Nevada basketball seniors are honored at Lawlor Events Center during the final home game of the season against San Diego State on March 5, 2022.
Nevada Athletics
Grading the Nevada Wolf Pack’s 13-18 (6-12 in Mountain West) season in 2021-22:
GRANT SHERFIELD: A
Sherfield has the been the most consistent, productive and reliable player on the Wolf Pack roster the last two seasons. Yes, the 6-foot-2 Pack point guard’s jump shot was a concern from about mid-December to mid-February, especially from beyond the 3-point circle. But when he’s not on the floor the Wolf Pack simply struggles to function, as the Pack found out for three games (all losses) Sherfield missed with a foot ailment.
But despite the few bumps in the road, Sherfield improved slightly this year over his first year at Nevada in shooting percentage (.435 this year), free throw percentage (.871), rebounds (4.2), assists (6.4) and scoring (19.1). His 6.4 assists per game are currently fourth in the nation and are tied for the eighth most in school history for a single season. Sherfield did dip slightly in 3-point shooting (.367 in 2020-21 to .333 this year) and his trips to the free throw line declined (5.8 per game last year to 4.8 this year). He also basically stopped taking chances on defense, dropping noticeably from 42 steals his first year to just 17 this year.
But he was one of the best players at the Mountain West tournament, scoring 57 points on 18-of-37 shooting over two games. There’s little doubt that Sherfield will solidify himself as one of the best Pack point guards in school history over his final two seasons.
DESMOND CAMBRIDGE: B+
Cambridge had a roller coaster season on offense with tremendous highs and some frustrating lows. But when the season was all said and done Cambridge, one of the more animated players in the Mountain West, proved once again to be one of the top two-way players in the conference.
The confident and cocky Cambridge averaged 16.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.8 assists a game and even improved his shooting percent from 41 percent his first year to 44 percent this year. Cambridge’s 3-point shot, on which he bases 90 percent of his offense, disappeared for the most part for a 10-game stretch from the middle of December to Feb. 1 when he went 18-for-77 (23 percent) beyond the arc. His wakeup call was a 4-for-20 performance from the floor and 1-of-9 on threes in a disappointing loss at UNLV on Feb. 1.
But he responded to that by hitting 38-of-79 threes (48 percent) over the final 11 games of the year. Cambridge was as good a shooter as any player in the country in back-to-back games against Colorado State and Utah State on Feb. 8 and 11, scoring 63 points on 23-of-31 shooting overall and 10-of-13 on threes. But he never did recapture that fire again, never scoring more than 17 points over the final seven games.
Cambridge, though, works on both ends of the floor. His 154 total rebounds and 51 steals led the Pack. If he ever develops a willingness to get to the line consistently (just 128 free throws attempts in 56 games the last two seasons combined) he could lead the Mountain West in scoring.
KENAN BLACKSHEAR: B-
Blackshear, the Wolf Pack’s Swiss Army Knife, turned in a solid season his first year at Nevada after transferring from Florida Atlantic. He averaged 8.1 points, 1.3 steals and 4.5 rebounds in 29 minutes a game and even made 34 percent (55-of-125) of his 3-pointers after shooting just 23-of-87 (26 percent) his two years at Florida Atlantic.
The 6-6 Blackshear didn’t end his first Pack season the way he wanted. He was 1-for-8 from the floor (1-of-6 on threes) and he missed a 3-pointer in the final seconds in the Pack’s two-point season-ending loss to Boise State. But Blackshear’s offense is more of a bonus than a necessity for the Pack. He was inconsistent with his shot much of the season (40 percent for the year) and struggled down the stretch. The guard from Orlando made just seven of his last 26 3-pointers (27 percent) over his last 10 games. He also had another 10-game stretch earlier in the year when he was 9-of-30. Blackshear had 17 points at UNLV and 16 at home against Fresno State so he showed the ability to score at times. After scoring just 83 points over the Pack’s first 13 games (6.4 a game) he scored 10 or more points seven times in a stretch of 10 games from the middle of January to the middle of February.
But his main job this year was to crash the boards, play defense and help facilitate the offense. And he did that well enough. His 83 assists and 39 steals were both second on the team. When he struggled, it was usually due to foul trouble (a team-high 89 infractions).
TRE COLEMAN: C+
Coleman might have improved more than any Pack player on the roster as the season progressed.
Coleman’s first 18 games were a disaster on the offensive end. The 6-foot-7 sophomore averaged a mere 3.5 points a game over the first 18 games, shooting just 20-of-85 from the floor overall (24 percent) and 7-of-45 on threes (16 percent). Coleman started eight of the Pack’s first nine games but came off the bench in eight of the next nine as his shooting struggles snowballed. Coach Steve Alford, though, put the 6-7 guard back in the starting lineup on Feb. 1 at UNLV for his defense and that’s when Coleman’s entire season changed. He went 5-for-5 at UNLV from the floor and scored 10 points. Coleman averaged 6.5 points a game, making 30-of-64 shots (47 percent) overall and 11-of-25 threes (44 percent) over the final 13 games of the year.
Coleman, though, averaged 28 minutes a game this past season because of his defense. His 33 steals and 11 blocks were each third on the team. Coleman’s numbers for the most part for 2021-22 (4.8 points, 1.1 assists, 2.9 rebounds, .257 on threes and .405 overall from the floor) were disappointing. But his numbers over the final 13 games suggest that he might have more hidden upside than any player on the team and could blossom into one of the best two-way players in the conference.
WARREN WASHINGTON: B
Washington missed a month after breaking a couple of fingers at Colorado State in late January as the Wolf Pack season took a turn for the worse. But the 7-foot center returned on Feb. 22 against UNLV at Lawlor Events Center and was arguably the Pack’s most consistent player over the final six games. Washington scored between 11 and 13 points in all six games, making an eye-opening 29-of-47 shots (62 percent). He also had 46 rebounds and six blocks and went 12-of-15 from the line over those six games, despite never playing more than 28 minutes in any game.
Washington, who played 22 games last year, was consistent all season even before breaking a couple fingers in Colorado. He scored in double figures in 15 of his 22 games and shot .608 for the season from the floor and .732 from the line and averaged 10.5 points and 6.6 rebounds. His 6.6 rebounds a game led the team and his 27 blocks were second.
The biggest reason for Washington’s consistency is that he seemed to finally get his nemesis (foul trouble) under control. He had four or more fouls in 10-of-26 games his first year in Nevada and in five of his first nine games this year. Over his final 13 games this year, though, Washington only had as many as four fouls once. If the Pack can ever figure out a way to get 30-plus minutes a game out of Washington he just might develop into the best center in the conference.
WILL BAKER: C+
The 6-foot-11 Baker started 27-of-31 games and averaged 11.5 points and 4.9 rebounds a game. He made nearly 55 percent of his shots from the floor and 39 percent of his threes (26-of-66). His .394 success rate on threes was the best on the team for players who took more than two threes for the year.
But it was a rollercoaster year for the jump-shooting center just the same. He struggled from the line, making just 68 percent of his free throws and he only had seven blocks all year to go along with 4.9 rebounds, despite being 6-foot-11. His 63 turnovers were also second most on the team.
Baker had an incredibly hot start to the season, making 11-of-19 (58 percent) 3-pointers over the first seven games. Over the last 24 games, though, he was just 15-of-47 (32 percent) from beyond the arc. Baker’s best two-game stretch was a pair of games against San Jose State on Feb. 15 and 17 when he didn’t take a single 3-point shot. The Spartans allowed Baker to go inside to score 39 points in the two games on dunks and layups on 18-of-22 shooting. Before those two games, though, Baker had a 13-game stretch from Nov. 30 to Feb. 4 when he was just 7-of-27 (26 percent) on threes.
Despite the bumpy ride on threes all year, it was a solid building-block first season in Nevada for the former Texas Longhorn center. Baker did score in double figures in 22-of-31 games this season despite bouncing off and on the bench every game. He ended up averaging just under 22 minutes a game (sixth on the team) and was at 17 or under in four of the final five games.
DANIEL FOSTER: C
Like Coleman, Foster is one of Alford’s favorites because of his defense and ability to facilitate the offense. Foster, a 6-6 guard from Australia, averaged nearly 20 minutes a game this season despite going scoreless in 12-of-31 games.
Foster took just 62 shots all year and made just 19, averaging 2.5 points a game. He also was just 6-of-28 on threes and pulled down just 2.8 rebounds a game. Foster played 354 more minutes this year compared to his first year at Nevada but only had one more field goal and one more 3-pointer.
But he was on the floor for defense and an ability to pass the ball and keep the offense moving. His 44 assists and 20 steals were both fourth on the team and he did make 33-of-44 free throws (.750). At just 6-6, though, it is difficult to determine what Foster’s future role will be when the Pack isn’t trudging through a 13-18 season.
K.J. HYMES: D+
This was a season Hymes would soon forget. The 6-10 Hymes, who had various injuries to start the season, got into just 22 games and played just 257 foul-filled and mistake-heavy minutes all year.
Like Baker, his season high point came against San Jose State when he had 13 points in 33 minutes on 6-of-9 shooting in back-to-back games combined. Hymes, though, was just 0-for-3 from the floor and scored just three points in 55 minutes combined over the last six games of the year.
Hymes, the Preseason Mountain West Freshman of the Year two years ago, averaged 3.1 points and 2.3 rebounds a game this year in 12 minutes a game after averaging 5.2 points and 3.3 rebounds his first two years at Nevada in 15 minutes a game. His free throw shooting also suffered this year (25-of-45 for a .556 percentage) after making 66 percent over his first two years (85-of-128). Hymes had more fouls (45) and turnovers (12) combined this year than rebounds (51). His length and energy would suggest great upside and the hope is that this year was just an injury-filled season of frustration that won’t happen again.
ALEM HUSEINOVIC, DeANDRE HENRY, JALEN WEAVER: Incomplete
Huseinovic got into 22 games this season with one start and did play eight minutes a game. He was just 8-of-25 from the floor and scored 28 points and grabbed 18 rebounds with six steals but he also had 16 fouls and 11 turnovers. Most of Huseinovic’s activity came in a four-game stretch from Jan. 29 to Feb. 6 when he played 78 minutes and scored 12 of his 28 points on the season. He played just one minute after Feb. 17 over the final six games.
Henry got into just 15 games (85 minutes) all year, scoring 17 points with 21 rebounds. Henry did not play at all after Feb. 17.
Weaver played in just 11 games and 56 minutes, scoring 11 points with just one rebound. Weaver played two minutes after Feb. 17.
COACHING: C
This was simply Steve Alford’s worst season in 27 years of coaching Division I basketball and that includes the year UCLA fired him after just 13 games in December 2018. Alford’s first 26 seasons in Division I produced just one season under .500 (15-17 at UCLA in 2015-16). The Pack’s 13 wins are the fewest of Alford’s career and the 18 losses are his most. And this is a coach who spent eight years in the Big Ten (Iowa) and five-plus years in the Pac-12 (UCLA).
You can blame injuries and the pandemic but Sherfield missed just three games and Cambridge missed just one. Washington missed eight with his broken fingers but it’s not like the Pack lacked 7-foot centers this year. And the pandemic played havoc with everybody’s schedule early on. There was simply no excuse for this team to win just 13 games this year.
The Pack, though, declined on offense, defense, 3-point and free throw shooting, rebounding and protecting the ball this year compared to last year. By Alford’s own words, this team lacked mental toughness and maturity. They were a poor defensive team despite having three centers nearly 7-feet tall and two wing players (Cambridge, Coleman) that were among the best defensive players in the league. Alford just never seemed to get a grip on this team, at least not for long stretches at a time.
Nobody really played better than expected this year and almost all of them had a roller coaster season filled with inconsistencies. There’s no secret the Wolf Pack didn’t have any depth. The bench provided almost nothing all year long except fouls and turnovers. Alford seemed determined to play Coleman big minutes and use Foster as his sixth man despite the fact it allowed opposing defenses to basically play 5-on-3 far too often. To Alford’s credit, the team never stopped playing hard and never quit on the season or each other. The Pack never beat any of the top five teams in the league all year but they remained competitive.
The fact remains, though, that the Pack lost 14 of its last 21 games since Dec. 18. They lost twice to UNLV and three times to Boise State and that is never acceptable at Nevada. The Pack also lost 11 of its last 13 games this year to teams not named San Jose State, which is all the proof you need to know that this was a team and coaching staff that simply failed to step up and make plays when the important games were on the line.
The Wolf Pack gave Alford what seems like a lifetime contract (actually just 10 years) three years ago because, in theory, a season like this year would never happen. But Alford is a mediocre 48-40 in three seasons at Nevada and just 29-30 over his last 59 games. He’s also just 30-28 in Mountain West games (regular season and tournament combined). The Wolf Pack is still waiting for the Steve Alford that dominated the Mountain West for six years at New Mexico, winning 75 percent of his games overall, 72 percent of his league games, four league regular-season titles and two tournament titles to show up at Nevada. That’s the guy you beg to take a 10-year deal. The Alford the Pack has had for three years, well, he’s a guy who should be heading into a make-or-break year in 2022-23 with his next contract at Nevada on the line.
OVERALL: C-
Where did this season go wrong? It all started back in the spring of 2021 when Kane Milling (now at UC Davis), Zane Meeks (San Francisco) and Robby Robinson (New Orleans) all transferred away. Meeks and Milling could shoot and score (Meeks could also rebound) and Robinson could play defense in the paint. Those were skills the Pack could have used this year, especially off the bench. And when A.J. Bramah got kicked off the team four games into the year, well, the team became fragile and incredibly thin. But, still, those things shouldn’t have produced a 13-win season.
But the biggest reason the Pack turned in its first season under .500 since coach David Carter was fired after a 9-22 year in 2014-15, was because Lawlor Events Center turned into the Happiest Place on Earth for visiting teams. The Pack was just 7-7 at Lawlor this year. That is the same amount of home losses the Pack had suffered at Lawlor over the previous five seasons combined. Alford is a guy who built his career on winning at home, at places like New Mexico’s Pit, UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion and Iowa’s Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Former coach Eric Musselman lost fewer games at Lawlor (five) in four seasons than Alford lost just this year. So that has to change immediately.
The season was sort of summed up in the final 10 seconds of the season-ending loss to Boise State in the Mountain West tournament. Alford stood on the sidelines and watched as a guy (Cambridge) who should never have had the ball in his hands at the most important possession of the season, dribbled seemingly aimlessly through the defense and passed to a guy (Blackshear) that should never have taken the most important shot of the year. That’s how 13-18 seasons almost always end, with confusion, indecision and a lack of control and execution.
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