MEN: New Mexico at UNLV
Saturday, 3:30 p.m., Thomas & Mack Center (Las Vegas, Nev.). TV: CBS Sports Network (Comcast 274; DirecTV 221; Dish 158); Radio: 770 AM/96.3 FM.
New Mexico Lobos (4-6, 0-6 Mountain West) Coach: Paul Weir (84-59, fifth season overall; 56-53, fourth season at UNM)
What you need to know about the Lobos: If there is a strength vs. strength statistical comparison to look for in this game (under the UNLV box a strength vs. weakness comparison is discussed), it has to do with what happens when the Lobos miss a shot. UNM’s 14.7 offensive boards per game ranks seventh best nationally (out of 338 Division I teams) and the Lobos have scored an average of 12.6 secondchance points per game as a result. But UNLV ranks 88th in the percentage of preventing offensive boards by their opponents, and have allowed double-digit second chance points just twice (one of those was the 21 second-chance points North Carolina had in a 27-point UNLV loss). For the Lobos’ struggling offense, offensive rebounding and extending possessions is key, but full context should include this split: 19.5 second-chance points per game in four wins, and 8.0 second-chance points per game in six losses. The six losses were to three teams that rank in the top 25 nationally in average height. UNLV is an average team (ranked 134th height).
UNLV Runnin’ Rebels (2-6, 0-2 Mountain West) Coach: T.J. Otzelberger (89-54, 5th season overall; 19-21, 2nd season at UNLV)
What you need to know about the Runnin’ Rebels: UNLV misses 18.3 3-point tries per game, which may sound like good news for UNM until you realize that, while shooting them at an extremely high clip (35.4% and 33.8% in games against Division I teams), they also make 10.0 3-pointers per game, tied for 18th most in the country. Point is, the Runnin’ Rebels love the 3-ball, shoot a ton of them, make a ton of them and have two guys — Grill and Jenkins — who have had games this season with at least seven 3s. The Lobos have been awful defending the 3-pointer, ranking 300th out of 338 Division I teams in opponents’ 3-point percentage (38.0%). It makes sense, then, that the Rebels’ 3-point shooting will be a key factor. UNLV ranks 16th (out of 338) in percentage of points it gets from 3s at 41.2%. Should the Lobos find a way to keep that in check, they should be able to keep competitive. Due to COVID-19 issues, UNLV went more than a month between games in December to last week and played Colorado State close in both losses in Fort Collins after the break.