ESPN Men's Basketball

Updated: October 21, 2009, 11:25 AM ET

Team preview: Nevada

Blue Ribbon Yearbook previews the 2009-10 season, exclusively on Insider

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Blue Ribbon Yearbook

Editor's Note: ESPN Insider has teamed with Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook to provide a comprehensive look at all 334 Division I teams. To order the complete 2009-10 edition of Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook, visit www.blueribbonyearbookonline.com or call 1-877-807-4857.
(Information in this team report is as of Oct. 1.)

COACH AND PROGRAM

If David Carter hoped for a smooth transition as the new head coach at Nevada, he was sorely disappointed.

The off-season was like the transaction wire on cut-down day in the NFL, filled with people coming and going as Carter tried to balance the roster. He lost two transfers. Both will have to do some serious classroom time in order to be eligible for the spring semester.

The departure of fiery Mark Fox to Georgia is part of a recent line of Wolf Pack coaches who have used Reno to launch major careers elsewhere (also see, Johnson, Trent). Right now, Carter is just trying to regain is equilibrium as he prepares for the coming campaign with a different lineup from the one that closed down last March with a first-round loss at the CBI.

Malik Cooke transferred (9.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg), Ahyar Phillips (2.1 ppg, 2.7 rpg) was shown the door after an off-court incident, two of Fox's early signees opted out, and incoming freshmen Devonte Ellis and Jerry Evans, Jr. won't be academically eligible until spring at the earliest.

So, what's a rookie head coach to do? He's going to try to dance with the players left at his disposal as Nevada prepares for another run at the WAC title that has eluded the Wolf Pack the past two seasons.

PLAYERS

Carter spent part of the summer bonding with the seven players he took to Europe for some exhibition games. Among those seven were three returning starters, including McDonald's All-American Luke Babbitt (16.9 ppg, 7.4 rpg). The 6-9 sophomore forward is part of a good frontcourt that can compete down low with anyone in the WAC.

Babbitt was third in the league in scoring and rebounding in his first tour of duty. He was awarded first-team All-WAC and league freshman-of-the-year honors as well as being chosen to the all-newcomer team. Babbitt will miss Cooke, who started all 34 games last season, most of all because of the small forward's ability to crash the boards and hit shots from the perimeter.

The combination opened things up for Babbitt, who led the team in three-pointers made (33) and was second to Cooke in three-point percentage at .429. Now, he'll have to create a little more on his own as the Wolf Pack look to fill Cooke's spot on the floor.

Another thing Babbitt did so well last year was get to the line and then cash in with a league-best percentage of .864. He attempted a whopping 176 free throws, second among the league's top free-throw shooters only to Utah State's Gary Wilkinson (201).

"It all starts with Luke for us," Carter said. "We've got to give him some open looks, go hard to the basket to get second shots and play smart basketball. The core of our team had a great bonding experience in Europe. They can face adversity."

Blue Ribbon Previews

Take an Inside look at the Western Athletic Conference with Blue Ribbon's 2009-10 team reports:

Boise State Fresno State Hawaii Idaho Louisiana Tech Nevada New Mexico State San Jose State Utah State

Joining Babbitt in the starting lineup in the frontcourt is 6-8 sophomore Dario Hunt (3.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg). As a freshman, he got the starting nod in 27-of-34 appear-ances and was a consistent force in the paint on both ends of the floor. He was second on the team in field-goal percentage to Cooke (.528, 47-of-89), and led the league in blocked shots (67, 2.0 bpg).

Joey Shaw (7.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg) came in from junior college and played some quality minutes for the Wolf Pack. The 6-6 senior can make free throws (.810), was close to being an adequate three-point shooter (.319, 30-of-94) and tied for second on the team in blocked shots (20).

Incoming recruit Marko Cukic could be Carter's answer to Cooke's departure. The 6-9 freshman forward from Belgrade, Serbia will need time to adjust to Division I hoops, but he's a promising prospect. A year ago he polished his game at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., averaging 10.0 points and 7.0 boards playing against Florida junior colleges.

Cukic also spent a year at Greensburg (Pa.) Central Catholic High School after his move from Serbia in 2007 and averaged 15.0 points and 12.0 rebounds. Keith Olson, a 6-9 junior, transferred from Northern Arizona last December and will be eligible at the semester break.

"We feel like we have good players coming back in our frontcourt," Carter said. The backcourt isn't too shabby either with the return of 6-3 junior starter Armon Johnson (15.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 4.3 apg). Like Babbitt, he is a hometown product made good who was chosen first-team All-WAC last season. He was the freshman of the year two seasons back.

Johnson finished seventh in the league in scoring and third in assists with 145. Like Babbitt, Johnson is an excellent free-throw shooter. He finished fifth in the league with a percentage of .789. He was a key reason Nevada finished second in the league and 28th nationally in turnovers with only 11.9 a game. His assist-to-turnover ratio was a solid 1.73, fifth in the WAC.

Joining Johnson in the backcourt is 6-4 senior Brandon Fields (9.4 ppg, 2.2 rpg), who appeared in 32 games last year but didn't receive a single start. His shooting can be suspect (.361 FG, .221 3PT).

Fellow senior Ray Kraemer (2.5 ppg, 1.3 rpg) is another steady performer off the bench who can knock down free throws (.893). Kraemer will share playing time with 6-3 sophomore London Giles (1.1 ppg, 0.6 rpg). Kraemer appeared in all but four games, even starting once, and Giles was on the floor in 18 games as a freshman.

Carter is also counting on several incoming recruits to compete for starting time. Patrick Nyeko, a 6-6 freshman (14.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg) from Seattle Prep by way of London, England, has come a long way to play college ball in the U.S. He also spent a year in Madison, Wis.

Keith Fuetsch (16.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 4.0 apg), a 5-11 freshman, is another homegrown product. He was a two-sport star at Bishop Manogue High School in Reno, earning all-state honors in hoops and all-league in football as a defensive back/wide receiver.

Malik Story (5.9 ppg, 2.2 rpg in 2007-08), a 6-5 sophomore, started his career at Indiana, where he played in 31 games and made three starts as a freshman. He's already proven he can compete against good competition, twice scoring 14 points (Gonzaga, Minnesota).

"Overall, we have a good chance to be a competitive basketball team," Carter said. "We have to put the distractions behind us and concentrate on winning the WAC."

BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS

BACKCOURT: B
BENCH/DEPTH: B
FRONTCOURT: A-
INTANGIBLES: B

Despite all the off-the-court distractions that plagued Nevada over the last few months, the Wolf Pack emerged as one of the teams to beat this season. Even though they lost some quality incoming recruits, there is still plenty of talent to go around to keep Nevada at the top of the pack.

Babbitt and Johnson provide a quality one-two punch that will keep the Wolf Pack in most games. Both can shoot, rebound and play quality defense. If they get some help from off the bench and a couple of the incoming players, Nevada has as good a chance as anyone to represent the WAC at the NCAA Tournament come March.

In recent years, nobody has challenged for the WAC title any better than Nevada. Expect more of the same this season as the Wolf Pack look to challenge in one of the more balanced leagues nationwide.

For the most comprehensive previews available on all 334 Division I teams, order the "Bible" of college basketball, the 2009-10 Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook, at www.blueribbonyearbookonline.com or call 1-877-807-4857.