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Bracketology: Bubble teams will be sweating these 5 conference tourneys

By Mike Phillips

SPOKANE, WA - FEBRUARY 23: Gonzaga forward Brandon Clarke (15) works against BYU forward Yoeli Childs (23) before scoring during the game between the BYU Cougars and the Gonzaga Bulldogs played on February 23, 2019 in Spokane, Washington at the McCarthey Athletic Center. (Photo by Robert Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SPOKANE, WA - FEBRUARY 23: Gonzaga forward Brandon Clarke (15) works against BYU forward Yoeli Childs (23) before scoring during the game between the BYU Cougars and the Gonzaga Bulldogs played on February 23, 2019 in Spokane, Washington at the McCarthey Athletic Center. (Photo by Robert Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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RENO, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 23: Caleb Martin of the Nevada Wolf Pack yells at a ref after a call against the Nevada Wolf Pack during the game between the Nevada Wolf Pack and the Fresno State Bulldogs at Lawlor Events Center on February 23, 2019 in Reno, Nevada. (Photo by Jonathan Devich/Getty Images)
RENO, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 23: Caleb Martin of the Nevada Wolf Pack yells at a ref after a call against the Nevada Wolf Pack during the game between the Nevada Wolf Pack and the Fresno State Bulldogs at Lawlor Events Center on February 23, 2019 in Reno, Nevada. (Photo by Jonathan Devich/Getty Images) /

2. Mountain West Conference

Dates: March 13-16

Location: Las Vegas, NV

Favorite: Nevada

If the struggles of the Pac-12 have turned you off to West Coast basketball, you’ve probably missed out on how good a team Nevada is. The Wolf Pack have lorded over the Mountain West all season, riding the core from last year’s Sweet 16 squad along the way.

Eric Musselman’s team went undefeated in non-conference play, going 13-0 out of the league, beating Loyola-Chicago (in a rematch from last year’s tournament) and three Pac-12 schools along the way. Nevada’s losses have come in league play, including road defeats to San Diego State (not great) and New Mexico (really bad).

The good news for Wolf Pack fans is that Nevada has been a fixture in the polls all season long, so a loss in the Mountain West tournament won’t keep them out of the dance. Nevada’s gain would be a loss for someone else, especially if Utah State has anything to say about it.

Utah State is the only team in the Mountain West besides Nevada with a potential shot at an at-large bid. The Aggies are a talented team without many marquee wins, but they are very capable of beating Nevada if they play their A-game.

Nevada shouldn’t have a ton to worry about with the tournament taking place in Las Vegas, but one slip-up from the Wolf Pack is all it takes to end someone’s March Madness dreams.