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NCAA Tournament: Upsets to watch out for on lower seed lines

By Bryan Mauro

MURRAY, KY - FEBRUARY 09: Ja Morant #12 of the Murray State Racers reacts in the second half of the game against the SIU-Edwardsville Cougars at CFSB Center on February 9, 2019 in Murray, Kentucky. Murray State won 86-55. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
MURRAY, KY - FEBRUARY 09: Ja Morant #12 of the Murray State Racers reacts in the second half of the game against the SIU-Edwardsville Cougars at CFSB Center on February 9, 2019 in Murray, Kentucky. Murray State won 86-55. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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WICHITA, KS – MARCH 15: Ahmaad Rorie #14 of the Montana Grizzlies is defended by Zavier Simpson #3 of the Michigan Wolverines during the first half of the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at INTRUST Arena on March 15, 2018 in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
WICHITA, KS – MARCH 15: Ahmaad Rorie #14 of the Montana Grizzlies is defended by Zavier Simpson #3 of the Michigan Wolverines during the first half of the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at INTRUST Arena on March 15, 2018 in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) /

No. 15 seed: Montana Grizzlies

Michigan has been one of the best teams in basketball the entire season. The Wolverines played in the National Championship game a season ago. That team returned mostly everyone from that team and head coach John Belien has his team playing well in March once again. The reason this is one of the potential upsets for the lower seeds is Montana and Michigan played last year in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

The Grizzlies gave Michigan all they could handle last year; they just could not score enough to beat Michigan. Montana potentially has a better team this season to go into their matchup with Michigan. An upset by the Grizzlies is not completely out of the realm of possibility given they played last year and were so close to an upset. Even though Montana lost by a total of 14 points, the game was close until the very end.

Rumors have swirled that Montana may have a key piece to their team available. Jamar Akoh has been out for some time with an injury. If he returns. he will be a tremendous piece for a team who will need all-hands-on-deck to beat the Wolverines. Along with Akoh, the remainder of the starting five for Montana can do some damage. Ahmaad Rorie and Michael Oguine lead the backcourt while Sayeed Pridgett patrols the middle. Michigan has been played extremely well as of late, will they be able to put Montana away early?

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