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UMBC vs. Howard: Who advances in March Madness?

17 Mar

Summary

UMBC is a 1.5-point favorite against Howard in the First Four.
KenPom and Bart Torvik rank both teams similarly in efficiency.
Howard's guards, led by Bryce Harris, are crucial for their offense.

UMBC vs. Howard: Who advances in March Madness?

The March Madness tournament officially begins with the First Four, featuring a Tuesday night matchup between UMBC and Howard. UMBC is positioned as a 1.5-point favorite, with the winner set to face the top-seeded Michigan Wolverines in the first round. Both teams are closely rated by analytics sites KenPom and Bart Torvik, with UMBC at No. 184 and Howard at No. 204.

UMBC demonstrates a more balanced efficiency, ranking No. 183 offensively and No. 192 defensively per KenPom. Conversely, Howard excels defensively at No. 117 but struggles offensively, ranked No. 283. Howard has shown recent offensive improvement, averaging 76.5 points over their last eight games, spearheaded by MEAC Player of the Year Bryce Harris. The game's outcome may hinge on the guard play of both teams, including UMBC's Jah'Likai King, Ace Valentine, and DJ Armstrong Jr.

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