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The champions of the Mountain West meet the champions of the American Athletic Conference to open the 2025 men's NCAA Tournament.
Memphis is the No. 5 seed and will face No. 12 Colorado State on Friday, March 21, at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington.
Here is a look at the key players and figures in the game and a prediction for the first round matchup:
Memphis is 29-5 and has won eight games in a row. Penny Hardaway leads the Tigers with stars PJ Haggerty and Dain Dainja leading Memphis.
Haggerty, a 6-foot-3 guard, is a Tulsa transfer and is averaging 21.9 points and 3.8 assists per game. The 6-foot-9 Dainja is the AAC's Newcomer of the Year as a transfer from Illinois. He's averaging 14.3 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.
The statuses of injured point guards Tyrese Hunter (foot) and Dante Harris (ankle) are uncertain for the NCAA Tournament.
Memphis won the American Athletic Conference's regular season and tournament titles. The Tigers went 16-2 in league play.
In nonconference action, Memphis picked up key wins over Michigan State, UConn and Clemson.
Nique Clifford's name has been all over the college basketball world in the last few weeks.
The 6-foot-6 star wing has been excellent all season but has taken it to a new level since the calendar turned to March.
Clifford poured in 36 points in a win at Boise State in the regular season finale to secure the No. 2 spot for the Rams. Clifford averaged 25 points, 10.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists in the three-game Mountain West tournament as he was named MVP.
While the potential 2025 NBA first round pick is lead weapon for the Rams, this is a team built on the collective.
Sophomores Kyan Evans (point guard), Jaylen Crocker-Johnson (forward) and Rashaan Mbemba (forward) all start and have grown steadily through the season. Veteran guard Jalen Lake is a steady defender and 3-point threat.
CSU's bench has been flourishing. The reserves got the party started in the Mountain West title game against Boise State as Bowen Born and Ethan Morton combined for CSU's first 10 points.
And, collectively, defense is where this team wins. Both Boise State and Utah State grew visibly rattled by CSU's defensive ferocity.
The Rams are top-50 in the nation in KenPom's defensive efficiency rating.
Despite being a worse seed, the Rams open as an early betting favorite. ESPN Bet and FanDuel list the Rams as a 2.5-point favorite. DraftKings lists CSU as a 3.5-point favorite.
KenPom projects a one-point win for CSU.
Colorado State is one of the hottest teams in the nation, winners of 10 games in a row. The Rams also have a superstar in Clifford and a ferocious defense.
It's always popular to pick a 5-12 seed upset and this is an obvious candidate for a reason.
CSU wins 71-67.
Follow sports reporter Kevin Lytle on X and Instagram @Kevin_Lytle.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Colorado State vs Memphis prediction, pick March Madness first round
Continue reading...
Memphis is the No. 5 seed and will face No. 12 Colorado State on Friday, March 21, at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington.
Here is a look at the key players and figures in the game and a prediction for the first round matchup:
Memphis basketball scouting report: Star transfers help lead Tigers
Memphis is 29-5 and has won eight games in a row. Penny Hardaway leads the Tigers with stars PJ Haggerty and Dain Dainja leading Memphis.
Haggerty, a 6-foot-3 guard, is a Tulsa transfer and is averaging 21.9 points and 3.8 assists per game. The 6-foot-9 Dainja is the AAC's Newcomer of the Year as a transfer from Illinois. He's averaging 14.3 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.
The statuses of injured point guards Tyrese Hunter (foot) and Dante Harris (ankle) are uncertain for the NCAA Tournament.
The path for Memphis to March Madness
Memphis won the American Athletic Conference's regular season and tournament titles. The Tigers went 16-2 in league play.
In nonconference action, Memphis picked up key wins over Michigan State, UConn and Clemson.
Colorado State basketball keys in NCAA Tournament
Nique Clifford's name has been all over the college basketball world in the last few weeks.
The 6-foot-6 star wing has been excellent all season but has taken it to a new level since the calendar turned to March.
Clifford poured in 36 points in a win at Boise State in the regular season finale to secure the No. 2 spot for the Rams. Clifford averaged 25 points, 10.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists in the three-game Mountain West tournament as he was named MVP.
While the potential 2025 NBA first round pick is lead weapon for the Rams, this is a team built on the collective.
Sophomores Kyan Evans (point guard), Jaylen Crocker-Johnson (forward) and Rashaan Mbemba (forward) all start and have grown steadily through the season. Veteran guard Jalen Lake is a steady defender and 3-point threat.
CSU's bench has been flourishing. The reserves got the party started in the Mountain West title game against Boise State as Bowen Born and Ethan Morton combined for CSU's first 10 points.
And, collectively, defense is where this team wins. Both Boise State and Utah State grew visibly rattled by CSU's defensive ferocity.
The Rams are top-50 in the nation in KenPom's defensive efficiency rating.
Early betting odds for Memphis vs Colorado State basketball
Despite being a worse seed, the Rams open as an early betting favorite. ESPN Bet and FanDuel list the Rams as a 2.5-point favorite. DraftKings lists CSU as a 3.5-point favorite.
KenPom projects a one-point win for CSU.
Memphis basketball vs Colorado State prediction
Colorado State is one of the hottest teams in the nation, winners of 10 games in a row. The Rams also have a superstar in Clifford and a ferocious defense.
It's always popular to pick a 5-12 seed upset and this is an obvious candidate for a reason.
CSU wins 71-67.
Follow sports reporter Kevin Lytle on X and Instagram @Kevin_Lytle.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Colorado State vs Memphis prediction, pick March Madness first round
Continue reading...
