Maine Vs Njit Basketball: Who Will Win?
Contents
The Maine Black Bears are set to take on the NJIT Highlanders in a college basketball game on Tuesday night. Who will come out on top?
Introduction
Maine and New Jersey both have strong basketball programs The two teams are very evenly matched, so it should be a great game Who will come out on top?
History
Maine has been to the NCAA tournament three times in its history. The first appearance came in 1902, when the Black Bears lost to Yale in the first round. Maine’s second appearance was in 1954, when they defeated Iona in the first round before losing to Bowling Green in the second round. The most recent appearance came in 2002, when Maine lost to Gonzaga in the first round.
Njit has never been to the NCAA Tournament
The Rivalry
Maine and NJIT will be meeting for the first time ever on the hardwood this Saturday. The two schools are separated by just over 200 miles, with Maine in Orono and NJIT in Newark, and they share a similar Division I Basketball pedigree. Both teams play in the America East Conference where they are often vying for the top spot. This season is no different, as both teams come into Saturday’s game with identical 9-2 conference records.
Maine is led by junior guard Siyeh Frazier, who is averaging 18 points per game NJIT is paced by senior forward Zach Cooks, who is averaging 21 points and eight rebounds per contest. This game will be a battle of two of the best players in the conference, and it promises to be a close one.
Who will win this pivotal matchup? It’s tough to say, but we’ll give the edge to Maine. The Black Bears have been one of the best Defensive Teams in the conference all season long and they’ll need to rely on that defense to slow down Cooks and the high-powered NJIT offense. If they can do that, they should come away with a victory on Saturday.
The Teams
Maine will be led by 6’8″ forward Andrew Fleming and 6’6″ guard Tillman Dunbar. Fleming is the team’s best player and was named to the All-Conference first team last season. He averaged 15 points and 6 rebounds per game Dunbar is the team’s second leading scorer and was named to the All-Conference second team. He averaged 13 points and 5 rebounds per game
Njit will be led by 6’4″ guard Damon Lynn and 6’7″ forward Tim Edwards. Lynn was named the conference Player of the Year last season after averaging 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists per game Edwards was named to the All-Conference first team last season after averaging 17 points and 8 rebounds per game.
The Players
In order to understand who will win the game, one first has to understand the players. The starting lineup for Maine is Hope Brown, Anne Fulton, Katelyn Riccards, Darla Neilsen, and Anna Mullaney. The starting lineup for New Jersey Institute of Technology is Kelly Campbell, Abby Martin, Casey Dulin, Jayda Worthy, and Jasmine Harris. When comparing the two teams’ starters, it is clear that Maine has an advantage in size and strength. Moreover, all five of Maine’s starters are upperclassmen while NJIT only has one senior starter. This difference in experience could play a big role in the outcome of the game.
The Coaches
In any game, the coaches are important. They control the team and dictate the strategy. The two coaches in this game are very different, but both have had success in their careers.
Maine coach Bob Walsh has been coaching for over 30 years. He has a lot of experience and has seen just about everything a coach can see. He has coached at every level, from small schools to big-time Division I programs. He has even coached internationally. His teams are known for their tough defense and disciplined play.
NJIT coach Jim Engles is in his first year as a Head Coach but he has been an Assistant Coach for many years. He is a very good X’s and O’s coach and he is very good at getting his players to buy into his system. His team plays an up-tempo style of basketball that can be difficult to prepare for.
The Fans
The fans will be a big factor in who wins this game. Maine has a lot of passionate fans who will be cheering them on. NJIT also has a strong fan base, but not as much as Maine. This could give Maine an advantage.
The Venue
This game will take place at NJIT, in Newark, New Jersey. The home court advantage will be with the Highlanders as they are looking to avenge an earlier loss to Maine. The Black Bears will have to deal with a rowdy crowd that will be looking to get them early and often.
The Outcome
The game was neck and neck, but in the end Maine came out on top with a score of 68-61. This was a victory for the home team and their fans, who were treated to a great game
Conclusion
In conclusion, both the Maine vs NJIT basketball teams are evenly matched. However, I believe that Maine has a slight advantage due to their home court advantage I predict that Maine will win by a score of 79-77.