Nevada vs Boise State Game Preview

Here are three keys to tonight's matchup:

1) Rebounding

Ryan Watkins, the Broncos center, is one of the best rebounders in the nation let alone MWC. He averages roughly five offensive rebounds a game creating easy second chance points for himself. Matching up against Watkins will be Nevada centers AJ West and Ronnie Stevens. Both will need to get physical with Watkins and not let him control the glass. For West he may not want to try and leave his feet to block every shot as he often does. This matchup will go a long way in determining the winner.

2) Three Point Shooting

The Broncos plan to stop the Wolf Pack in their last matchup, a 74-65 Boise State victory, was to play a compact zone to limit Nevada guard Deonte Burton. It worked. Nevada shot only 6-25 from behind the arc. Burton's biggest weakness is his three-point shooting and his biggest strength is his ability to get to the rim. The zone Boise State plays takes away what makes Burton so special. Nevada will need players such as Michael Perez, Cole Huff, and Jerry Evans Jr. to knock down threes to forces the Broncos out of their zone or at least make lanes a bit more open for the Burton drive.

3) Health of Anthony Drmic

Arguably Boise State's best player, Drmic missed the team's last game against Wyoming four days ago due to an ankle issue. He will play tonight and the Broncos need him to be effective. Will the ankle be a problem? That is too be seen. The junior is averaging 16.9ppg, good for third in the MWC, along with 4.7rpg. Drmic, like Burton for Nevada, is a catalyst for the Bronco offense. If Drmic gets going early the Broncos could run away with this game. For Nevada, Evans Jr. will need to slow Drmic down for the Wolf Pack to have a shot at the upset.