Bracket Buster: Manhattan

The Jaspers are no strangers to busting brackets having done it in the past. They just haven't done it in awhile. They upset Oklahoma in the 1st round in 1995 and knocked off Florida in 2004. Those victories helped propel Fran Fraschilla and Bobby Gonzalez into new jobs that didn't go as well. Current coach Steve Masiello is expected to be a hot commodity this off-season.

Manhattan currentlt sits 67th in KenPom and are a defensive minded team. They're 137th in offensive efficiency and 41st in defensive efficiency. They hold opponents to 45.6% effective fg%, 36th in the nation. They also force turnovers. Opponents turnover % is 21.8%, 18th best. They're soft on the glass. They are 257th in opponent offensive rebounding %. FTA/FGA is usually the least important of the four factors but for Manhattan, it could decide whether they win a game or two next week. They foul alot. Opponents FTA/FGA is 52.5%, 331st. They'll put you at the line.

They're not as good on offense. They shoot okay, with a 50.8% effective fg% but turn it over way too much. They have a turnover % of 19.7%, 266th in the land. Decent on the offensive glass but remarkable in getting to the line. Their FTA/FGA is 55.9%, 2nd best in the nation. They get 26% of their offense from the FT line. That's 18th most. What's remarkable about that as well is they shoot a terrible 66% from the line, 292nd in the nation. If they made their free throws at a better clip, that number would be even higher.

Manhattan also has the super special secret weapon. That would be senior leadership. The Jaspers 3 best playesr are all in their 4th year lead by George Beamon who scores 18ppg and gets 6.6rpg. Beamon is the guy you want to see on the line, as he shoots 82%. This matters on this team. Fellow seniors, Michael Alvarado and Rhamel Brown aren't so good at that. Alvarado shoots 66% from the line, 134-203. Brown is a putrid 51%, 75-146. Alvarado and Brown give you 12 and 10 respectively with Alvarado facilitating the offense and Brown also getting 6 boards per game.

Manhattan doesn't have great wins on their resume heading into the dance. Their best wins are an 18 point drubbing of South Carolina and an opening night win over LaSalle. If they match up with a foul happy, turnover prone team, they'll have a chance to win a game from the 12 or 13 line.