One thing has been constant in Nevada’s 6-0 start this season — defense.

Heading into today’s home game against Illinois State (7 p.m., Lawlor Events Center), the Pack has played the best defense in Eric Musselman’s two-plus years on the job.

Nevada is allowing just 67.3 points a game and is holding teams to 40.7 percent shooting from the field, including a 31.8 mark from beyond the 3-point arc. And, the Pack is forcing nearly 14 turnovers a game. Not bad for a team without a true rim protector.

“This is the most competitive we’ve been in three years,” Musselman told reporters Monday afternoon. “The first year we defended out of desperation because we had zero chance to win unless we defended at a high level. Our guys every night, whether we were home or on the road, had to defend at a high level or not win. Last year we had some offensive weapons, and some nights we defended well and other nights we didn’t. We have a different mentality. Whoever you’re assigned, you try to shut them down.

“For instance, Josh Hall and Lindsey Drew were our best defenders. The last two years we depended on Lindsey to cover the best perimeter player. Now we have a player (Cody Martin) who we can put on the best player regardless of positions. At Hawaii, he was guarding (6-7 Mike) Thomas, and against Idaho he was covering their best guard.”

Nevada’s defensive performance is no surprise to NC State transfer Caleb Martin.