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How to watch, listen as Maryland prepares for big test vs. Purdue

Writer's picture: Ahmed GhafirAhmed Ghafir

Maryland (9-4, 1-1) vs. Purdue (12-1, 1-1)When & Where: Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024 | 7:00 PM | Xfinity Center Stream: Peacock--Paul Burmeister, Tre Demps Radio: 105.7 FM (Baltimore), 980 AM (DC), SiriusXM channel 85 Betting odds: Maryland +5.5 | O/U: 142 (DraftKings) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWOyxpsG-GM&feature=youtu.be The schedule gets a bit tougher for Maryland basketball with the second half of the season underway and as head coach Kevin Willard and the Terps look for their first signature win, they welcome top-ranked Purdue to College Park on Tuesday night. Maryland will look for its first win against the #1 team since 2008 when a late layup from Bambale Osby lifted the Terps over North Carolina in the Dean Dome back. After picking up wins against Gonzaga, Tennessee and Marquette, Purdue’s lone blemish through the first half of the season came in the Big Ten opener against Northwestern, ending in a 92-88 overtime loss in Evanston. Since then, the Boilermakers have picked up wins against Arizona and Alabama on neutral floors as they prepare for their first road game since Dec. 16. Maryland pulled off the upset against Purdue at home last year, but head coach Kevin Willard sees a tougher task in this year’s Boilermaker squad compared to the squad they faced last year. “I think the biggest difference that I've seen from last year to this year, I think the two guards have vastly improved. They are playing at a really, really high level, not only offensively, but defensively, but I think the addition of Lance Jones is a monumental difference-maker. Because now they're bringing three guys off the bench that started last year…it's amazing. They come in with two really, really good defenders. They bring Gillis off the bench, who's a great shooter, a relentless rebounder.” While Purdue isn’t as reliant on Zach Edey, the reigning National Player of the Year, this season but Willard pointed to the Boilermakers’ depth as a difference-maker heading into Tuesday. Gillis leads five bench players averaging ten or more minutes per game, giving Zach Edey a deep supporting cast to lean on. “I thought last year when they went to their bench, you could take advantage of them. Their bench guys are coming in and playing at an extremely high level and I think if you look at who they've played and who they've beat, you can see that's why,” Willard added. While the depth has proven itself through the first half of the season, Purdue’s starting five has also shined around Edey as star guard Braden Smith is averaging nearly 13 points per game while shooting over 47% both from the field and three. Fletcher Loyer has scored ten points in at least eight games this season while fifth-year guard Lance Jones is the fourth starter in double figures, averaging 10.8 points per game. “Obviously it's tough because, you know, you got Fletcher Loyer out there. You obviously have Braden Smith, who both are shooting at an extremely high level. I think the addition of Lance Jones has really changed their team,” Willard added. “It's given them another dynamic guard that can not only shoot the basketball but can really drive the basketball. You got to do your best with Edey. I mean, you know, we're going to try to keep it as tight as tight as possible but he's still going to get his points.” As for how to stop Edey, Willard had one answer: “Pray.” “I mean, just look at his numbers. Like I said, his numbers are ridiculous. And again, the competition he's gone against, everyone's throwing double teams, triple teams. It’s the big thing for us. It's just, we try to get early, early position. Hopefully we can get a dislodging call on them maybe once or twice to make sure to hold our ground. I think he does a great job of really dislodging people and getting the position he wants. I think we're going to have to try to get a call here or there and try to work early to not let him get such deep post position because once he gets deep, he's developed both the right-hand, left-hand hook tremendously.” With a huge opportunity facing Maryland heading into Tuesday night, Maryland will likely have Jahmir Young at Willard’s disposal after missing last week’s win vs. Coppin State due to the flu. “Jahmir’s doing well. He’s got back into practice the last couple of days. We’ve been slow with him because he did have a really bad flu.  He missed quite a bit of time but the great thing about Jahmir is he’s such a well-conditioned athlete that he’s able to bounce back so he’s looked good in practice.” Maryland, though, hasn't proven to be an easy team to beat at home under Willard with last season's game against UCLA still the lone loss thus far. Maryland will look for its 15th consecutive Big Ten home win under Willard with less than 900 tickets available as of midnight. “Our crowd is our heart and soul. Just coming in here, just showing their support, always being loyal to us and always coming in and supporting us,” Young said. “We just want to go out there and play the best we can for them. They give us energy. They have a big influence on the runs that happen in the game as well. So just them being in there and the energy and the atmosphere, it gives us more energy and that's why we love them.” Related Links Kevin Willard on roster comfort, Jahmir Young's status vs. PurdueFour-star Malachi Palmer announces his commitment to MarylandFour takeaways for 2024 from Maryland’s Music City Bowl winBeau Brade declares for 2024 NFL DraftYoung Terps: Maryland dominates Auburn in Music City BowlMike Locksley on Maryland’s “bright future” after bowl win vs. Auburn More from Kevin Willard & Jahmir Young heading into Purdue: Willard on the importance for Maryland’s defense to lock down the paint “Obviously it's tough because, you know, you got Fletcher Loyer out there. You obviously have Braden Smith, who both are shooting at an extremely high level. I think the addition of Lance Jones has really changed their team.  It's given them another dynamic guard that can not only shoot the basketball but can really drive the basketball. You got to do your best with Edey. I mean, you know, we're going to try to keep it as tight as tight as possible but he's still going to get his points. So you really got to sit there and say, okay, you can't let Loyer and Smith and these guys just get open shots because they've improved so much from last year. It's actually fun to see how much better they are from last year. So we'll try to keep it tight, but they make it very difficult on you.” Willard on how Purdue’s development has challenged Maryland’s gameplan “Braden Smith is, I would put him as one of the best guards in the country the way he's playing right now and the guys that he has played against, to see what his numbers are scary considering the fact that they've really tested themselves in the non-conference schedule. I think the difference with Fletcher Loyer, he's so much more consistent this year in my eyes. I, you know, he gets an open look and he's going to make it. I think those two guys have really taken so much pressure off everybody else and it seems like everyone else was playing so free because those two guys are playing such an elite level. And like I said, it's been fun to see them from where they were last year to where they are now, Matt's done a phenomenal job of really improving those two guys.” Young on Purdue C Zach Edey “He's such a force. He's so dominant. So, our focus is gonna be devoted to him. So just trying to slow him down, make it as hard as possible. Don't give him any easy looks. Really just trying to throw off his rhythm. Give him different reads, give him different looks just to make him think. And, he's so dominant. Coach said pray, that’s funny.” Willard on Zach Edey’s development “You know what if I was an NBA GM, I'd have that kid on my roster. He's got great hands, he can pass it. I think you know, obviously he's not an elite shot blocker but he moves well. The biggest thing I've seen him, he's going over both shoulders much better than he was last year. I just think he's a guy if you look at as many games as he's won in his college career and where he was as a freshman to where he is now, if I was an NBA GM, I wouldn't even hesitate to put him on my roster. There's definitely situations where he could help, the NBA game has changed dramatically. The days of Patrick Ewing and Hakeem Olajuwon aren't really around anymore, but he would cause a matchup nightmare and he can get you a bucket pretty much anytime he wants. I think he's an elite level player.” Young on his performance vs. UCLA, whether there was added motivation from last year “Yeah, I mean, I'll just say a combination. I mean, first is, thanks to God for allowing me to play that game going out there and playing my hardest, playing my best with my teammates. My teammates putting me in position to be successful as well. So, I mean, hats off to them, it's not really all on me but my teammates just being there for me putting me in the best position to be successful. But…that's probably my best game so far in my college career. I had a rhythm going early and just was playing just the will to win. Just motivation from last year as well. So it was just a combination. Just practicing over and over, we're just doing those plays and practice, getting into my spots. If I shoot a shot in a game, I've probably shot it a thousand times before. That's where the confidence comes from and I just go out there and play my game.” Young on his early season takeaways “Just from struggling early to now winning five straight, just looking to build on that. Our team has gotten better throughout the year. We're still striving to be better. That’s what I'm really focused on. That's what we're really focused on just continuing to get better and to continue to try to pull out these wins.” Young on the message with Big Ten play resuming “It's very important definitely for the future, when it comes to March, but definitely now just trying to win these home games, win as much we know how hard it is on the road. So all of these games are important. I learned that last year, so just coming in, we already were one on one in conference, do the best that we can from here on out.” Young on what he likes most about Maryland through non-conference play Really just our competitive nature. Just our focus and practice. You can tell everybody's, bought in, everybody's locked in, everybody wants to win. Everybody knows how important Big Ten play is, so everybody's just been locked in. I'd love to see that from our team.” Young on Purdue’s backcourt development “Yeah, I would say definitely the guard play. They definitely upped their game a notch from being freshmen to now, both of them being sophomores. Both of them just maturing and getting to their spots. The game seems like it's slowing down for them so just focused on them. Can't let them get high, can't let them be going. Our eyes are definitely on them. they definitely improved. Just trying to do our game plan and follow the scout.”

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