Larry Nance Jr. If you need a reason to go to the game tonight at Walt McPherson Court, then the Pre Season Player of the Year selection Nance is it. Some of you may remember his father (13 seasons with Phoenix and Cleveland in the NBA) who earned the nickname "The High-Ayatolla of Slamola" for his leaping ability on blocks, dunks and rebounds. Well, like father, like son.
Here's a great breakdown of Nance's offensive play in a recent game against UNLV. Wyoming won at home, 76-71.
Recently per Jon Rothstein:
"Larry Nance Jr. would be a major factor in any conference in America
Smooth, skilled and always under control, the versatile forward is on a tear for the Cowboys, who are looking more and more like a legitimate threat to win the Mountain West Conference. Nance has made 20 of 31 field goals over his last two games and is averaging 30.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks during that span. Blessed with great size at 6-8 along with an unbelievable feel for the game, Nance is an effortless passer who can dominate a game without it ever feeling like he's forcing things. Despite missing the second half of last season with an ACL tear, the senior power forward looks like he's back in vintage form and his profile will only continue to rise as Wyoming becomes more of a factor nationally. Normally only players from UNLV, San Diego State or New Mexico get individual recognition for their efforts when people are highlighting players from the Mountain West but more and more people will understand just how good Nance is as this season progresses."
Not to be glib but Spartans Ivo Basor and Ryan Singer surely suffered from nightmares last night. It will probably be a mix of zone defense and Sag City from the other SJSU defenders in an effort to slow Nance down.
Here's some numbers you need to know:
"...On the season, Wyoming averages 64.4 points per game on 51 percent from the field and 34 percent beyond the arc. The Cowboys rank first in the MW and ninth nationally in field-goal percentage, while their 1.53 assist-to-turnover ratio is first in the MW and ninth in the nation. Defensively, the Pokes allow 51.4 points per game on 40 and 35 percent, respectively. UW's scoring defense is third in the NCAA, while its 13.7 fouls per game are fourth..."
A bit on the primary Cowboy personnel:
"...Senior forward Larry Nance Jr. racked up a team-high 29 points against UNLV and now has 60 points in his last two games after scoring 31 at Montana State on Dec. 23. The MW Preseason Player of the Year leads Wyoming at 15.5 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game, while his 58 percent from the field is 28th in the NCAA. Senior forward Derek Cooke Jr. has been equally as impressive with double-figure points in his last four games, a first in his career. He averages 9.0 points per contest, thanks in part to a team-high 33 dunks this season, and adds 4.7 rebounds. Cooke shoots a MW-high 78 percent from the field. Senior guard Riley Grabau will play in his 100th game in Brown and Gold on Saturday. He notched 12 points against the Rebels, including 6-of-6 in free throws and shoots a MW-best 90 percent at the charity stripe. Junior guard Josh Adams contributes 4.0 assists per game to go with 9.9 points. He ranks second in the MW in assists and third in assist-to-turnover ratio at 2.2. Senior guard Charles Hankerson Jr. rounds out UW's probable starters at 8.2 points, 3.6 boards and 3.2 dimes.
They sure do have a lot of familial juniors on the squad.
This game will not be close (the Cowboys are too strong defensively even if the offense has an off night) and hard as it may be to type this, in a weird way it's difficult not to cheer for Wyoming (other than this game and the rematch there on 2/14). Compared to San Diego State, UNLV and New Mexico, their winters are brutal, rarely is there a DI prep prospect in the state to recruit and they are somehow able to sign kids out of Florida (two on the current roster, two more signed for next season). That tops selling ice cubes to Eskimos.
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