional
#1 Xavier vs. #16 Norfolk State
#8 Western Kentucky vs. #9 LSU
#5 UNLV vs. #12 Fairfield
#4 UAB vs. #13 Holy Cross
#6 Charlotte vs. #11 Maryland
#3 Kansas vs. #14 Yale
#7 Nevada vs. #10 DePaul
#2 Michigan State vs. #15 UC Riverside

--

Midwest Regional
#1 Texas Tech vs. #16 Mississippi Valley State
#8 Memphis vs. #9 Southern Mississippi
#5 Florida vs. #12 Hofstra
#4 Illinois vs. #13 Troy
#6 Ohio vs. #11 California
#3 Syracuse vs. #14 Jacksonville
#7 San Diego State vs. #10 Arkansas
#2 Alabama vs. #15 Sacred Heart

[Soapy]

NCAA Tournament First Round Preview: vs. No. 10 DePaul Blue Demons
Record: 21-10, 10-8 Big East
Head Coach: Jerry Wainright (334-257)
Offensive Style: Motion
Defensive Style: 2-3 with 3/4 Court Press

Team Leaders
Scoring: G Kim Rodgers, Sophomore (13.4 ppg)
Rebounding: F Tommy Santee, Senior (6.3 rpg)
Assist: G Kim Rodgers, Sophomore (3.3 apg)
Steals: F Tommy Santee, Senior (1.4 spg)
Blocks: F Tommy Santee, Senior (2.3 bpg)

Season Average
PPG: 71.8
RPG: 28.8
APG: 13.4
SPG: 7.2
BPG: 5.0
FG%: 42.6
3PT%: 36.8
FT%: 73.6

Team Injuries
C Paris Zachery, Junior: bruised tailbone (day to day)

DePaul Blue Demons Projected Starters
G #2 Tariq Brempong, Sophomore | 6'0", 160lbs | 83 ovr, 85 close, 75 med, 74 3pt, 78 ft, 67 layup, 76 dunk, 90 handling, 80 pass, 88 defense, 94 speed
G #34 Lavelle Greenleaf, Senior | 6'6", 218lbs | 90 ovr, 88 close, 88 med, 82 3pt, 85 ft, 85 layup, 84 dunk, 81 handling, 72 pass, 89 defense, 86 speed
F #22 Tommy Santee, Senior | 6'7", 228lbs | 90 ovr, 84 close, 76 med, 77 3pt, 77 ft, 85 layup, 76 dunk, 86 handling, 71 pass, 95 defense, 85 speed
F #53 Godwin Akpan, Freshman | 6'9", 244lbs | 74 ovr, 79 close, 70 med, 71 3pt, 76 ft, 78 layup, 81 dunk, 73 defense, 77 block, 64 steal, 82 rebound, 66 vert, 70 strength
C #52 Paris Zachery, Junior | 6'11", 238lbs | 79 ovr, 90 close, 68 med, 58 3pt, 70 ft, 64 layup, 75 dunk, 80 defense, 67 block, 70 steal, 85 rebound, 60 vert, 88 strength

[Soapy]

Wolfpack Dominate the Glass, Paint in 100-72 Win Over DePaul
NCAA March Madness: Mar. 21, 2013 - Honda Center, Anaheim, CA

@

DEP | 33 | 39 | 72
NEV | 48 | 52 | 100

Starting Lineups
Tariq Brempong, So. - G - Ruben Rickert, Sr.
Lavelle Greenleaf, Sr. - G - Christano Bitee, So.
Tommy Santee, Sr. - F - Rashod Hood, Sr.
Godwin Akpan, Fr. - F - Lubor Shepard, Jr.
Paris Zachery, Jr. - C - Josip Lewandowski, Jr.



DePaul Blue Demons (21-11) Top Performers:
G Tariq Brempong, Sophomore: 11 pts, 2 reb, 3 ast, 2 stl, 2 to, 3-8 FG, 3-7 3PT, 2-2 FT
G Lavelle Greenleaf, Senior: 17 pts, 2 reb, ast, 7-11 FG, 2-2 3PT, 1-2 FT
F Tommy Santee, Senior: 17 pts, 5 reb, 4 ast, 2 stl, 5 to, 6-14 FG, 1-3 3PT, 4-4 FT
F Godwin Akpan, Freshman: 4 pts, 3 reb, 2 stl,3 to, 2-2 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT
C Paris Zachery, Junior: 10 pts, 5 reb, blk, 5-8 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-1 FT

Nevada Wolf Pack (26-6) Top Performers:
G Ruben Rickert, Senior: 19 pts, 2 reb, 6 ast, 3 stl, 2 to, 7-12 FG, 4-7 3PT, 1-2 FT
G Christano Bitee, Sophomore: 12 pts, 2 reb, 2 ast, stl, blk, to, 4-9 FG, 4-8 3PT, 0-0 FT
F Rashod Hood, Senior: 17 pts, 2 reb, 5 ast, 2 stl, 7-13 FG, 2-5 3PT, 1-1 FT
F Lubor Shepard, Junior: 5 pts, 4 reb, 4 stl, blk, 2-3 FG, 0-0 3PT, 1-1 FT
C Josip Lewandowski, Junior: 14 pts, 9 reb, 6-13 FG, 0-0 3PT, 2-2 FT
F Isaac Ridnour, Sophomore: 16 pts, 5 reb, 2 ast, blk, 8-8 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT
G Chase Bauer, Junior: 11 pts, 3 stl, 4-8 FG, 2-4 3PT, 1-1 FT
F Marko Mance, Sophomore: 6 pts, 4 reb, 7 ast, blk, 2 to, 3-5 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT

----



East Regional
#1 Providence def. #16 New Hampshire, 72-53
#8 Oklahoma def. #9 Bradley, 92-66
#5 Marquette def. #12 Kansas State, 64-59
#13 Davidson def. #4 Buffalo, 84-82
#11 Georgetown def. #6 Towson, 70-65
#3 Texas def. #14 Idaho State, 78-57
#10 Oklahoma State def. #7 West Virginia, 100-99
#2 Miami def. #15 Jacksonville State, 93-60

--

West Regional
#1 Louisville def. #16 Oral Roberts, 99-58
#9 Missouri def. #8 NC State, 95-94
#5 Notre Dame def. #12 Gonzaga, 81-74
#4 UCLA def. #13 Wright State, 78-67
#6 Stanford def. #11 BYU, 86-77
#3 Connecticut def. #14 Pepperdine, 93-62
#7 Kentucky def. #10 Indiana, 76-49
#2 Duke def. #15 Texas A&M - Corpus Christi, 81-54

--

South Regional
#1 Xavier def. #16 Norfolk State, 81-45
#9 LSU def. #8 Western Kentucky, 72-64
#5 UNLV def. #12 Fairfield, 81-68
#4 UAB def. #13 Holy Cross, 94-67
#6 Charlotte def. #11 Maryland, 61-58
#3 Kansas def. #14 Yale, 98-54
#7 Nevada def. #10 DePaul, 100-72
#2 Michigan State def. #15 UC Riverside, 81-67

--

Midwest Regional
#1 Texas Tech def. #16 Mississippi Valley State, 114-68
#9 Southern Mississippi def. #8 Memphis, 75-71
#5 Florida def. #12 Hofstra, 100-88
#13 Troy def. #4 Illinois, 67-47
#6 Ohio def. #11 California, 67-65
#3 Syracuse def. #14 Jacksonville, 94-59
#7 San Diego State def. #10 Arkansas, 78-72
#2 Alabama def. #15 Sacred Heart, 105-72

[Soapy]

NCAA Tournament Second Round Preview: vs. No. 2 Michigan State Spartans
Record: 29-4, 14-4 Big Ten
Head Coach: Tom Izzo (437-164)
Offensive Style: Motion
Defensive Style: Man to Man with 1-2-1-1 Zone Press

Team Leaders
Scoring: F Domonic Willis, Senior (14.9 ppg)
Rebounding: F Domonic Willis, Senior (5.6 rpg)
Assist: G Brennon Munyagi, Junior (3.8 apg)
Steals: F Martin Collum, Senior (1.8 spg)
Blocks: F Markus Shumate, Senior (1.8 bpg)

Season Average
PPG: 85.8
RPG: 30.9
APG: 16.9
SPG: 9.0
BPG: 4.4
FG%: 45.1
3PT%: 37.0
FT%: 78.8

Team Injuries
F Loren McFadden, Junior: broken finger (day to day)
F Domonic Willis, Senior: broken hand (out)
F Martin Collum, Senior: broken wrist (out)
G Drake Gibson, Sophomore: lower back strain (out)
G Leslie Bozek, Sophomore: broken hand (out)

Michigan State Spartans Projected Starters
G #31 Anand Marigney, Senior | 6'2", 176lbs | 93 ovr, 89 close, 86 med, 73 3pt, 78 ft, 95 layup, 66 dunk, 91 handling, 88 pass, 91 defense, 91 steal, 95 speed
G #4 Brennon Munyagi, Junior | 6'2", 185lbs | 92 ovr, 92 close, 89 med, 81 3pt, 86 ft, 77 layup, 43 dunk, 97 handling, 90 pass, 86 defense, 86 steal, 96 speed
G #32 Olli Birley, Sophomore | 6'6", 214lbs | 86 ovr, 88 close, 78 med, 89 3pt, 85 ft, 75 layup, 76 dunk, 85 handling, 72 pass, 86 defense, 86 steal, 90 speed
F #14 Loren McFadden, Junior | 6'8", 225lbs | 88 ovr, 91 close, 74 med, 77 3pt, 82 ft, 79 layup, 89 dunk, 87 defense, 70 block, 89 rebound, 83 vertical, 74 strength
C #43 Markus Shumate, Senior | 6'9", 241lbs | 92 ovr, 98 close, 76 med, 82 3pt, 77 ft, 72 layup, 77 dunk, 76 defense, 91 block, 93 rebound, 83 vertical, 84 strength

[Soapy]

Nevada's Rashod Hood knows what awaits on the other side of matchup against Michigan State
Jerry Howard -- Reno Gazette Journal Sports Writer

When Isaiah Mohammed took over as head coach of the Nevada Wolfpack, there was one player committed to the team in point guard Rashod Hood, a top 100 prospect out of Alameda, California that remained committed despite the change in coaching staff.

A few months later, Hood would score eleven points along with eleven assists in the Sweet Sixteen loss to Southern Miss, putting an end to a magical freshman season that saw him start all but one game.

It's been trials and tribulations for Hood since then as he switched positions, saw his role increased then decreased before now finding himself back in the round of 32 with a chance at making it to the Sweet Sixteen once more, the only holdover from the 2009-10 roster.

"It's a privileged that must be earned to play in these type of games," Hood says ahead of their second round matchup against No. 2 Michigan State, "You think you'll always have a chance to win it, to be in the tournament but you don't, it's a long season and more teams don't make it than do."

With much of the roster graduating, Hood saw an increased role in his second season and while he doubled his scoring output, his shooting percentage also dipped from a respectable 46 percent as a true freshman to 39 percent. As the Robin to Armon Johnson's Batman, Hood went 2 of 18 from the field in their last game together, a semi-finals loss in the WAC Tournament against Utah State to end a disappointing 14-win season.

Things only got worse with Johnson graduating and putting even more of a load on Hood who transitioned from point guard to small forward. After a 2-of-12 outing against Utah State in the regular season and the team on the brink of finishing last in the WAC, Mohammed started to run the offense through the post and away from Hood. Hood finished the season averaging 13.3 points per game, nearly a full point less than the previous season, and shot just 33 percent from the field.

But in the postseason, as the Wolfpack made an impressive run through the WAC Tournament, winning the whole thing and then taking Alabama to the brink of an upset, Hood found his role as a scrappy defender and relentless slasher to the basket.

"I take pride in doing the dirty work," Hood is currently projected as a undrafted prospect, "You can steal points and not have to just get a play called for you. A fast break here, scramble drill, put back, you look up and you're helping the team both defensively and offensively with your scoring. I've put less pressure on myself to take guys off the dribble, run the offense through me and instead just making an impact on the game."

The Wolfpack are a lively underdog against the Spartans who are missing several key starters.

[Soapy]

Christano Bitee Loses His Mind From Three, Shoots No. 2 Michigan State Out of the Tournament
NCAA Second Round: Mar. 23, 2013 - Birmingham Arena, Birmingham, AL

@

MSU | 39 | 42 | 81
NEV | 38 | 48 | 86

Starting Lineups
Anano Marigney, Sr. - G - Ruben Rickert, Sr.
Brennon Munyagi, Jr. - G - Christano Bitee, So.
Olli Birley, So. - F - Rashod Hood, Sr.
Loren McFadden, Jr. - F - Lubor Shepard, Jr.
Markus Shumate, Sr. - C - Josip Lewandowski, Jr.



Michigan State Spartans (29-5) Top Performers:
G Anand Marigney, Senior: 11 pts, 2 reb, 6 ast, stl, blk, 4-10 FG, 3-6 3PT, 0-0 FT
G Brennon Munyagi, Junior: 24 pts, 8 reb, 3 ast, 2 stl, 3 to, 10-20 FG, 2-6 3PT, 2-2 FT
G Olli Birley, Sophomore: 25 pts, 4 reb, 3 ast, 2 stl, to, 11-20 FG, 3-5 3PT, 0-0 FT
F Loren McFadden, Junior: 8 pts, 4 reb, 3 stl, 2 blk, 4 to, 4-13 FG, 0-2 3PT, 0-0 FT
C Markus Shumate, Senior: 4 pts, 6 reb, 2-5 FG, 0-2 3PT, 0-0 FT

Nevada Wolf Pack (27-6) Top Performers:
G Ruben Rickert, Senior: 8 pts, 2 reb, ast, stl, blk, 5 to, 3-4 FG, 2-2 3PT, 0-0 FT
G Christano Bitee, Sophomore: 29 pts, 2 ast, stl, 2 blk, 2 to, 8-10 FG, 7-9 3PT, 6-6 FT
F Rashod Hood, Senior: 15 pts, 7 reb, 6 ast, 2 stl, 2 blk, to, 5-13 FG, 1-4 3PT, 4-4 FT
F Lubor Shepard, Junior: 14 pts, reb, 2 ast, stl, 2 blk, to, 6-10 FG, 1-1 3PT, 1-4 FT
C Josip Lewandowski, Junior: 11 pts, 7 reb, 5 ast, 2 blk, 4-13 FG, 0-0 3PT, 3-6 FT
F Isaac Ridnour, Sophomore: 16 pts, 5 reb, 2 ast, blk, 8-8 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT

----



East Regional
#1 Providence def. #8 Oklahoma, 87-78
#5 Marquette def. #13 Davidson, 91-42
#3 Texas def. #11 Georgetown, 83-62
#2 Miami def. #10 Oklahoma State, 76-69

--

West Regional
#9 Missouri def. #1 Louisville, 81-65
#4 UCLA def. #5 Notre Dame, 80-77
#6 Stanford def. #3 Connecticut, 76-73
#7 Kentucky def. #2 Duke, 68-67

--

South Regional
#1 Xavier def. #9 LSU, 108-65
#5 UNLV def. #4 UAB, 85-74
#3 Kansas def. #6 Charlotte, 108-70
#7 Nevada def. #2 Michigan State, 86-81

--

Midwest Regional
#9 Southern Mississippi def. #1 Texas Tech, 76-68
#5 Florida def. #13 Troy, 95-64
#3 Syracuse def. #6 Ohio, 93-89
#2 Alabama def. #7 San Diego State, 84-68