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(NCAAB) Nevada vs. Iowa State,
Point Spread: -6.50 | -106.00 Iowa State (Home)
Result: Win
The set-up: Iowa State won the Big 12 tourney for the third time in four years. The Cyclones enter the Big Dance having won nine of their last 10 and at 23-10, were given a No. 5 seed. The Nevada Wolf Pack added the MWC tourney title to the school's regular season title and has won nine in a row to reach 28-6 (Nevada is a 12-seed). This marks Iowa State's sixth straight NCAA appearance while for Nevada, the Wolf Pack will be 'dancing' for the first time in 10 years!

Nevada: Head coach Eric Musselman told the Reno Gazette-Journal, "It's been our year-long goal, so obviously everybody feels great about seeing our name up there. It's great exposure for the university, and now we have to put some work in and figure out a way to compete with Iowa State." Nevada led the Mountain West in scoring at 80.0 points per game. Senior guard Marcus Marshall, a transfer from Missouri State, leads the team with 19.8 PPG (3.6 APG). The Wolf Pack are a perimeter-oriented team, starting three guards, Fenner (14.1) and PG Drew (5.9-4.8) join Marshall, along with swingman Caroline (14.8 & 9.2) plus 6-8 forward Oliver (15.8 & 8.7).

Iowa State: The Cyclones are also a guard-oriented team, led by PG Monte Morris (16.3 & 6.1 APG). He holds school career records for assists and steals. Fellow guard Naz Mitrou-Long is averaging 15.5 points and is a high-volume 3-point shooter (94 of 244, 38.5 percent). The 6-5 Deonte Burton can score from outside or above the rim and averages 14.8 PPG and leads the team in rebounding at 6.2 per. Thomas is a fourth guard in double digits (12.0 & 3.8) plus a pair of 6-8 fowards play just under 20 minutes per game, Bowie (5.8 & 4.1) and Young (5.1 & 4.1).

Th pick: Nevada can score but so can Iowa State, which averages 80.9 PPG against a tougher schedule, while shooting 40.2% on threes (13th in the nation). This game is being at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, which is less than 400 miles from Ames, as well as being the hometown of three Iowa State players. Iowa State owns a huge edge at experience on this level, especially Morris, who has played in two Sweet 16s and has seven NCAA games under his belt. Iowa State is an 8* play.