What do the UMBC Retrievers have in retailer for his or her second act?
On Saturday, UMBC (24-8, 14-2 in America East) clinched a spot within the NCAA Match, which begins with the First 4 on Tuesday, because of a 74-59 win over the Vermont Catamounts (22-12, 12-4 in America East) within the convention match title recreation. It is this system’s first time going dancing since 2018, when it made historical past as the primary 16-seed to beat a 1-seed for the reason that subject expanded to 64 groups in 1985.
Senior guard DJ Armstrong Jr. led all scorers with 33 factors on 9-of-11 taking pictures, together with 7-of-9 on three-point makes an attempt. The Retrievers outscored the Catamounts by 33 on threes and free throws, offsetting a 32-20 drawback in factors within the paint.
UMBC will look to make extra historical past in 2026 NCAA Match
UMBC, No. 202 in NET rankings coming into Saturday, is more likely to be a 16-seed when the official March Insanity bracket is ready on Sunday, which might give it an opportunity to change into the primary program to drag off the large upset twice. That may look like a stretch, however so does getting struck by lightning seven times. Weirder issues have occurred.
The Retrievers are one of many nation’s hottest groups, winners of 18 of their final 20, together with 12 in a row, the second-longest lively streak in Division I. They have not misplaced since Jan. 29.
Per KenPom, UMBC does job of defending the ball, rating No. 27 within the nation in turnover charge (14.1 %). It is also sturdy on the defensive glass, averaging 27.3 defensive rebounds per recreation, which ranks nineteenth.
Armstrong is taking pictures 42 % from three-point vary, whereas the workforce ought to count on extra within the NCAA Match from Jah’Likai King, who leads the workforce in factors however went scoreless on 0-of-8 taking pictures on Saturday.
UMBC has had an extended wait getting again to the dance. This yr’s workforce has huge sneakers to fill. Like a real Cinderella, we’ll must see if it suits.
