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NCAA Basketball: Top 15 opening week games for 2018-19

By Brad Cavallaro

LEXINGTON, KY - NOVEMBER 20: John Calipari the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats gives instructions to Quade Green #0 during the game against the Troy Torjans at Rupp Arena on November 20, 2017 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KY - NOVEMBER 20: John Calipari the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats gives instructions to Quade Green #0 during the game against the Troy Torjans at Rupp Arena on November 20, 2017 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – MARCH 22: Cody Martin #11 and Caleb Martin #10 of the Nevada Wolf Pack discuss the play against the Loyola Ramblers in the second half during the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament South Regional at Philips Arena on March 22, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. The Loyola Ramblers defeated the Nevada Wolf Pack 69-68. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – MARCH 22: Cody Martin #11 and Caleb Martin #10 of the Nevada Wolf Pack discuss the play against the Loyola Ramblers in the second half during the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament South Regional at Philips Arena on March 22, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. The Loyola Ramblers defeated the Nevada Wolf Pack 69-68. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

10. BYU at Nevada

Tuesday 11/6, 11:00 PM ET, CBSSN

Despite suffering a surprising preseason defeat to Washington, Nevada should still be seen as a top 10 team in college basketball. The Wolf Pack bring back the Martin twins and Jordan Caroline which give them three talented and versatile wings. Adding many quality transfers has only made this veteran team even deeper and more dangerous. Old Dominion transfer Trey Porter and freshman Jordan Brown are the highest profile additions and should add a much-needed interior presence.

BYU was building serious momentum for this season before Elijah Bryant chose to leave school early. Bryant averaged 18.2 ppg and 6.3 rpg and emerged as one of the best players in the WCC. Yoeli Childs is one of the best players that few know about, but he will have to carry a much bigger load now that Bryant has departed. Nick Emery and TJ Haws form a strong backcourt, but the depth outside of BYU’s top three players is lacking.

Nevada’s weakness is at the PG position where Lindsey Drew is still recovering from an achilles injury. Cody Martin should slide over and act as a point forward, but they will still feel the effects of Drew’s absence. Having said that, the Wolf Pack are still the better team and should handle BYU at home.

Prediction: Nevada over BYU

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