Caleb Martin leads No. 6 Wolf Pack to 8-0 start again
LOS ANGELES — Nevada’s bus pulled into Loyola of Chicago’s arena and the Wolf Pack made their way to the locker room. Even behind closed doors, one of college basketball’s most derisive chants rang in their ears: “Over-rated!”
The Ramblers’ fans laid it on thick last week. Nevada nearly derailed the team’s storybook run in the NCAA Tournament last season.
“We’re getting used to this,” head coach Eric Musselman said.
No. 6 Nevada has matched its 8-0 start from last season, winning by an average of 20 points.
“We’ve had this number next to our name preseason before we even played a game, and we hadn’t proven anything, so we’re just trying to continue to validate who we are,” Musselman said.
Last season, Nevada went 29-8, won the Mountain West regular-season title and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. It beat Texas and Cincinnati to reach the Sweet 16 before losing to Loyola 69-68.
Last week, the Wolf Pack knocked off the Ramblers 79-65.
In Reno, the Wolf Pack are a popular draw, averaging 10,330 fans in their first four home games. The Martin twins, 23, are a big reason.
Caleb and Cody Martin considered leaving early for the NBA draft in June but returned.
The biggest factor in Caleb’s decision was his injured left foot. He sprained it in a game against Colorado in February and played through the injury to lead Nevada to the Sweet 16.
He spent last summer alternately resting his foot, staying in shape and expanding his game.
“I definitely wanted to become more of a facilitator,” Martin said. “Obviously, my job here for the most part is to score, but really just make reads quicker and do things to get my teammates more involved.”
Cody Martin, whose draft stock was lower than his brother’s, also decided to come back.
Their return ensured Nevada would field one of the nation’s most experienced lineups. They start five redshirt seniors: the twins along with Jordan Caroline, Tre’Shawn Thurman and Trey Porter. The roster includes eight transfers.
“It’s a weird mix, but it’s a good mix at the same time,” Caroline said.
Caleb Martin averages a team-high 19.9 points and 4.8 rebounds. Caroline is the second-leading scorer at 18.5 points and 10 rebounds. Cody contributes 8.7 points and four rebounds a game.
Two years ago, the twins transferred from North Carolina State, where they reached the Sweet 16 and played two hours from their hometown in Mocksville, N.C. They started over at Nevada in the lower-profile Mountain West.
“I don’t regret it one bit,” Caleb said. “I don’t regret going there either because I had the experience in a big-time conference (ACC). I still have relationships at the school.”
College represents what might be the twins’ last chance to do everything together.
“We know exactly what each other is thinking before we say it,” said Caleb, born a minute after Cody.
Standing 6-foot-7 and weighing 200 pounds, the twins sound alike and sport the same styles with their hair and beards. Caleb is quick to lower his head to reveal a a zigzag pattern in his cut.
Caleb would love to hear his name called in June on NBA draft night, preferably by the Charlotte Hornets. Although they don’t talk about it much, Cody wants to be right there, too.
“That would be awesome if we were able to play every single level our entire life together,” Caleb said.