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NCAA Tournament preview: #7 California vs #10 Maryland

West Regional Matchup

Thursday

No. 7 California (22-10) vs. No. 10 Maryland (20-13)

Time/Site: 2:55 EDT/Kansas City

The winner gets: The winner of Memphis-Cal-State Northridge

Summary: The Golden Bears return to the NCAA tournament for the first time in three years and finished tied for the third in the Pac 10. They lost to USC in the tournament quarterfinals. Maryland finished in a three-way tie for seventh in the ACC but got into the tournament because of a trip to conference tournament semifinals.

Key Players: California – Jerome Randle (18.4 ppg), G; Patrick Christopher (14.6 ppg) Maryland – Greivis Vasquez (17.2 ppg, 5.1 apg)

Key stat: California – The Golden Bears shoot 43 percent from 3-point range. Maryland – The Terrapins are eighth in the country in free throw shooting at 76.8 percent.

California will win: By getting off to a good start. Coach Mike Montgomery has the tournament experience to keep these guys grounded. If they shoot like they have all season, they should take care of business.

Maryland will win: If Vasquez plays one of his best games of the year and Terps defense can shut down a very efficient Golden Bear offense, which is shooting 48.5 percent this season.

Prediction: California 78, Maryland 75

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By Kevin Lonnquist
DFN Sports Staff Writer

California Golden Bears 2009 NCAA Tournament preview