RENO — The Mountain West released its 2021-22 men’s basketball schedule Friday, as the slate returns to its 18-game format.
With the conference schedule returning to its traditional look after a 20-game slate in 2020-21, Nevada will play home-and-homes with eight schools, while playing one opponent at home only (New Mexico), and one on the road only (Air Force).
Dates on the 2021-22 Mountain West men’s basketball schedule are subject to change, and tip times have not yet been set, as the conference TV partners will make their game selections at a later date.
Season tickets are scheduled to go on sale to the general public in August, however Wolf Pack fans can place a deposit now to hold a spot for select-a-seat at nevadawolfpack.com/mbbdeposit.
Nevada’s 2021-22 Mountain West slate tips off Tuesday, Dec. 28 at San José State, before the Wolf Pack hosts two in a row at Lawlor Events Center, beginning with its only regular-season meeting with New Mexico (Jan. 1) followed by a contest against Wyoming (Jan. 4).
The Pack’s nine-game Mountain West home schedule is filled out with contests against Boise State (Jan. 11), Fresno State (Jan. 22), Utah State (Jan. 29), Colorado State (Feb. 8), San José State (Feb. 15), UNLV (Feb. 22), and San Diego State (March 5).
Along with the conference opener at San José State, Nevada’s Mountain West road dates will include trips to San Diego State (Jan. 8), Air Force (Jan. 15), Colorado State (Jan. 25), UNLV (Feb. 1), Fresno State (Feb. 5), Utah State (Feb. 12), Wyoming (Feb. 26), and Boise State (March 1).
The 2022 Mountain West Basketball Championship is scheduled for March 9-12 at Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.
Head coach Steve Alford begins his third season at the Nevada helm, returning eight players, including Mountain West Newcomer of the Year point guard Grant Sherfield and All-Mountain West shooting guard Desmond Cambridge, Jr.
Sherfield, who was named All-District by the USBWA and NABC as well as to the All-Mountain West First Team, finished the season with team-best figures of 18.6 points, 6.08 assists, and 1.62 steals per game.
The Wichita State transfer made a significant impact in his debut season with the Pack, and established himself as one of the top point guards in the nation, leading the Mountain West in assists and steals, and ranking second in scoring and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.51).
He showed a flair for the dramatic, as well, hitting three game-winning shots in the final seconds for Nevada during the season.
Cambridge, Jr. also earned all-district recognition from the NABC, finishing the season with 16.3 points per game and a team-best 69 3-pointers, ranking fifth and third, respectively, in those categories among Mountain West players.
Also set to return in 2021-22 are forwards Warren Washington (10.0 ppg, 5.9 rpg in 2020-21) and K.J. Hymes (6.3 ppg, 22 blocks), along with freshman starters Tré Coleman (5.0 ppg, 20 steals) and Daniel Foster (4.3 ppg, 48.6 FG pct. over 11 games).
Headlining the Pack newcomers for 2021-22 are five-star recruit Will Baker, a seven-foot center transfer from Texas, along with AJ Bramah (21.0 ppg, 10.3 rpg for Robert Morris in 2020-21) and Kenan Blackshear (9.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg at FAU in 2020-21).
2021-22 Nevada Men’s Basketball Schedule
(All times TBA; MW(*) game dates subject to change based on future TV selections)
Tues., Nov. 9 – Eastern Washington
Fri., Nov. 12 – San Diego
Tues., Nov. 16 – at Santa Clara
Thurs., Nov. 18 – at San Francisco
2021 Crossover Classic at Sanford Pentagon (Sioux Falls, S.D.)
