Marshall vs Coastal Carolina Picks and Prediction – 2/17/2024

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In a compelling Sun Belt clash, the Marshall Thundering Herd, standing at 12-14 overall and 7-6 in conference play, are set to face off against the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, who hold a 7-17 record and are 4-9 in the conference. This matchup promises to be an intriguing battle as both teams look to improve within the Sun Belt. Slam dunk your bets with our College Basketball picks.

The Marshall Thundering Herd have shown flashes of brilliance this season, boasting a balanced attack led by Obinna Anochili-Killen, who averages 16.0 points per game. With Nate Martin dominating the boards with 9.7 rebounds per game and shooting an impressive 58.3% from the field, Marshall's offensive strategy revolves around exploiting these key players' strengths. 

Despite struggling with shooting, ranking 318th in field goal percentage at 41.7% and 303rd in 3-point percentage at 31.4%, the Thundering Herd have managed to maintain an average scoring of 75.0 points per game. However, the defense leaves much to be desired, allowing 76.3 points per game, which is 303rd nationally. This defensive vulnerability could be a critical factor in the upcoming game against Coastal Carolina.

On the other side, the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, despite a less-than-ideal record, have displayed a tenacity that belies the Chanticleers record. Jacob Meyer, leading the team with 14.1 points per game, and Ginika Ojiako, grabbing 10.4 rebounds per contest, are the linchpins for the Chanticleers. Coastal Carolina's offense mirrors Marshall's output, also averaging 75.0 points per game, but with a slightly better field goal percentage of 44.9%. 

The most glaring weakness is at the free-throw line, where they rank last in the nation at 63.5%. Defensively, the Chanticleers struggle even more than the Thundering Herd, conceding 79.7 points per game, which ranks 344th nationally. This defensive frailty, coupled with offensive inconsistencies, especially from beyond the arc and at the free-throw line, might hinder performance against Marshall.