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Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bryant set for showdown with Michigan State
CLEVELAND (WPRI/AP) — The Bryant University men's basketball team has a tall task on their hands as they play on the national stage Friday night. The Bulldogs earned a spot in this year's NCAA Tournament by winning the America East Conference title. They were named a 15-seed in the south bracket, meaning they'll have to go up against Michigan State, a perennial postseason powerhouse. The Spartans boast a 27-6 overall record, going 18-4 in the Big Ten Conference, and this is their 27th straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament. That's a Big Ten record and the second-longest active streak in the NCAA. Bryant MBB team boards buses, heads to NCAA Tournament For Bryant, this is the second tournament appearance since the program moved into Division I, the first being in 2022. The Bulldogs went 23-11 on the season and 17-2 in their conference. The two teams will go head-to-head Friday night in Cleveland. Tip-off is scheduled for 10 p.m. on TBS. Bryant is the only team representing Rhode Island in the tournament. However, Providence is one of the host cities for the first and second rounds, with two more games on tap for Saturday at the AMP. When are Saturday's NCAA Tournament games in Providence? Here are some fast facts about Friday night's game: The Spartans are 18-4 against Big Ten opponents and 9-2 in non-conference play. Michigan State averages 78.2 points while outscoring opponents by 11.0 points per game. The Bulldogs' record in America East games is 17-2. Bryant ranks fifth in the America East, shooting 33.7% from 3-point range. Michigan State averages 78.2 points per game, 4.3 more points than the 73.9 Bryant allows. Bryant averages 7.8 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.1 more made shots on average than the 6.7 per game Michigan State gives up. Top Performers Jaxon Kohler is averaging 8 points and 7.6 rebounds for the Spartans. Jase Richardson is averaging 16.1 points over the last 10 games. Rafael Pinzon is scoring 18.5 points per game, with 3.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists for the Bulldogs. Earl Timberlake is averaging 15.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 5 assists and 1.9 blocks over the past 10 games. Last 10 Games Spartans: 8-2, averaging 74.3 points, 35.4 rebounds, 14.3 assists, 5.5 steals and 3.2 blocks per game while shooting 44.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 66.8 points per game. Bulldogs: 9-1, averaging 80.6 points, 39.4 rebounds, 15.1 assists, 6.3 steals and 6.2 blocks per game while shooting 46.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 69.2 points. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Associated Press
21-03-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
N.C. State renews quest for another long March Madness run
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Several N.C. State players reached the sport's biggest stage last season. Still, they know they can't be focused on returning to the Final Four as they open the women's NCAA Tournament on Saturday. It's a process, even for a group that enjoyed last March's journey. 'It's exciting to be back in this position,' N.C. State coach Wes Moore said. 'I wasn't sure we'd be hosting and things like that, but they've done an unbelievable job.' For now, the attention for the Wolfpack, who's the No. 2 seed in the Spokane 1 region, is on the first-round game against Vermont. 'I think it's hard obviously,' N.C. State guard Saniya Rivers said. 'We've been to the Final Four just last year, and knowing we can get back there, it's kind of hard not to look ahead.' No. 7 seed Michigan State (21-9) and No. 10 seed Harvard (24-4) will meet in the other first-round game Saturday in Raleigh. Among the group in this pod, only N.C. State had postseason success last season. 'Just one step at a time,' Wolfpack guard Aziaha James said. 'We can't think about ahead.' This N.C. State team has some new personnel, so that makes the experience different. 'We want the freshmen to experience it as well,' Rivers said. 'We've been through it, I've been through it a couple times, obviously playing in South Carolina. It's an experience, and I want everyone to be able to experience it.' N.C. State (26-6) has been a top 16 team in five of the last six March Madness brackets and is hosting for the fifth time under Moore. 'It's what you work for all year,' Moore said. 'That's probably why I put more pressure on myself for more than anything else is trying to make sure you're a top 16 seed and get the opportunity to host. … It's why every game is so important because every game is going to be on that resume. Whether it's a big win or avoiding a bad loss, every night is a challenge.' He expects the same this weekend at Reynolds Coliseum, where the Wolfpack are 16-0 this season. 'It doesn't guarantee you anything,' Moore said. 'You've still got to go out and play well.' Vermont is 1-7 in NCAA Tournament games, winning as a No. 10 seed in the 2010 first round. A week ago, the Catamounts (21-12) won the America East Conference tournament final on Albany's court. 'What we've seen in the back end of the season is going to help us in moments when N.C. State makes a run and how we stay poised and how we control what we can control,' Vermont coach Alisa Kresge said. 'I think those moments are going to be very valuable.' Reunion weekend When Michigan State coach Robyn Fralick was a graduate assistant coach at Western Michigan, one of the team's players was Carrie Moore, who became the program's all-time leading scorer. Moore is now Harvard's coach. 'It's pretty full circle that we're now across from each other on sidelines,' Fralick said. They'll cross paths again for the first-round game. 'To have Robyn as my grad assistant my senior year and to now be playing her team my first time as a head coach (in the tournament),' Moore said. 'To now see her success in the business from a far. I've always been rooting for her.' For Michigan State's Grace VanSlooten and Harvard's Gabby Anderson, it's also a reunion. They were teammates on the Amateur Athletic Union circuit and with IMG Academy before going separate ways. VanSlooten, a transfer from Oregon, is in her first season with the Spartans. 'I'm really excited to see her and just kind of face off because we never thought we'd play each other,' VanSlooten said. '… She's got a great family that we're still close with and honestly talk almost every day.'
USA Today
21-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
MSU expert columnist predicts MSU-Bryant game in NCAA Tournament
MSU expert columnist predicts MSU-Bryant game in NCAA Tournament Who does Graham Couch of the Lansing State Journal like in this NCAA Tournament game between the Spartans and Bulldogs? Michigan State basketball is back in the NCAA Tournament and will begin its potential run to the Final Four on Friday against No. 15 seed Bryant in Cleveland. And Graham Couch of the Lansing State Journal is here to help break down the game and provide his prediction. The Spartans and Bulldogs will hit the floor late on Friday night with a trip to the second round of the NCAA Tournament on the line. Tip off is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET on Friday at Rocket Arena in Cleveland. As we know, Michigan State comes into this game as the Big Ten champions and as a heavy favorite in this matchup. The Spartans -- who are a No. 2 seed -- haven't been higher than a No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament since they last reached the Final Four in 2019. Bryant comes into this game as the both the America East Conference regular season and tournament champions and looking for the program's first ever NCAA Tournament win. The Bulldogs are playing in only their second NCAA Tournament game all-time, with the first being a loss in a Four Four matchup in 2022. For those who aren't terribly familiar with Bryant, here's a bit of what Couch had to say about the Bulldogs: "The Bulldogs lost 99-77 at St. John's (which, like MSU, is a 2 seed in this NCAA tournament) on Dec. 11. Their best win, via Kenpom, is at No. 186 Drexel on Dec. 2. The Bulldogs are coached by Phil Martelli Jr., son of the famed St. Joseph's coach and former Michigan assistant, who's a close friend of Izzo. Martelli Jr. joked on Thursday that he thinks his dad is rooting for his team over MSU, but he's not sure." As of this matchup as a whole, Couch believes it'll come down to the following: How does Bryant handle the "severe step up" in competition against the Spartans? How does Rafael Pinzon handle being guarded by Jaden Akins and Michigan State's collective perimeter defense? Will Bryant stick with their system of fast-paced play and try to run with the Spartans? Ultimately, Couch has the Spartans coming out on top, but does he think it'll be a close game or a blowout? Check out his complete prediction on the Lansing State Journal. Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.
NBC Sports
20-03-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Bryant vs Michigan State Prediction: Odds, Expert Picks, Betting Trends and Stats for 2025 March Madness
The Bryant Bulldogs (23-11), champions of the America East Conference, are set to face the Michigan State Spartans (27-6) in the first round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament on Friday, March 21, at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Under the leadership of coach Tom Izzo, the Spartans enter the tournament as a No. 2 seed. They clinched the Big Ten regular-season championship but fell to Wisconsin in the conference semifinals, ending an eight-game winning streak. The Bulldogs, coached by Phil Martelli Jr., secured their NCAA Tournament berth by winning the America East Conference championship, defeating Maine 79-59 in the title game. Bryant's strength is their collective height. They are the sixth-tallest team nationally with every player in their rotation 6-foot-5 or taller. The winner of this game earns the right to play the winner of the New Mexico vs. Marquette game. Lets dive into the matchup and offer some information and possibly a sweat or two. We've got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch the opening tip, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts. Game details & how to watch Bryant vs. Michigan State Date: Friday, March 21, 2025 Time: 10:00PM EST Site: Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse City: Cleveland, OH Network/Streaming: TBS Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest scores and player news. Check out our day-by-day NCAA Basketball Schedule Page that includes live game updates. Game odds for Bryant vs. Michigan State The latest odds as of Thursday courtesy of BetMGM: Odds: Bryant Bulldogs (+1050), Michigan State Spartans (-2500) Spread: Spartans -17.5 Total: 152.5 points Expert picks & predictions for Bryant vs. Michigan State Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NCAA calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, injuries, and the schedule. Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager. Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday's Bulldogs & Spartans game: Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline. Spread: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play ATS in this game. Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Game Total UNDER 152.5. Bryant vs. Michigan State: Top betting trends and recent stats Bryant is 4-1 against the spread in their last 5 games (13-16 ATS for the season) Bryant has won 6 straight on the Moneyline and 9 of their last 10 games Michigan State had won 8 straight and covered in 8 straight prior to their loss to Wisconsin in the Big Ten Tournament Sparty Game Totals have cashed the UNDER in 8 of their last 10 games If you're looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NCAA Basketball Top Trends Tool on Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700. Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff: · Jay Croucher (@croucherJD) · Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper) · Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) · Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bryant fans to cheer on Bulldogs as they leave for Cleveland
SMITHFIELD, R.I. (WPRI) — After taking home an America East Conference title, the Bryant Bulldogs are the only Rhode Island team in this year's NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. The 15-seed Bulldogs are matched up with the 2-seed Michigan State Spartans in one of the last games of Round 1, tipping off at 10 p.m. Friday in Cleveland. It'll be Bryant's second time playing on the national stage since moving into Division I, having first made the tournament in 2022. 'That's what excites me, is that it gives our university, our program, our athletic department a chance to show itself on a big stage. And we did that, you know?' said head coach Phil Martelli Jr., who was just named the National Associate of Basketball Coaches' Mid-Atlantic District Coach of the Year. 'Every restaurant, every bar, every fitness center, every whatever … those TVs are on,' he added. 'People are seeing that and they're going, 'Oh, what's Bryant? Who's Bryant?'' The Bulldogs will head west on Wednesday, and a big sendoff celebration is planned at Bryant's Smithfield campus. The team is scheduled to leave for the airport around 9 a.m. 'The entire city is abuzz': Providence makes final preps for NCAA Tournament Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
