UNLV vs. UCI College Basketball prediction, preview
UCI fell short in the Big West title game to Hawaii, failing to reach the NCAA Tournament as the conference’s top seed. No doubt if was disappointing to come up short, but the Anteaters still have a chance to prove themselves in the NIT. Irvine will play host to UNLV in the first round, creating an exciting home atmosphere for a matchup against a basketball program that carries a lot of history.
UCI’s offense can be painful to watch at times, ranking just 255th in offensive efficiency in KenPom. That said, the Rebels don’t exactly have a defense that will provide much resistance, checking in at 172nd in defensive efficiency. I feel the Anteaters can do enough on offense to hang around on their home floor, and let their elite defense win this game for them.
UCI enters tournament play ranked 26th in defensive efficiency on KenPom, which is wildly impressive for a team out of the Big West. I think the Anteaters can give the Rebels problems when it comes to scoring, and should also be able to win on the glass. UCI is 70 spots ahead of UNLC when it comes to rebound rate, finishing 127th compared to 197th for the Rebs.
UNLV went just 6-10 away from home this season, while UCI finished 12-4 at home. The number has come down on this game, creating a short enough price to back the Anteaters at home on a short moneyline. That’s how I’ll be playing this one.
