Jerry Evans is back where he belongs in the Nevada Wolf Pack's starting lineup.
The Wolf Pack junior, who was removed from the starting five for seven games this past month, has been back in the first unit for the past three games. And the results have been noticeable.
Evans has averaged 7.3 points and 9.7 rebounds a game the past three games.
"Jerry is coming into his own," Wolf Pack coach David Carter said before the Wolf Pack's game with the San Diego Aztecs Wednesday night at Lawlor Events Center.
Evans has always been a talented rebounder since his freshman season at Nevada in 2010-11. He averaged 3.5 rebounds his freshman year in just 19 minutes a game and last year he averaged 4.7 boards a game in 25 minutes a game.
This year, though, he has taken his rebounding production to a new level.
The 6-foot-8 junior leads the Wolf Pack in rebounding at 5.7 a game. He led the Pack with 11 in a 68-61 win at Fresno State last Saturday night and with eight against Air Force on Jan. 9.
Evans, though, says not to think of him as the Wolf Pack's Dennis Rodman.
"It's something I'm OK at doing," Evans said. "But that just goes game by game. If I have to guard guys out at the perimeter like Jamaal Franklin (of San Diego State), I'm probably not going to get as many rebounds. It just all depends on the player I'm guarding."
Evans has always been one of the Pack's best all around players, whether he's coming off the bench or starting. He's one of the team's best defenders and he chips in at most every statistical category with 7.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.1 steals. And he's also a better 3-point shooter than he's shown this season (17-of-41 for 27 per cent).
And while he did express his displeasure over losing his starting job in December, he didn't allow it to affect his play.
"It was something I got over pretty quickly and didn't worry about it," he said. "I play the game the same way, whether I'm starting or coming off the bench. I didn't let it hurt my production."
