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NCAA Tournament 2019: Buy or sell Cincinnati, Nevada, Wofford and Louisville?

By Jason Burgess

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - FEBRUARY 23: Ryan McMahon #30 of the Louisville Cardinals reacts after a play in the game against the Virginia Cavaliers during the first half at KFC YUM! Center on February 23, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - FEBRUARY 23: Ryan McMahon #30 of the Louisville Cardinals reacts after a play in the game against the Virginia Cavaliers during the first half at KFC YUM! Center on February 23, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
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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)
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) /

Nevada Wolf Pack 29-4 (15-3 in the MW)

1st Round Opponent: #10 Florida (Thursday 3/21 @ 6:50PM)

In the West Region the Nevada Wolf Pack began the season as a top-ten team and despite falling to San Diego State in the Mountain West semifinals, Eric Musselman’s team is still ranked 20th in the country and despite losing three times since Feb. 20, the Wolf Pack still has the same roster that had them ranked in the top ten before the season started.

The experienced roster has some wondering if they can make the kind of run they had going last season before running into Loyola (IL). Their tournament begins on Thursday when they face a Florida team that is riding high after knocking off top seed LSU in the SEC Tournament. The forward trio of the Caroline twins Caleb and Cody and Jordan Caroline make the Wolf Pack go with 48 points, 19.2 rebounds, 10 assists per game. That kind of firepower offensively should be enough to slide them past a Gators team, that although better lately has struggled to score in games.

This would set up a matchup with No. 2 Michigan a matchup that if it happened in November would have been marquee, but now doesn’t carry the same clout for some because the perception of Nevada has changed. Nevada is just as experienced and just as physical as the Wolverines, and I think would have a chance at pulling the upset, should they get the chance.

Verdict: Buy

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