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NCAA Basketball: Nevada, Rui Hachimura top non-conference mid-major performers

By Logan Butts

LAHAINA, HI - NOVEMBER 20: Rui Hachimura #21 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs tries to get around Ryan Luther #10 of the Arizona Wildcats during the second half of the game at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 20, 2018 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
LAHAINA, HI - NOVEMBER 20: Rui Hachimura #21 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs tries to get around Ryan Luther #10 of the Arizona Wildcats during the second half of the game at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 20, 2018 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /
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RENO, NV – DECEMBER 15: Cody Martin #11 of the Nevada Wolf Pack and brother Caleb Martin #10 of the Nevada Wolf Pack talk to head coach Eric Musselman of the Nevada Wolf Pack during the game between the Nevada Wolf Pack and the South Dakota State Jackrabbits at Lawlor Events Center on December 15, 2018 in Reno, Nevada. (Photo by Jonathan Devich/Getty Images)
RENO, NV – DECEMBER 15: Cody Martin #11 of the Nevada Wolf Pack and brother Caleb Martin #10 of the Nevada Wolf Pack talk to head coach Eric Musselman of the Nevada Wolf Pack during the game between the Nevada Wolf Pack and the South Dakota State Jackrabbits at Lawlor Events Center on December 15, 2018 in Reno, Nevada. (Photo by Jonathan Devich/Getty Images) /

Best Performance, Team – Nevada Wolf Pack

This award also could have easily gone to Gonzaga, but Nevada has earned the right to be called the best mid-major of the non-conference season.

The Bulldogs have played a tougher schedule and have better wins, but they also have two losses. The Wolf Pack are still unbeaten heading into conference play, and a weaker Mountain West could mean that an unbeaten regular season is on the table in Reno.

As many people have mentioned, the Wolf Pack are loaded. I don’t know that there’s ever been a mid-major roster with this much top-to-bottom talent.

Both Caleb Martin and Jordan Caroline are playing at an All-American level. Jazz Johnson, Cody Martin, Tre-Shawn Thurman, and Trey Porter all provide top-notch support. Jordan Brown is the best non-native Nevadan recruit they have had in a long time. Corey Henson and Nisre Zouzoua were double-digit scorers at their previous stops and are only playing spot duty here. I’ve never seen anything like it.

That depth will help with their quest of going unbeaten through Mountain West play, were familiar foes can pull off the upset at any time and Utah State and Fresno State lurk as solid competition.

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