A New Chapter for the Wolf Pack
Nevada’s men’s basketball team will open its season on November 8 at the Tahoe Blue Event Center, marking the first time the Wolf Pack has taken the floor in that modern arena.
The matchup pits the Pack against the Gaels of Saint Mary’s, a program that has long dominated the mid‑major landscape and now enters a period of transition after longtime coach Randy Bennett departed for Arizona State.
Saint Mary’s, a perennial NCAA tournament participant with five straight appearances and recent second‑round runs, will be led by new head coach Mickey McConnell, who moves up from an assistant role that began in 2019.
Nevada, meanwhile, will test its depth in a series of non‑conference events that also include tournaments in Palm Desert and Frisco, giving the team a chance to experiment with new lineups before conference play.
Among the returning pieces for Saint Mary’s is sophomore guard Joshua Dent, who posted a career‑high 13.2 points and 5.6 assists last season, while former Nevada big man Jazz Gardner, who redshirted for the Gaels last year, adds interior experience after a stint at Pacific.
The historical series favors the Gaels, who hold a 52‑33 edge, but the upcoming game represents more than a statistic; it is a showcase of two programs at different stages of evolution as the season begins.