Nevada Wolf Pack’s Cameron Oliver named Mountain West Player of the Week

RENO — Cameron Oliver did a little bit of everything last week for the Nevada Wolf Pack.

The 6-foot-8 sophomore forward from Sacramento’s Grant High School was named the Mountain West Player of the Week after averaging 19 points, 12.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocked shots in leading the Pack past Air Force (25 points, 15 rebounds) and Utah State (14 points, 10 rebounds), and into a three-way tie for first place in the conference.

The Pack, Boise State and Colorado State are all 10-4 heading into the last two weeks of the regular season. The Pack hosts Boise State Wednesday at 7 p.m.

It was Oliver’s second career award, and the fourth for a Nevada player this season. Jordan Caroline won twice and Marcus Marshall once.

“It feels good. I’m humbled by it,” Oliver said Monday morning before practice. “A couple of our guys have won it before. It feels good to have it.”

Nevada coach Eric Musselman was pleased about Oliver’s honor.

“Obviously the No. 1 priority for our team and program is to win basketball games,” Musselman said. “I’m really happy when guys get individual honors. That is something every player strives for.

“Obviously the Mountain West has recognized several of our guys this season, and Cameron deserved it. He is coming off an outstanding week where he played hard and rebounded the ball. He shot 4-for-16 on Saturday, but he rebounded the ball and protected the rim. That’s why he got player of the week.”

Oliver ranks ninth nationally with 73 total blocks and 11th with a 2.70 blocks per game average. Oliver, who has 172 career swats, is the youngest player nationally with over 150 blocked shots.

After 65 career games, Oliver is only 22 blocked shots away from fifth place in MW history. Dario Hunt is the Nevada career leader in blocked shots with Nick Fazekas at No. 2.

BIG CROWD

Musselman said he expects another big crowd on Wednesday , and he expects it to be intense.

The Pack has had four straight crowds of 10,000 or more, something that never happened before.

LONG DISTANCE

Marcus Marshall has connected on 92 3-pointers this season which puts him eight shy of becoming the third player in MW history.

The last player with 100 3-pointers was BYU’s Jimmer Fredette during the 2010-11 season.