First-half slide carries over into start of second half The Aces limped into the All-Star break with their worst 14-game stretch of the season. They lost 8 of those games, but maintained a healthy five-game lead over Fresno atop the Pacific Northern Division. The woes continued over the weekend as the 52-game second half began. Reno topped El Paso, 6-2, on Thursday … [Read more...]
Shoup Shots: Air-Raid goes Butler-less
The outlook for Nevada’s upcoming football season was already relatively bleak. Over/Under win totals for the Wolf Pack are sitting at or around 3.5. Coaching changes at the collegiate level bring a complete overhaul of staff and philosophy as well as a churning of personnel. That group is then essentially asked to start over and compete against solidified programs. In Jay … [Read more...]
Reno Aces Report (7/3 – 7/9)
Aces take five-game lead into All-Star break despite recent struggles On June 25, Reno handled Tacoma 9-1 to jump a season-high 20 games over .500 and open a nine-game division lead. It was the Pacific North leader’s eighth win in 11 tries. Over the final 14 games going into the All-Star break, the Aces went 6-8 and saw their division lead trimmed to five games by a … [Read more...]
Shoup Shots: Houston, this is not a problem, Pacquiao-Horn debacle
The argument whether Cam Oliver should have stayed at Nevada for his junior season, or declared for the NBA Draft, is now null and void. Oliver declared. He did not get drafted. He signed with Houston as a free agent. Last week, I pointed out the numerous positives for Oliver in Houston. The roster is flexible. The forward position is relatively weak. The style of play is … [Read more...]
Reno Aces Report (6/26 – 7/2)
Fresno shaves three games off Reno’s division lead Last week’s Aces Report started with a splash of reality and positivity. It was reflective of Reno’s start to the season. Reno was just coming off a series victory over second-place Tacoma and sat a season-high 20 games over .500 with a nine-game lead in the Pacific Northern Division. A key injury will stagnate the … [Read more...]
Shoup Shots: Should Oliver have stayed?
He needs another year to develop. Why doesn’t he wait for a weaker draft? If he stays another year, he’ll get more exposure. He needs to prove that he has an undying love for the game. Those who disapproved of Cam Oliver’s decision to hire an agent and forfeit is NCAA eligibility to pursue a career in the NBA had no shortage of validations for their opinion over … [Read more...]
Reno Aces Report (6/19 – 6/25)
Surging Aces push lead to nine games At some point, the Aces will slow down. A key injury will stagnate the steamroll, the dog days of summer will take their toll, the bats will cool off, and/or a relied-upon player will earn a permanent promotion. Something will happen. The 144-game season is too long for everything to go smoothly for the duration. But it doesn’t … [Read more...]
Oliver snubbed on draft night
Former Pack standout signs free agent deal with Houston after draft night disappointment After two standout years at Nevada, Cam Oliver opted to leave school and try to make a living playing the game he fell in love with as a child in Oakland. Seemingly all mock drafts pegged Oliver, a 6-8 225-pound power forward, as a mid to late second round pick. The NBA draft is … [Read more...]