Vanderbilt Commodores vs. Nevada Wolf Pack Pick & Prediction NOVEMBER 21st 2024
Preview and Prediction
Both Nevada and Vanderbilt will aim to maintain their undefeated records when they face off in the Charleston (S.C.) Classic on Thursday night.
Nevada (4-0) has emerged victorious in all of its games by a margin of at least ten points. Their most recent triumph was a dominant 85-59 performance against Santa Clara on Saturday, with four players scoring in double figures and the team recording 18 assists while committing only 10 turnovers.
"Once again, we had a low turnover rate and shared the ball effectively. I couldn't be happier," remarked Nevada coach Steve Alford. "We have a fantastic group of players and we have a chance to do something special. It's still early in the season, but we're thrilled to be 4-0."
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The Wolf Pack, led by Nick Davidson (18 points per game, 8 rebounds per game), Kobe Sanders (16.8 ppg, 4.8 assists per game) and Tre Coleman (12.5 ppg, 4.5 apg), rank second in the nation in 3-point shooting percentage (48.6 percent), largely thanks to Davidson's impressive 9-of-11 performance from behind the arc.
Nevada plays at a slow pace (321st in KenPom's adjusted tempo at 17.6 seconds per possession).
On the other hand, Vanderbilt (4-0) prefers a faster tempo, utilizing a deep rotation with nine players averaging between 15 and 25.5 minutes per game.
The Commodores have four players averaging double-digit points: Jason Edwards (17.5 ppg), Devin McGlockton (16.0), Tyler Nickel (12.0) and AJ Hoggard (11.0).
McGlockton (10.0 rpg, 3.0 blocks per game) and reserve guard Tyler Tanner (3.0 steals per game) have been key contributors on the defensive end for Vanderbilt.
In their first game of the season, the Commodores committed just one turnover in a win over Maryland Eastern Shore. They followed that up with 18 steals in a victory against Cal on Nov. 13 and a 16-for-38 performance from beyond the arc in a 94-81 win over Jackson State on Sunday.
"We've found ways to win in different situations. In the first three games, our shooting wasn't great," noted Vanderbilt coach Mark Byington. "But against Jackson State, we moved the ball well and played the right way."
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The winner of the matchup between Vanderbilt and Nevada will advance to the semifinals of the tournament, where they will face either Seton Hall or VCU on Friday. The other side of the bracket features Miami (Fla.), Drake, Oklahoma State, and Florida Atlantic.
This will be the first-ever meeting between Vanderbilt and Nevada.
The Wolf Pack's victory over Santa Clara marked Alford's 100th win at the school in his sixth season in Reno. He joins Lefty Driesell as the only coaches in Division I history to reach 100 wins at four different schools.