NCAA Basketball: 2018 Hall of Fame Belfast Classic preview and predictions

BOISE, ID - MARCH 15: CJ Massinburg #5 of the Buffalo Bulls reacts in the second half against the Arizona Wildcats during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Taco Bell Arena on March 15, 2018 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

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DURHAM, NC – NOVEMBER 11: Ryan Funk #30 of the Marist Red Foxes fouls Amile Jefferson #21 of the Duke Blue Devils on a drive to the basket during the game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on November 11, 2016 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

Storylines and player to watch

Samson Bracket

The key storyline in the Samson bracket takes place in the game between Dartmouth and Marist. At this point in the season, both teams have been pretty deadly from beyond the arc. At this point in the season, the Red Foxes are 37th in the country in three-point field goal percentage, while Dartmouth is ranked 10th.

For Marist, three players, Funk, Knudsen, and Lamb have taken 76 of the team’s 113 attempts from three-point land and are making them at a 44% clip. The Big Green have attempted a few more threes than Marist, 154 to 113, and have been led by Barry and Sistare who have combined to shoot 29 for 46, 63%. In the opening game of the tournament, there is a good chance whichever can knock down a better percentage of long-distance shots will move on.

A key player to watch in the Samson bracket is Marist senior guard Brian Parker. The 6-3 guard leads the team in points with 14.8, while also being the leading rebounder, pulling down five per game and three assists, is also tops on the team. He has led the team in scoring in three of the team’s games and has also led the team in rebounding twice and assists three times.

The Cleveland native has been a rock for Marist from the moment he arrived on campus, averaging 15.9/5.2/2.9 as a freshman. He isn’t much of a three-point shooter, but what he does do is get to the free throw line at a high clip. Last season he made 153 attempts, no other member of the Red Foxes took more than 73. This season, he is up to the same tricks, attempting 46 free throws so far this season, the second highest number on the team is 10.

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