Two high-scoring teams with recent NCAA Tournament experience clash when No. 13 seeded Grand Canyon faces No. 4 Maryland in Friday’s opening round West Regional game in Seattle.
Grand Canyon (26-7) is making its third straight NCAA appearance after earning an 89-82 win over Utah Valley in the Western Athletic Conference tournament championship. The Antelopes are averaging 79.2 points, while Maryland is averaging 81.7 points.
The Terrapins enter the tournament 43rd nationally in scoring defense, allowing 67 points per game, while Grand Canyon isn’t far off, allowing 69.0 ppg, good for 89th.
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Maryland (25-8) is competing in its second NCAA tournament in the last three years. The Terrapins reached the Big 10 tournament semifinal before losing an 81-80 heartbreaker to Michigan. The Wolverines scored the game-winner on Tre Donaldson’s driving layup with 0.4 seconds left to play.
Grand Canyon is led by its two first-team all-conference players, 6-foot-8 senior JaKobe Coles (14.8 ppg., 5.7 rpg.) and 6-foot-7 graduate student Tyon Grant-Foster (14.5 ppg., 6.0 rpg.).
Other key players include 6-foot-4 senior Ray Harrison (11.6 ppg.), 6-foot-10 junior Duke Brennan (10.7 ppg., 9.7 rpg.), and 6-foot-2 sophomore Makaih Williams (8.3 ppg.).
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Maryland (25-8) is led by 6-foot-10 freshman Derik Queen, who averages 16.3 points and 9.0 rebounds to lead the Terps in both categories. Queen, who is projected by many to be an NBA first-round pick, has a limited three-point resume. This season he has connected 4 of 28 (.143). He shoots .768 from the foul line.
Queen is part of the highest-scoring starting five unit in the country, which also includes 6-foot-1 junior Ja’Kobi Gillespie (14.7 ppg.), 6-foot-4 sophomore Rodney Rice (13.9 ppg.), 6-foot-9 senior Julian Reese (13.1 ppg.), and 6-foot-4 fifth-year Selton Miguel (12.0 ppg.).
Grand Canyon vs. Maryland Odds
Maryland is a 10.5-point college basketball odds favorite vs Grand Canyon on BetMGM with the Over/Under at 149.5 points.
The moneyline for Maryland is -600 and +425 for Grand Canyon.
Grand Canyon vs. Maryland Channel
Friday’s Grand Canyon vs Maryland game will be on TBS.
Tipoff is expected to begin shortly after 4:35 p.m. ET.
Grand Canyon vs. Maryland Prediction
I like Maryland laying the points.
Maryland’s NCAA Net Ranking is 10, while Grand Canyon’s is 92. The Terrapins were 8-7 in Quad 1 games, while Grand Canyon was 0-1. As with many of these first-round matchups, the fact that Maryland has played a much tougher schedule should help the Terrapins.
Statistically, Maryland has a big advantage in three-point shooting. The Terrapins shoot .373 from deep, while Grand Canyon shoots just .317. The Antelopes, however, defend the three well, limiting teams to a .315 percentage. Maryland is even better, limiting teams to a .307 percentage.
Maryland has an edge in free throw percentage: .755 to .733.
The one thing Maryland wants to do is put the Antelopes away early, because if they are allowed to hang around, then Grand Canyon can be dangerous.
