Marist #15 seed and #2 seed Louisville in NCAA Tournament

[FU73]

Marist learned it is a No. 15 seed and will face No. 2 Louisville in the first round of the Alamo Region in the NCAA Tournament. The game has been set for 8 p.m. Monday, March 21 on ESPN.

This is the third time in program history Marist (1-1) has faced Louisville.

The No. 15 seed is the lowest Marist has ever received. The Red Foxes rolled through Siena, 63-55, Fairfield, 66-50, and Saint Peter’s, 69-30 on Sunday, to capture the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament title for the 11th time.

Louisville is making its 23rd NCAA tourney appearance. The Cardinals (23-3) went 14-2 in Atlantic Coast Conference play. In the ACC tournament, Louisville beat Wake Forest, 65-53, and Syracuse, 72-59, before falling to third-ranked North Carolina State, 58-56, in the championship game.

The Red Foxes are competing in their 11th NCAA Tournament, all under Head Coach Brian Giorgis, and their first one since 2014. All-time, Marist is 5-10 in the Big Dance, accounting for over half of the MAAC's total victories in the NCAA Tournament.

[stags74]

I am kinda surprised by a 15th seeding for Marist a team with an overall 18-3 record. I guess the NCAA tournament committee does not have much respect for MAAC women’s basketball or could it be that other teams in the tournament played more games and were rewarded for that?
I am pulling for Marist to pull out the upset and prove to the committee the MAAC is better then they think! Good luck to the foxes.

[stagmaster]

I am thinking Marist is undervalued here.

They have talent, size and Giorgis know how to coach and win in the Tournament.

Very tough match-up vs. 2 Seed Louisville though.
They haven't faced that type of competition this year with COVID,
although in many prior years have challenged themselves versus multiple top 50 teams.

[FU73]

43-74. MAAC Marist (18-4)(13-3) hangs in there with ACC Louisville (24-3)(14-2) and led (15-12) through the end of the First Quarter and down 24-29 at the half but were outscored 45/19 in the second half. Marist shot 23.2% FG with 22 turnovers.

"Obviously we lost to a great team," Marist head coach Brian Giorgis said. "They're seeded second for a reason. We gave them a good run into the second quarter. … Their defense was excellent; they caused us a lot of confusion."

"I've been coaching for close to 40 years, and they've been two of the best captains I've ever had," Giorgis, on Best on Duffell."These kids can't disappoint me. They're good basketball players, but they're better people," Giorgis said.

"Just my teammates, how awesome they are, and how much of a family we are. I'm going to miss them, and the memories we made," Duffell said about her teammates

Box Score
goredfoxes.com/sports/womens-basketball/stats/2020-21/louisville/boxscore/12642

[stags74]

Well based on the outcome of the game I guess I was wrong. A 15th seed or even a 16th seed was appropriate.