118 replies to this topic

[BSLChrisStoner]

Seattle Friday. West Region.

Win and they'll face the Memphis / Colorado State winner.

[BSLZackKiesel]

I'll have a more detailed write-up in the next couple days, but Grand Canyon seems like a good matchup. They create a lot of turnovers and create most of their offense on fast breaks. Their half-court offense is poor, and they don't shoot the ball well from beyond the arc. Take care of the ball and get back on defense, should be fine.

 

Colorado State is rolling right now, and Memphis is a very weak 5-seed.

[BSLRoseKatz]

Stronger on defense than offense

 

[Mackus]

I like everything about the draw except having to travel to Seattle.  West Coast trip didn't go very well last time.  Hopefully they learned something.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

Yeah Col St will likely be the toughest test to get to the S16.

[BSLZackKiesel]

Current KenPom Rankings for the draw to the Sweet Sixteen:

• (4) Maryland: #12 (#28 ORtg, #6 DRtg; #56 AdjT)
• (13) Grand Canyon: #93 (#149 ORtg, #67 DRtg; #14 AdjT)

• (5) Memphis: #51 (#72 ORtg, #40 DRtg; #27 AdjT)
• (12) Colorado State: #42 (#43 ORtg, #49 DRtg; #252 AdjT)

[BSLRoseKatz]

#7 for free throw attempt/field goal attempt ratio and in the 300s for how often how they shoot threes, have a sense there might be some driving into the paint 

[BSLZackKiesel]

#7 for free throw attempt/field goal attempt ratio and in the 300s for how often how they shoot threes, have a sense there might be some driving into the paint 

Yeah, worst-case scenario is they get Reese and Queen into early foul trouble and start abusing Maryland inside. They do have decent size for a mid-major.

[BSLMikeLowe]

Leave no later than Tuesday to recover from the long flight and acclimate to the time change. At least they don't have to go to Denver and deal with the altitude with a thin bench.

[BSLRoseKatz]

For frame of reference: Minnesota is Kenpom #90, GCU is #93 

[BSLMikeLowe]

And Washington, just a few miles from where they'll play Friday, is #109. Don't F around Terps.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Grand Canyon won 8 of their last 9. 
Lone loss a 1 point game. 

 

Had games this year vs. Arizona State (11 point loss), Stanford (7 point win), Georgia (5 point loss). 

 

They won't be in awe of MD. 

 

Got 4 players averaging double figures, 7 players averaging at-least 7.8 per game. 

 

8 players averaging at-least 17.1 minutes per game. 

[BSLZackKiesel]

This game will officially tip-off at approximately 4:35 PM ET, and will be broadcast on TBS.

[BSLRoseKatz]

Line opens at Maryland -11.5

[TwentyThirtyFive]

I did see an article that said this will be a tough test. Said Grand Canyon has a lot of D1 athletes and can defend at the rim. I assume that means good rebounding but who knows. Could just be 1 guys opinion but Im more nervous about this matchup than I was yesterday. Hate that its out west too.

[BSLRoseKatz]

They're pretty middle-of-the-pack for rebounding relative to the rest of the tournament field, anything could happen in a one-game sample obviously but I'm not going to lose any sleep over getting killed on the boards

 

[BSLChrisStoner]

I did see an article that said this will be a tough test. Said Grand Canyon has a lot of D1 athletes and can defend at the rim. I assume that means good rebounding but who knows. Could just be 1 guys opinion but Im more nervous about this matchup than I was yesterday. Hate that its out west too.

I don't think they'll be a pushover.

I do loke that they play with tempo, as that should make for a free flowing game.

Want MD to keep going inside early and often.
Maybe MD will get them in early foul trouble.

[NewMarketSean]

Line opens at Maryland -11.5

 

Taking Grand Canyon if that line holds.

[BSLChrisStoner]

ESPN: Men's March Madness 2025 bracket: Get to know all 68 teams

https://www.espn.com...acket-explained

 

Grand Canyon Lopes

Region: West
Record: 26-7
Tournament ceiling: Round of 32 (Odds: +425)

 

Bryce Drew has lived a few lives. He made a miraculous shot to lead Valparaiso to a win over Ole Miss in the 1998 NCAA tournament. He played professionally in the NBA and overseas. Then he worked his way up to earn the Vanderbilt head coaching job in 2016-17 but was dismissed three seasons later. Today, he's one of the most consistent and successful non-power-conference coaches in the country. With Grand Canyon's win over Utah Valley in the WAC tournament championship game, Drew is now responsible for every WAC regular-season title (two) and WAC tournament championship (three) in the school's history. After last season's win over Saint Mary's in the first round of the NCAA tournament, all-WAC first-team selection Tyon Grant-Foster (14.6 PPG, 1.5 BPG) and a Grand Canyon team with a top-60 defense hope to advance again.

[BSLChrisStoner]

The Ringer: Bracket Breakdown
https://www.theringe...burn-cinderella

 

The teams that can’t be trusted

We’ve covered your national championship options and the Final Four contenders. As we continue to work our way through the bracket, let’s take a look at the teams that, for whatever reason, may not be built for March. Whether it’s a fatal flaw on the offensive end, a hole in the team’s defense, or just bad vibes, these are the big-name squads that can’t be trusted to advance beyond the opening weekend

 

Maryland (4-seed, West region)

Full disclosure: I’m a Maryland graduate, and this is a pathetic attempt at a reverse jinx. The Terps are built for a deep March run. Their starting five stacks up against any in the country and has even earned itself a nickname—the Crab Five—because of the team’s reliance on the starting unit (and the state’s love of crab-based puns). Maryland has gotten limited scoring from its bench over the past two months, but that’s really the only concern with this team. Well, other than the fact that it’s cursed and will almost certainly lose in heartbreaking fashion. Maryland is 14-4 in its last 18 games, and all four losses were decided with only seconds to go.