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Delaware vs. UNC Wilmington Game Preview, Odds, Picks & Predictions
NCAA Berth Up for Grabs in Colonial Athletic Association Title Game
No. 5 Seed Delaware Eyeing History
Delaware is the first No. 5 seed to reach the Colonial Athletic Conference title game and would be the first team to win the title while being seeded fifth. It won’t be easy against a program accustomed to playing in CAA finals. It has been five years since UNC Wilmington has been part of the March Madness bracket and eight since Delaware last advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
Delaware has jumped to No. 136 in the NCAA NET rankings while UNC Wilmington, despite being the higher seed, is No. 172. The March Madness predictions have UNC Wilmington as a No. 14 seed. Delaware might actually be bumped up a spot or two with a win.
UNC Wilmington has won five straight games while Delaware had dropped three in a row before getting hot in the CAA tournament. Despite Delaware’s late-season struggles, the Blue Hens are favored.
Defense Powers Delaware’s Tournament Run
If there has been one constant theme in Delaware’s two Colonial Athletic Conference tournament wins, it has been stifling defense.
After Drexel missed 19 of 23 of its 3-point attempts and shot just 38 percent from the field in the quarterfinals, the Blue Hens took things up a notch in the semifinals.
Facing a Towson team that led the Colonial in scoring margin and averaged 74 points per game, Delaware limited the top-seeded Tigers to 31 percent shooting and held its second straight opponent to 4 of 23 from 3-point range.
The Blue Hens were second to Towson in the conference in both field goal percentage defense and 3-point percentage defense. However, with a trip to the championship game on the line, it was Delaware’s defense that proved to be the better unit in the 69-56 victory, taking down the team with the best March Madness odds among Colonial squads.
“Our guys were ready to play, and that’s a really good team we beat,” Delaware coach Martin Ingelsby said. “I’m really proud of our seniors. They’re our leaders, and we needed them to play well down here. We’ve really locked in defensively, and to hold two opponents in the 50s is impressive. We stayed poised when they made a run and did a good job of executing with timely possessions and big shots down the stretch.”
Delaware is making its eighth conference title game appearance but just the second since joining the Colonial Athletic Association.
Delaware shook off a second half challenge from Towson and won 69-56 Monday, March 7, 2022 to reach the Colonial Athletic Association championship game. They’ll play for the league title and trip to the NCAA tournament at 7 p.m Tuesday.
— Delaware Online (@delawareonline) March 8, 2022
The Las Vegas odds total has gone under in seven of Delaware’s last nine games.
UNC Wilmington’s Sims Saving Best for Biggest Stage
Watching Jaylen Sims go to work in the Colonial Athletic Association tournament, it is hard to believe that earlier in the season he had a three-game stretch where he was 0 for 10 from the 3-point line.
There were no such issues with the second-seeded Seahawks locked in a tight affair with the College of Charleston in Monday’s semifinals. Sims had a season-high five 3-pointers and his two free throws with two seconds left followed by a steal by Shykeim Phillips, lifting UNC Wilmington to a 60-57 victory.
Sims had 26 points and 11 rebounds in the win. It was his fifth 20-point effort in the last five games and third double-double of the season. The Seahawks needed Sims to come through as they shot less than 40 percent for the second time in the last 22 games. He is averaging 21 points and 8.5 rebounds in the tournament and has only been off the court for four minutes in the two tournament games.
Now, UNC Wilmington is a win away from securing the program’s first spot in the March Madness bracket since 2017. It is the 12th appearance for the Seahawks in the CAA final.
UNC Wilmington has covered against the college basketball spreads in 16 of the last 20 games.
Delaware vs UNC Wilmington Head-to-Head
UNC Wilmington swept the regular-season series, winning 70-68 at home as a 4½-point underdog on Dec. 29 and taking the rematch 69-62 as a five-point underdog on Feb. 26. Delaware had won seven of the previous eight meetings in the series.
Each of the last four games between the teams has been decided by seven points or less. Four of the last six contests in the series have finished over the total.
The last time the teams met in March was 2017 when UNC Wilmington won 91-82.
Delaware vs UNC Wilmington Game Information
- Game: Delaware (21-13) vs. UNC Wilmington (23-8)
- Location: Entertainment & Sports Arena, Washington, D.C.
- Day/Time: Tuesday, 7 p.m. ET
- Television: CBS Sports Network
Delaware vs UNC Wilmington Betting Lines
Delaware vs UNC Wilmington Prediction
Don’t be looking for an offensive shootout as both Delaware and UNC Wilmington have been getting after it on the defensive end in the tournament. The total of 133 reflects the defensive prowess of both teams.
The teams rank first and second in the conference in blocked shots. Something of note for those who bet online: UNC Wilmington is last in the conference in rebounding margin. That could play a key role for two evenly matched teams.
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