2018 NCAA Tournament: Nevada Vs Texas Preview & Score Prediction
The Wolf Pack will begin their NCAA tournament run in Nashville on Friday afternoon as they take on the Texas Longhorns
Contact/Follow @BrandonGBlake & @MWCwire
#7 Nevada (27-7) vs. #10 Texas (19-14) Game Preview
Game Info
Date: Friday. March 16th
Tip-off: 1:20pm PT
Venue: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee
Radio: 94.5 FM/ESPN
TV/stream: TBS/NCAA.com/MarchMadness
Projected Nevada Lineup
G Hallice Cooke
G Kendall Stephens
G Jordan Caroline
F Cody Martin
F Caleb Martin
Projected Texas Lineup
G Kerwin Roach II
G Jase Febres
G Matt Coleman
F Mo Bamba
F Dylan Osetkowski
Why Nevada Will Win
Despite the nagging injuries to Jordan Caroline (pinky), Cody Marin (foot) and Kendall Stephens(ankle), all three players will suit up for the Wolf Pack. Even though Stephens suffered what looked like a gruesome injury in the loss to San Diego State in the Mountain West tournament last week, Stephens will play on Friday afternoon. And with those players active for Nevada, that gives the Wolf Pack a big advantage in terms of offensive production over the Longhorns.
Also, with Caroline, the Martin twins, and Stephens, Nevada has the talent to make up for the size disadvantage they have when dealing with the Longhorns frontcourt. Because of the talent, Nevada will have on the court (and their explosive offensive production and ability to rebound well against bigger teams) that should be enough to defeat the Longhorns.
Why Texas Will Win
The Longhorns will win by utilizing their frontcourt advantage and power the ball in the paint against a smaller Wolf Pack team (Nevada does not have a player taller than 6 feet 7 on their roster). The key to that will be Longhorn freshman Mo Bamba, the 6-foot11 freshman and potential NBA Lottery pick is second in the nation in blocks so if he dominates in the paint to go along with his frontcourt teammate Dylan Osetkowski contributing, the Longhorns can send the Wolf Pack home early.
OPENING LINE
Nevada (-1)
Score Prediction
Nevada 76, Texas 73
