Maryland men’s basketball is gearing up for their NCAA Tournament run starting this Friday, as they face off against No. 13 seed Grand Canyon. The Terps enter the matchup with confidence, backed by a strong performance in the Big Ten Tournament where they finished second, and betting lines suggest they are favorites with a 10.5-point edge over the Antelopes.
The betting odds indicate Maryland’s dominance, as they are a 10.5-point favorite with a total points set at 150.5. The moneyline stands at Maryland -600 and Grand Canyon +430, reflecting precarious expectations for a victorious Maryland ensemble. The team's recent performances show that they can handle the pressure; they are already being touted as capable of advancing past their opening game.
Julian Reese, a senior forward for the Terps, emphasized the importance of focusing on their own game rather than their opponent's ranking. “Staying together and looking past rankings, I feel like if we do that, we’ll be good,” he stated, illustrating the mindset necessary for success in high-stake situations like March Madness.
The challenge for Maryland lies in their first-round clash with Grand Canyon. Under coach Bryce Drew, the Antelopes have made a name for themselves in recent tournaments, including a win against St. Mary’s last season. However, this year, they struggle with consistency against power conference teams, holding a 1-2 record when facing opponents outside the mid-major sphere. They also rank near the bottom for their three-point shooting percentage, an area Maryland’s defense, strong in full-court press and ranking within the top 40 nationwide in blocked shots per game, will likely exploit.
Maryland’s offense ranks 28th in the nation for efficiency, which, coupled with Grand Canyon's defensive tendencies, sets the stage for what looks like a favorable matchup for the Terps. Maryland, capitalizing on their top-ranked offense that is adept at scoring from all areas of the court, poses a significant challenge for the Antelopes.
As they prepare for this pivotal moment, the Terps remain attuned to potential future opponents as well. If they manage to progress to the second round, they are likely to face either a formidable opponent in Colorado State or 5-seed Memphis. Colorado State, a hot contender right now, recently captured the Mountain West Tournament and is heavily favored over Memphis in upcoming matchups.
Meanwhile, the Illini (Illinois), also entering the tournament as a 6 seed, prepare for their journey, facing off against the winner of a Texas-Xavier matchup in Milwaukee on the same day. Despite being a wild card, the Illini are focused on their three-point shot, rebounding, and limiting turnovers as keys to their success. They will make their case to advance against whoever stands in their way on Friday night.
The Illini's recent performance illustrates a conscious effort to lock down their defense, as they held opponents to only 27.2 percent from three in their first 13 games this season. Even with the loss of key player Morez Johnson Jr. due to injury, they have managed to maintain positive rebounding margins and emphasized minimizing turnovers, a critical area they struggled with during the regular season.
Both teams have their eyes set on progress in the NCAA Tournament and aspire to leave their mark during this year’s March Madness.
