The #10 Nevada Wolfpack (26-7) take on the #7 Dayton Flyers (24-7) in the 1st round of the NCAA tournament on Thursday afternoon. Nevada had a great season in a loaded Mountain West conference, so it is surprising to see them as a 10 seed in this West region. Dayton had a great start to the season and even though they struggled towards the end of the year, it was enough for them to get the 7 seed in this region.
Will the Wolfpack be able to take out the higher-seeded Flyers?
Nevada Wolfpack vs Dayton Flyers Betting Odds
| Team | Spread | Total | MoneyLine |
| #10 Nevada Wolfpack | -1 -112 | O 136.5 -112 | -118 |
| #7 Dayton | +1 -108 | U 136 -102 | -102 |
| **Odds Courtesy of DraftKings** | |||
#10 Nevada Wolfpack vs #7 Dayton Flyers Game Details
- Fixture: Nevada Wolfpack vs Dayton Flyers
- Date and Time: March 21, 2024 @ 4:30 pm EST
- Location: Delta Center in Salt Lake City, UT
Apex Tale of the Tape
| Nevada Wolfpack | Vs. | Dayton Flyers |
| 26-7 | Record | 24-7 |
| 76.4 | Points Per Game | 74.7 |
| 47.5% | FG% | 47.7% |
| 36.6% | 3PT% | 40.2% |
| 34.5 | Rebounds Per Game | 33.7 |
| 67.1 | Points Allowed Per Game | 66.3 |
| 41.7% | Defensive FG% | 41.5% |
| 31.8% | Defensive 3PT% | 31.7% |
| 69.6% | Defensive FT% | 73.3% |
| 23.2 | Defensive Rebounds Against | 22.3 |
| 4-1 | Last 5 W-L | 3-2 |
| 69.7 | Team Pace | 70.4 |
Key Stats
Nevada Wolfpack
Nevada was red hot going into the Mountain West tournament, winning 7 games in a row. Unfortunately for the Wolfpack, they got bounced in their first game of the Mountain West tournament to Colorado State. The Wolfpack are led by 5th-year senior guards Jarod Lucas (17.8 PPG) and Kenan Blackshear (15.1 PPG). Not only does Nevada have a lot of experience in their backcourt, but they are also coached by coach Steve Alford. Alford is no stranger to the NCAA tournament, coaching 5 different schools to the big dance.
Dayton Flyers
Dayton had a very short stay in the A-10 tournament, quarterfinals, losing to eventual A-10 tourney champs Duquesne in the quarterfinals. The Flyers are led by A-10 player of the year, junior forward DaRon Holmes (20.4 PPG, 8.4 RPG). Furthermore, the Flyers know they will be able to count on Holmes to give them production. However, this team won’t have much success if their backcourt can’t step up as they haven’t had consistent scoring from that spot all season.
Game Prediction
Overall, I think Nevada is more battle-tested playing in the Mountain West and has the better coach/backcourt. Teams I love in March have to have good guard play and Nevada blows Dayton out of the water when it comes to that. You get better guard play, more experience, and a team that played good teams all year in their conference with Nevada. Also, the game is being played in nearby Utah, so the Wolfpack fans will be out in full support. Give me the Wolfpack to win and advance to the 2nd round in the West region.
Final Pick
Nevada Wolfpack ML -118
About the Author
Cory is an Oregon Duck alumni and has been following all college basketball closely for years. He has attended over 30 games across the country this season alone. Follow Cory on X @cory_pappas1 for more college game previews. It’s March!
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