Busting Brackets
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Nevada Basketball: 2017-18 season preview

By Tristan Freeman

MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 16: A Nevada Wolf Pack fan holds a flag in the first half against the Iowa State Cyclones during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at BMO Harris Bradley Center on March 16, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 16: A Nevada Wolf Pack fan holds a flag in the first half against the Iowa State Cyclones during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at BMO Harris Bradley Center on March 16, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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MILWAUKEE, WI – MARCH 16: A Nevada Wolf Pack fan cheers in the second half against the Iowa State Cyclones during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at BMO Harris Bradley Center on March 16, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI – MARCH 16: A Nevada Wolf Pack fan cheers in the second half against the Iowa State Cyclones during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at BMO Harris Bradley Center on March 16, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Key Non-conference games

Nov 13 Rhode Island

Nov 29 Illinois State

Dec 5 @ Texas Tech

Dec 8 TCU (neutral site)

In the second year of the Mountain West/Missouri Valley challenge, Nevada drew Illinois State. While the Redbirds are the best possible choice to play since Wichita State left for the AAC, they themselves will be taking a step back with the losses of McIntosh and Dawkins.

Chris Beard and the Texas Tech Raiders just missed the NCAA Tournament, in part to a horrific non-conference schedule; this game will be valuable to both sides. Tech should look to finish in the mid-tier in the Big 12 so this could set up to be a good bubble game.

The Wolf Pack will take on TCU in the Hall of Fame Classic, a neutral site battle in December. The Horned Frogs, led by former Pitt coach Jamie Dixon will be coming into the year with expectations of reaching the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1998. After winning the NIT and returning most of their scorers, this will be both a difficult and potentially rewarding game.

The biggest game might just be the first one, with the Rhode Island Rams coming to town. After winning the Atlantic 10, Coach Dan Hurley returns All A-10 stud E.C. Matthews for the first of a home and home series.

With Nevada introducing a completely different roster and Rhode Island having a similar squad from the year before, Rhode Island should be the favourites to win the matchup in Reno.