Busting Brackets
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Nevada Basketball: Why Wolf Pack are legit title contenders in 2019

By Bryan Mauro

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 29: Caleb Martin #10 and Cody Martin #11 of the Nevada Wolf Pack talk on the court during their game against the UNLV Rebels at the Thomas & Mack Center on January 29, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Wolf Pack defeated the Rebels 87-70. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 29: Caleb Martin #10 and Cody Martin #11 of the Nevada Wolf Pack talk on the court during their game against the UNLV Rebels at the Thomas & Mack Center on January 29, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Wolf Pack defeated the Rebels 87-70. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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RENO, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 02: Jordan Caroline #24 of the Nevada Wolf Pack raises a hand after dunking the ball during the second half against the Boise State Broncos at Lawlor Events Center on February 02, 2019 in Reno, Nevada. (Photo by Jonathan Devich/Getty Images)
RENO, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 02: Jordan Caroline #24 of the Nevada Wolf Pack raises a hand after dunking the ball during the second half against the Boise State Broncos at Lawlor Events Center on February 02, 2019 in Reno, Nevada. (Photo by Jonathan Devich/Getty Images) /

Nevada Basketball is 22-1 and on Saturday should be one of the top 16 protected seeds. Can the Wolf Pack win a National Title this season?

The Mountain West always has one of two teams capable of making a run in March. Those Cinderella runs usually end in the Sweet 16 or Elite round of the tournament. Occasionally a program from this conference, see Kawhi Leonard led San Diego State or any UNLV program led by legendary coach Jerry Tarkanian, these teams are expected to make a deep run into March and could be a legitimate threat for a title.

This season the Nevada Wolf Pack fit into the category of teams who should be taken seriously as national title contenders. Head Coach Eric Musselman has done a tremendous job in building the Nevada program into a contender in a short time. He is very active on the transfer market and has turned those transfers into one of the best and most complete teams in the country.

Sitting at 22-1 the Wolf Pack have shown they know how to win. Over the course of any season, it is unrealistic to expect any team to dominate every opponent. Minus the loss to New Mexico by over 40 points, Nevada has looked to be one of the best teams in the country. They have had their fair share of closer games against inferior opponents, but they have shown they can win those games. Nevada is also a team who can blow a close game open quickly. The team from Reno is one that no team is going to want to see on their side of the bracket come tournament time. The following factors are all things that will contribute to a potential Championship in Reno.