Murray: Nevada basketball must strike now to become a national program

Wolf Pack juniors Caleb Martin, Cody Martin and Jordan Caroline all put their names in the NBA draft without hiring an agent. Chris Murray breaks down what is next for them. Chris Murray/RGJ

(Photo: Lance Iversen/USA TODAY Sports)The Nevada basketball team has been in this position before. It couldn’t completely capitalize.

The year was 2004 and the Wolf Pack was coming off a Sweet 16 season. It strung together three more NCAA tournament berths and won two more games in the event. It captured four more WAC titles in a row. It sent seven players to the NBA. It became Nevada basketball’s golden era, but the Wolf Pack never truly became a national program, the second coming of Gonzaga. It…