Grand Canyon had 36 free-throw attempts in Friday’s win over Saint Mary’s.
Alabama shot 60% from the field and scored 109 points in the First Round against Charleston.
With a win, Alabama can reach the Sweet 16 for the third time in four seasons.
The Grand Canyon Lopes are hoping to be the latest no. 12 seed to secure a spot in the Sweet 16 on Sunday when they face the no. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide. Friday’s win over Saint Mary’s was the first NCAA Tournament win in program history for the Lopes. But the road gets tougher against the Crimson Tide, who avoided any talk of being a potential upset victim with a comfortable win over Charleston. Alabama is now hoping to make back-to-back trips to the Sweet 16 and get to the second weekend of the tournament for the third time in the last four years.
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The Lopes were fantastic in their First Round win over Saint Mary’s. They had four different players double figures led by 22 points from Tyon Grant-Foster. Meanwhile, Gabe McGlothan had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Despite shooting just 28% from the perimeter, the Lopes controlled by game by getting to the free-throw line 36 times.
Grant-Foster’s performance on Friday should have been no surprise. He averages 19.8 points per game this season and is by part Grand Canyon’s top performer. But the Lopes have other backcourt options around him. Ray Harrison is the straw that stirs the drink, averaging 13.8 points and four assists per game. While backcourt depth can be an issue, Grant-Foster and Harrison are a dangerous tandem when they play well.
Likewise, McGlothan has had an excellent season, averaging 12.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. He’s also the team’s best perimeter shooter, so he fills multiple roles for the Lopes. Meanwhile, 6’10’’ sophomore Duke Brennan provides some much-needed size for Grand Canyon.
Heading into the tournament, the Crimson Tide had some question marks after losing four of its last six games. They were viewed as a potential upset victim because of their season-long defensive struggles. However, the Alabama offense was clicking in the First Round, scoring 109 points for a comfortable win despite allowing 96 points.
The Crimson Tide shot 60% from the field and made 13 three-pointers on Friday against Charleston. It was another big game for point guard Mark Sears, who scored 30 in the First Round and averages over 21 points per game. Of course, Sears and his backcourt mate Aaron Estrada both average over four assists per game, so they share the basketball and also serve as playmakers for their teammates rather than just looking to score.
The Crimson Tide also has considerable scoring depth beyond Sears and Estrada. Both Rylan Griffen and Latrell Wrightsell are exceptional outside shooters. Forward Grant Nelson also provides an interior presence to complement Alabama’s dynamic guard play. In fact, nine different players for Alabama scored at least five points against Charleston on Friday, showcasing the Crimson Tide’s scoring depth.
DraftKings currently lists Alabama as a six-point favorite over Grand Canyon. Covering that spread is a little bit of a concern for the Crimson Tide, who are just 2-6 against the spread in their last eight games. On the other side, the Lopes are 3-0 this season as an underdog, including a win over San Diego State and Friday’s win over Saint Mary’s. But despite Alabama’s defensive concerns, Grand Canyon’s lack of depth could prove pivotal in this game. The Crimson Tide has too many scoring options for the Lopes to keep up over 40 minutes. That should allow Alabama to pull away late and cover the six-point spread.
Pick: Alabama -6 (-108 at DraftKings Sportsbook)
When: 7:10 PM EST on Sunday, March 24
Where: Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena, Spokane, Washington
TV: TBS
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