RUSTON, La. - Louisiana Tech basketball coach Keith Richard believes one thing - the WAC basketball championship goes through Nevada.
Richard's Bulldogs lead the conference with a 7-1 record and have won seven of their last eight games entering tonight's home game against Nevada (15-5, 5-3) at Thomas Assembly Center (5 p.m., KREN-TV).
"Nevada is still the defending champion," Richard said earlier this week. "I know they have stumbled a couple of times, but they are still a really good team. I still remember a couple of years ago they were 5-2 or 5-3 and rattled off nine or so in a row. They are the team to beat.
"We haven't had much success against them. We've played better against them at home. We have a different team this year. Hopefully a week of preparation gives us a better chance."
The Bulldogs have a lot of new faces - but four constants remain in 6-8 forward Paul Millsap, who averages 20.7. Also back are Corey Dean (8.1), 6-8 center Michael Wilds, and 6-3 point guard Daevon Haskins.
Louisiana Tech has added some key newcomers in Marcus Elliott (7.9), Trey McDowell (5.8), Jerome Richardson (5.6) and Chad McKenzie (5.6).
Millsap is still the guy that makes the Bulldogs go. He averages a double-double each game, and nobody has been able to contain him this year.
"Nobody has stopped Paul Millsap the last three years," Nevada coach Mark Fox said. "I don't anticipate solving that (tonight). I hope we can contain him a little bit. We played a box and -one last year on Millsap with Kevinn Pinkney. That wouldn't be effective this year with the people we have.
"They have experienced players around him (this year). Corey Dean has been around several years. They have a senior point guard in Haskins. Wilds is improved. Chad McKenzie was a very explosive JC scorer. They put a lot of people around him, much more than a year ago."
Richard has raved about his depth, especially at guard. He doesn't have a double-figure scorer in the group, but the results have been solid, and contributions have come from a lot of players. It's almost like a platoon situation in baseball. You add the stats of both and you have pretty good productivity there.
"I think the guard play has turned out different than we anticipated," Richard said. "We're still OK. A couple of guys have not played up to the potential we thought. What has surfaced is that we have a lot of guys; depth at the guard spot. We're able to use all of them. Two guys at the same spot and the stats combined or defense is what it's turned out to be. So far it's been effective. I like the results so far."
Nevada may not have the depth that the Bulldogs possess. Injuries to David Ellis and Chad Bell plus matchup probelms have forced the Pack to be mostly an eight-man team. Bell hurt a knee in practice Monday, and his status is unknown.
The Pack are coming off a big week with wins over Boise State and Hawai'i after a nationally televised loss to Utah State at home, the team's first home loss of the year.
"I don't know if we've turned the corner," Fox said. "We're trying to go straight ahead. We were 2-1 last week. As a coach, you want to be 3-0."
Fox gets two shots in two weeks at the league-leading Bulldogs, but he's not focused on that.
"You have to play everybody twice," Fox said. "It's a game at a time for us. Louisiana Tech is a good team. We have to play very well."
That includes continued improved play from both Marcelus Kemp and Mo Charlo. Kemp, who has taken over Charlo's starting job for the time being, is coming off a 21-point effort against Hawai'i.
"He's found his shooting touch again," Fox said. "He was a little bit cold there for a couple of weeks. He's got his confidence back and rhythm back."
And, if Kemp, Charlo and Kyle Shiloh can play well on the perimeter, it will open things up for 6-11 Nick Fazekas, who is averaging 20.8 a contest.
Fazekas had 21 and 27 against THe Bulldogs last year, and was a thorn in their side.
Richard said Monday he hadn't decided how the Bulldogs would defend Nevada in general and Fazekas in particular.
"We're right in the middle of trying to decide how to defend (Nevada and Fazekas)," Richard said. "Obviously we haven't had a lot of successful. We have to play better defensively.
"Fazekas is more outside than Paul, but he puts the ball in the hole night in and night out. Nick is longer and taller, which helps at time in certain situations."