Bryant early game advance

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Bryant coach Phil Martelli Jr. speaks as Bulldogs prepare for NCAAs

The No. 15 Bryant Bulldogs will face No. 2 Michigan State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Friday night in Cleveland.

Timberlake and several teammates transferred from larger programs to Bryant, seeking a second chance and achieving collective success.Bryant boasts a strong track record, setting a program record for wins and earning a second NCAA Tournament bid in four years.Coach Phil Martelli Jr. emphasizes a possession-by-possession approach, focusing on transition defense, rebounding and offensive execution.

CLEVELAND — Earl Timberlake has shared the court with this sort of competition before. 

He starred at famed DeMatha Catholic High School and on the Nike grassroots circuit for Team Durant — the personal organization of current NBA star Kevin Durant — before one-year college stints at Miami and Memphis. Former teammates Jalen Duren, now of the Detroit Pistons, and Lester Quiñones, of the New Orleans Pelicans, have already made their professional debuts. Emoni Bates, who shared a backcourt with Timberlake while reaching the NCAA Tournament with the Tigers in 2021-22, is in his second season with the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

Michigan State, for all its achievements and pedigree, won’t intimidate Timberlake. One of Bryant’s leaders hopes to spread that confidence through the locker room ahead of a scheduled 10 p.m. West Region tip on Friday night at Rocket Arena. 

“That’s the beauty of playing AAU basketball,” Timberlake said. “We’ve seen everybody. Everybody who’s at big schools, we’ve seen them.” 

The Spartans will be just the third KenPom.com top-100 opponent for the Bulldogs in 2024-25 and the first since Dec. 30. Bryant followed a road loss at St. John’s `that month with another at Grand Canyon, a 112-66 pasting that included 23 turnovers. Timberlake and his teammates turned the page from there, winning 17 of their last 19 to earn a second March Madness bid in…

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Source link : https://www.providencejournal.com/story/sports/college/2025/03/20/bryant-early-game-advance/82533446007/

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Publish date : 2025-03-20 10:49:00

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