UC Irvine Anteaters vs
Hawaii Rainbow WarriorsPredictions & Preview

UC Irvine Anteaters Look to Continue Dominance Against Hawaii Rainbow Warriors in Big West Conference Showdown

The UC Irvine Anteaters will be facing off against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors in a Big West Conference showdown at Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, HI. The Anteaters previously beat the Rainbow Warriors 71-55 in January, covering a 10.5-point spread. UC Irvine is currently favored to win with a line of -5.5. Stay tuned for more updates on this anticipated matchup.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Anteaters -243 | Rainbow Warriors +194
• Spread: Anteaters -5.5 (-110) | Rainbow Warriors +5.5 (-110)
• Total: Over/Under 138.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that UC Irvine will win straight-up is 71%.

UC Irvine vs Hawaii Stats

UC Irvine Anteaters

UC Irvine Anteaters had a mixed performance last week, ending a winning streak with a loss against UC San Diego but bouncing back with a close victory over UC Santa Barbara. Senior forward Devin Tillis led the team in scoring, including a game-winning tip-in against Santa Barbara. Despite struggles from three-point range and the free-throw line, the Anteaters dominated in the paint and are led by senior center Bent Leuchten in scoring. In terms of statistics, UC Irvine ranks 158 in offense and 37 in defense, with strong shooting percentages and rebounding numbers. They have a 21-4 record and are ranked 65th in the NCAA NET Rankings.

Hawaii Rainbow Warriors Analysis

The Hawaii Rainbow Warriors recently secured a narrow 62-60 home victory over Long Beach State, following two consecutive road losses. Despite their struggles from downtown and a less than stellar assist-to-turnover ratio, the team's solid field goal percentage helped them secure the win. Senior guards Ryan Rapp and Marcus Greene each contributed 10 points in the victory. With a current NET ranking of 192, the Rainbow Warriors are averaging 104.8 points per 100 possessions on offense and allowing 107.2 points on defense. Senior forward Gytis Nemeiksa leads the team in scoring and rebounding with 12.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. The Rainbow Warriors have a power ranking of 244 and are ranked 257th for offense, averaging 71.56 points per game and 132nd for defense, giving up an average of 69.96 points per game. They have a 14-11 overall record, with a 10-11-2 against the spread record. In their last three matchups against UC Irvine, Hawaii has emerged victorious. In terms of shooting percentages, the Rainbow Warriors are hitting 46.33% of their field goals, 72.79% of their free throws, and 32.87% of their three-point attempts. On defense, they are allowing opponents to make 43.04% of their field goals and 74.53% of their free throws. Additionally, Hawaii averages 35.64 rebounds per game, with 11.92 offensive assists and 13.64 turnovers per game. Defensively, they average 29.20 defensive rebounds, 9.68 defensive assists, and 9.44 turnovers per game.

UC Irvine Prepares to Take on Hawaii in Potential Game-Changer

The upcoming game poses a significant challenge for UC Irvine following their recent arduous journey to Honolulu subsequent to a hard-fought battle with UC Santa Barbara. Despite this, the Anteaters are highly motivated to secure a victory against the Rainbow Warriors. Currently, UC Irvine is in contention for the No. 1 seed in the Big West Conference, sharing the spot with UC San Diego. This matchup presents a favorable opportunity for the Anteaters due to Hawaii's strong reliance on free-throw shooting, contrasting UC Irvine's exceptional defensive free-throw rate. Additionally, the Rainbow Warriors exhibit a lack of talent in their backcourt, which plays to the strengths of the Anteaters' weaponry in containing their opponents in the paint. Hence, based on these factors, it is anticipated that UC Irvine will emerge victorious and cover in this game.

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