The Virginia Cavaliers (25-7) will face the Furman Paladins (27-7) in the first round of the South Region in the NCAA Tournament Wednesday. The Cavaliers are the No. 4 seed with +1000 odds to win the region according to FanDuel. Furman is the No. 13 seed and has +10,000 odds to advance to Houston.
Furman is 1-7 all-time in the NCAA Tournament but will be making its first appearance in the big dance since 1980. The Paladins made it to this tournament by going 15-3 in the Southern Conference regular season, winning all three conference tournament games, including an 88-79 victory over Chattanooga.
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See you soon, @MarchMadnessMBB #AllDIN #BetterTogether pic.twitter.com/5sMgDVHSgb
— Furman Basketball (@FurmanHoops) March 8, 2023
Furman is the 90th-best team in the nation according to KenPom and has faced the 271st-strongest schedule. They are 33rd in adjusted offensive efficiency, 11th averaging 82.2 ppg, and 14th shooting 48.6% from the floor. Fifth-year senior guard Mike Bothwell leads the team with 18 ppg. 6'7 senior Jalen Slawson leads the team with 7.1 rebounds, 1.6 steals 1.6 blocks, and is second with 15.7 ppg. Defense is not the Paladins' strongest area, but they are solid, ranking 186th in adjusted defensive efficiency.
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