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The Nevada Wolf Pack enter the 2015 Mountain West Tournament as the tenth place team in the tournament (San Jose State is ineligible for the tournament due to academics). It is a massive drop-off from last year when the Wolf Pack finished third in the conference after winning ten conference games. The Wolf Pack enter the tournament losers of five of the last six games and are a long shot to win the tournament.
However, Nevada has an opportunity to defy the odds and win four games in four days to capture the tournament crown. Here are few ways on how the Wolf Pack can accomplish this task.
1) AJ West must carry the Wolf Pack
West is arguably one of the best big men in the conference if not the nation. This season, West is averaging 12 points per game and ten rebounds a game as well and has had 14 double doubles this season. His play has tailed off the last two games but for the Wolf Pack to have a chance to win the Mountain West tournament, he has to be that double double force and dominate the painted area.
2) As a team, the Nevada must attack the glass and score around the rim.
Let's be honest, the Wolf Pack have struggled to score all season as they only average around 60 points per game and are at or near the bottom of the conference in most of the offensive categories but one thing the Wolf Pack has done well this season is rebound the ball. The Wolf Pack leads the Mountain West in rebounding as they are averaging 39 rebounds per game during conference play and they also are averaging 15 offensive rebounds per game.
If the Wolf Pack are to have any chance of winning the tournament, they have to score off of those missed shots on offense because this team struggles to shoot and score so when they miss a shot, they have to grab the rebound and score on putbacks.
The bottom line is that it is going to be quite a tough road for Nevada to win four games in four days given the scoring issues on offense and defensive struggles as of late but if they can get a outstanding performance from AJ West and rebound the ball well and get some offensive production, Whose to say that the Wolf Pack can't do the unthinkable and win the Mountain West tournament title.