Nevada forward Elijah Foster (12) and Wyoming forward Hayden Dalton (20) scramble for the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Laramie, Wyo., Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018. (Shannon Broderick/Laramie Boomerang via AP)
RENO — After two wins last week the University of Nevada men’s basketball team is 23rd in the Feb. 5 Associated Press Poll released Monday. Nevada also is ranked 23rd in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
The Wolf Pack is 20-4 on the season and atop the Mountain West standings at 9-1.
The current No. 23 ranking is Nevada’s third appearance of the season in the AP Poll. The Pack appeared at No. 22 in the AP poll and No. 24 in the USA Today Coaches Poll on Dec. 4. In the Jan. 22 AP Poll the Wolf Pack was 23rd and received votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
Nevada is the first nationally-ranked team from the Mountain West since March 2015 (Boise State, No. 25 in AP Top 25 and San Diego State, No. 25 in USA Today Coaches Poll).
Prior to this season, the last time the Pack was ranked in the top 25 was the final Coaches Poll of the 2006-07 season on Apr. 3, 2007. Nevada finished the year 21st in that poll. The last ranking in the AP Poll was March 12, 2007 at No. 15. The AP doesn’t conduct an end of the year poll.
In the 2006-07 season Nevada appeared in the Coaches Poll 20 times and attained the highest ranking in school history at No. 9 in the Feb. 27, 2007 poll. The Pack was ranked for 19 weeks in the Associated Press poll that same season.
Prior to this year Nevada has appeared in the national polls in just three seasons: 2004-05, 2005-06 and in 2006-07.
The Pack has two home games this week with intrastate rival UNLV on Wednesday and San Diego State Saturday. To purchase tickets go to NevadaWolfPack.com or call 775-348-PACK.
“It’s hard hard to get in once. It’s hard to get in twice,” Musselman said. “It’s near impossible to get in there three times. Our guys kept grinding out wins.
“I think it’s great for the school, great recognition for our institution. The national notoriety is pretty special for our campus.”
It will be the first time Nevada has played at home as a ranked team this season. The other two times Nevada was on the road. Nevada has won its last 16 at Lawlor Events Center, including 10 in a row against Mountain West teams.