:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/52432317/usa_today_9738717.0.jpeg)
ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi unveiled a fresh bracket Thursday morning, but the team representing the Mountain West is not what most would expect.
Despite Nevada firmly grasping (what many college basketball analysts would think) the top spot in MWC power rankings, San Diego State is listed as the lower seed in a 4-13 East region matchup against Purdue in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The Aztecs, currently sitting at 5-4 with three losses to sub-100 KenPom teams (Loyola Chicago, Arizona State and Grand Canyon), have endured an extremely frustrating and disappointing start to the season.
The Nevada Wolf Pack (10-2) doesn’t own a signature win, but an opening day road loss to nationally-ranked Saint Mary’s and buzzer-beating defeat in Alaska to Iona (a team it had beat six days prior) is nothing that would damage a tournament resume. Lunardi currently has Eric Musselman’s squad penciled in the ‘next four out’ category.
Although Nevada may have proved the most in non-conference play, there appears to be at least one analyst that believes the Aztecs have the firepower to clinch its seventh tournament appearance in eight seasons.