5. Nevada Wolf Pack
Record: 12-0 (0-0 MWC)
Last Week: No. 6
Easily the biggest concern regarding Nevada heading into this season centered around its defense. Throughout the preseason, many were worried about how the Wolf Pack’s defense was performing. Yet, through the first 12 games of this season, the team has been far from porous on that end of the floor. They are currently allowing just 67.2 points per game while exhibiting the 32nd-best adjusted defensive efficiency in the nation. These marks are both superb and show how head coach Eric Musselman’s team has improved on that end of the floor.
And to me, this development on the defensive end was the missing link to becoming a potential national title team. Nevada was already one of the most efficient offensive units in the nation and this just makes them far more multi-dimensional when on the court. The Wolf Pack now have the ability to win with either their offense or their defense, something that was not in their bag of tricks a year ago.
The clear favorite to win the Mountain West this season, Nevada should be able to roll through conference play and, in my opinion, they are a darkhorse to land a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Sure, it is still early to start talking seeds but I’m not sure anyone is really considering how the Wolf Pack could finish this season with 2-3 total losses and land on the top line.