Pac-12 Basketball: What would a conference challenge look like?

10 of 13

GLENDALE, AZ – APRIL 01: Head coach Dana Altman of the Oregon Ducks looks on prior to the game against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the 2017 NCAA Men’s Final Four Semifinal at University of Phoenix Stadium on April 1, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Oregon Ducks vs Nevada Wolf Pack

Despite both teams losing a ton from last year, a ton have come through for this year’s squads, whether from transfers to highly touted recruits. Nevada does lose Cameron Oliver and Marcus Marshall, but Jordan Caroline returns along with a ton of transfers who sat out next season. Look for the Martin twins to make an impact in the post as the Wolf Pack look for back to back titles.

The Final Four Ducks lost just about everyone this year. Jordan Bell, Dillon Brooks, and Chris Boucher all left for the next level, leaving Payton Pritchard alone from the starting five a year ago.

Coach Dana Brook did a good job picking up the pieces, landing two grad transfers in MiKyle McIntosh and Elijah Brown. However, top-tier recruit Troy Brown will be the reason whether Oregon makes the tournament again or not.

These two teams will test team chemistry in many ways, and it will take time for everything to gel. This could be an ugly, turnover prone game with a lot of mistakes but with a ton of offensive prouduction. Nevada could be able to pull this one off due to players having at least a year in Eric Musselman’s system, but the Ducks have the better talent and should win a game that might get to triple digits.

Prediction: Oregon

Home/Pac-12