Busting Brackets
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Mountain West Basketball: Preseason rankings for 2019-20 season

By Jacob Salcido

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 16: Justin Bean #12 of the Utah State Aggies defends Matt Mitchell #11 of the San Diego State Aztecs during the championship game of the Mountain West Conference basketball tournament at the Thomas & Mack Center on March 16, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Utah State won 64-57. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 16: Justin Bean #12 of the Utah State Aggies defends Matt Mitchell #11 of the San Diego State Aztecs during the championship game of the Mountain West Conference basketball tournament at the Thomas & Mack Center on March 16, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Utah State won 64-57. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 10: UCLA’s Head Coach Steve Alford is seen at the UCLA Men’s Basketball game against the Univeristy of Michigan at Pauley Pavilion on December 10, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 10: UCLA’s Head Coach Steve Alford is seen at the UCLA Men’s Basketball game against the Univeristy of Michigan at Pauley Pavilion on December 10, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images) /

Steve. Alford. Is. Back.

The Wolf Pack skyrocketed to the top of the Mountain West Conference under Eric Musselman, but his sudden and unexpected departure for Arkansas left Nevada with several concerns. Gone was the star lineup of the Martin Twins, Jordan Caroline, and crew – But the biggest worry was who would take the reigns and lead the Pack going forward? Steve Alford, recently ousted at UCLA, surfaced as a candidate, and Nevada moved quickly to make it happen.

For those who don’t remember, Steve Alford achieved incredible things during his last Mountain West go-around. He led New Mexico back to national relevance, conference titles, and NCAA Tournament appearances. He is an experienced coach and an underrated recruiter. Yes, there are a lot of question marks on this year’s Nevada team, and seemingly more as time passes. However, the presence of Alford (now backed by longtime coaching-partner Craig Neal) is a huge cushion for the blows the Pack have endured this offseason.

Depth is a concern. With so much roster turnover and the dramatic coaching change, this was expected. If the Pack can be healthy, and play with strong chemistry, expect them to make some noise in conference play. Prior to the surprise departure of Eric Parrish, I would have had Nevada higher on this list, contending for a Mountain West title and an automatic NCAA bid. Now, I am a tad more skeptical. However, the talent on this team is being overlooked.

Guard Lindsey Drew, a crucial piece to the team that made a Sweet Sixteen run a couple of seasons ago, is finally back on the court. The value of Drew’s experience, leadership, and play is huge for Nevada. Combine this with the eligibility of potential breakout transfer player Jalen Harris (Louisiana Tech), and the return of Jazz Johnson and Nisre Zouzoua – This rotation should not be taken lightly. Expect to see redshirt freshman KJ Hymes take on a lot of minutes in the paint with a thinned roster and the departure of Jordan Brown.

How the newcomers play into this picture will be interesting, especially under Alford’s direction. Yet the fact that Alford is at the helm with a solid coaching staff is reassuring. Chemistry shouldn’t be much of an issue, but will be vital with the lack of depth. If this team gets rolling, don’t expect much of a drop-off. Expect Nevada to still be in the mix for a league title. However, if the Pack are met with any kind of unexpected adversity this season, it could be detrimental to their success.