West No. 14 – Green Bay Phoenix (Overall: 23-12, Conf: 11-7)
Team Strengths:
The Green Bay Phoenix are one of the speediest programs around, as well as one of the highest-scoring teams in the nation at that. Apart from having the sixth-best scoring offense there is, they are also tops in points in transition with 24.7 per contest – nearly three points ahead of the next team behind them in this category.
Furthermore, Green Bay capitalizes greatly from their opponents’ miscues. The Phoenix force an average of 16.2 turnovers per game, which is good enough for sixth overall in the NCAA. Then again, those numbers may actually have been inflated due to the lack of top-level competition coming from the Horizon League.
For as much as the Phoenix have been able to put up points in a hurry, their opponents have also found it a breeze to fight fire with fire just the same. They’ve allowed an average of 80.5 points to their opposition this season, which too close for comfort with their own offensive output. Green Bay lives and dies with its run-and-gun style of play, so once those turnovers don’t fall in the team’s favor, expect its competition to seize the momentum with more sound ball movement and efficient shot selection.
It has also been two decades since the school made it to the Big Dance, making the Phoenix’s tourney bid one that shouldn’t be taken all too seriously compared to the other perennial March Madness contenders.
Team Stats:
Category
Stat
NCAA Rank
Points Per Game
83.2
6
Rebounds Per Game
38.6
57
Blocks Per Game
4.6
46
3-Point Percentage
35.0%
159
Free Throw Percentage
65.7%
317
Starting Lineup:
Position
Name
PPG
F
Kenneth Lowe
7.0
F
Khalil Small
9.8
G
Jordan Fouse
12.8
G
Carrington Love
17.7
G
Charles Cooper
13.9
Writer’s Prediction:
Unfortunately, Green Bay succumbs to the one-and-done blues with a lackluster showing in the first round of the tournament.
