Coastal Carolina vs Marshall Picks and Prediction – 2/1/2025

Marshall hosts Coastal Carolina in a Sun Belt matchup featuring two teams trending in opposite directions. Coastal Carolina sits at 8-14 (1-9 in conference) and is on a seven-game losing streak, with the latest defeat coming in a 74-52 loss against Old Dominion. Marshall, at 13-10 (6-4 in conference), has been more competitive, coming off a 71-67 victory over Georgia Southern. Slam dunk your bets with our College Basketball picks.

Coastal Carolina has struggled offensively, averaging just 67.6 points per game while shooting 43.3% from the field. The offense is led by RaSheed Jones, who puts up 12.9 points per game on 41.7% shooting. However, the lack of a strong secondary scorer has made consistency an issue. Denzel Hines leads the team in rebounding with 6.4 per game, but the assist numbers are low at 11.3 per contest, indicating offensive stagnation. The team’s struggles have been highlighted in recent blowout losses, including an 85-58 defeat to Georgia Southern.

Defensively, Coastal Carolina has not been much better, allowing 70.8 points per game. Opponents have taken advantage of a weak interior defense, and the inability to protect the rim is evident with just 1.6 blocks per game. The Chanticleers also rank low in steals at 3.6 per game, failing to create turnovers to generate easy transition points. They have struggled to contain opponents from deep, as seen in multiple losses where teams have shot efficiently from three.

Marshall has been far more effective offensively, averaging 75.8 points per game while shooting 44.2% from the field. Obinna Anochili-Killen leads the team in scoring with 13.4 points per game, shooting an efficient 54.3%. The Thundering Herd also gets strong playmaking from Dezayne Mingo, who dishes out 4.9 assists per game, contributing to 14.3 assists per game as a team. In the recent win over Georgia Southern, they showed the ability to execute down the stretch.

Defensively, Marshall has held opponents to 71.7 points per game and has been much better in protecting the paint, averaging 4.8 blocks per game, led by Anochili-Killen with 2.6. The perimeter defense has been solid, generating 7.3 steals per game, and they have forced key turnovers in tight matchups. 

Marshall is the stronger team on both ends of the floor, boasting a more efficient offense and a superior defense. Coastal Carolina’s inability to score consistently and the struggles to defend inside give Marshall the clear edge. Playing at home, the Thundering Herd should control the pace and outmatch Coastal Carolina on both ends. Final Score Prediction: Marshall Thundering Herd win 78-65.