UMBC vs. UVA: 3 Reasons Why David Will Beat Goliath
By Vivek Shukla
2. UMBC is a Dangerous Offensively and Scrappy Defensively.
UMBC’s game is run primarily by having guards penetrate to the basketball, drawing a double team, and kicking the ball out to a teammate to drain the three-pointer.
This formula has worked well for UMBC as they have made the 9th most three-pointers in the nation with 346 and average 10.2 three-pointers made per game.
Shooters like Jairus Lyles, KJ Maura, Joe Sherburne, Arkel Lamar, Jourdan Grant, Max Curran, and Brandon Horvath can all shoot the three with a high degree of confidence.
The three senior guard combo of Jairus Lyles, KJ Maura, and Jourdan Grant are all capable of driving to the basket and drawing fouls along with playing lockdown defense on the other side of the ball.
Jairus Lyles is one of the best mid-major players in the nation averaging 20.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.1 steals. He is one of the quickest guards who can cross up a defender and had offers from power conference schools but found a home at UMBC.
KJ Maura, standing at 5-foot-8 inches, plays bigger than he looks and has been a tremendous fire to this basketball season. Averaging 11.4 points, 5.2 assists, and 2.0 steals., the America East Defensive Player of the Year is a pest on defense.
Jourdan Grant is a seasoned guard who is a starter but has been a tremendous sixth man coming off of the bench to provide a different look for opposing teams. Grant has seen the growth of this entire team from the bottom to the top and will be fired up to keep his senior season alive.