How talented is the Nevada men's basketball team Fresno State plays tonight?
If the college basketball season ended today, senior forward Nick Fazekas would finish in the top five -- if not second or third -- in Player of the Year honors. His teammate, Marcelus Kemp, would be named Western Athletic Conference MVP.
That's why earlier this week, Bulldogs coach Steve Cleveland said Fresno State could play its best game of the season at Lawlor Events Center, and still lose. That's not a slight to the Bulldogs; it just so happens that Nevada is one of the best teams in the nation.
The Wolf Pack is ranked 15th in the latest Associated Press poll. If Nevada played in a stronger conference, its ranking would be five spots higher.
This team has lost just one game this season -- 58-49 to UNLV on Dec. 9.
Fresno State, meanwhile, enters tonight's game in Reno after losing its past two games, both against WAC opponents on the road. Hawaii and San Jose State took advantage of Fresno State missed layups and numerous turnovers to beat the Bulldogs.
