March Madness: 5 biggest questions for mid-majors in NCAA Tournament

March Madness: 5 biggest questions for mid-majors in 2019 NCAA Tournament

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 15: Caleb Martin #10 and Cody Martin #11 of the Nevada Wolf Pack walk up court during a semifinal game of the Mountain West Conference basketball tournament against the San Diego State Aztecs at the Thomas & Mack Center on March 15, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. San Diego State Aztecs won 65-56. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) /

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BOISE, ID – MARCH 17: CJ Massinburg #5 of the Buffalo Bulls reacts during the first half against the Kentucky Wildcats in the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Taco Bell Arena on March 17, 2018 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

2. Who’s more likely to make an Elite 8 run between Buffalo and Nevada?

Logan Butts

I just want to say that first of all, it’s a little sad for us mid-major fans that Gonzaga, Nevada, Buffalo, Murray State, and Vermont are all in the same region. That being said, I’m taking Buffalo just slightly. I think they can both make a run, but Buffalo is hungry to build off last season’s dismantling of Arizona in the first round, they have a deep, experienced squad, and they’ve looked better than Nevada lately.

Connor Hope

Buffalo is far more likely to make a run to the Elite 8 than Nevada. Buffalo plays clean team basketball and rarely gets itself caught up in individual play. Nevada on the other hand can have stretches where the ball isn’t moving, and against defenses like Michigan and Texas Tech that simply won’t be enough to pull upsets.

Stu Luddecke

I’ll take Buffalo because Florida shouldn’t be overlooked in terms of presenting problems for Nevada. The Gators plays stout defense and the Wolf Pack aren’t a fantastic shooting team to begin with. Also, even though they are the 10 and 7 seeds, respectively, they are only separated by three spots on KenPom (Nevada 25, Florida 28). If the Pack were to get by Florida, they would then (presumably) have to play Michigan – another extremely tough matchup.

Compare those two games with what Buffalo would have to do over the same stretch – play the winner of SJU/ASU and then Texas Tech. That’s certainly not an easy draw, but I think Michigan is deservedly seeded the highest among the teams mentioned.

Jason Burgess

Which team is more likely to make an Elite 8 run between Buffalo and Nevada?
It’s not out of the realm of possibility that these two are playing for the right to play in the E8. But if I had to choose, I will say Nevada because Buffalo would fall to Texas Tech and the Wolf Pack are better equipped to deal with their style of play.

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