Keys to victory for Maryland men's basketball against Georgetown

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When Maryland men's basketball faces Georgetown on Saturday at Capital One Arena, the game will be “personal” for at least one Terp. That’s how sophomore guard Andre Mills, one of just four current Terps who played in last season’s 70-60 loss to the Hoyas, described the matchup following Maryland’s season-opening win over Bucknell.

That loss to Georgetown, a program that hasn’t finished with a winning conference record since 2015, was the first indicator that the Terps were in for a tough year. Maryland finished 12-21 and missed the NCAA Tournament for the third time in five seasons. For Maryland to return to the tournament, this is the type of game it must win. So how do the Terps beat the Hoyas?

Shut down Georgetown point guard Jaland Lowe

Lowe, a 6-foot-2 transfer from Kentucky, is Georgetown’s most proven scorer. Before spending last season in Lexington, where he only played nine games due to a shoulder injury, Lowe was an All-ACC player at Pittsburgh. In the 2024-25 season, he scored 16.8 points per game and finished 10th in the ACC in scoring average. In Georgetown’s season-opening win over Loyola Maryland, he led the Hoyas with 23 points.

Lowe is a quick, shifty guard who excels at getting to the lane. He’s comfortable carrying a heavy load on offense, and he’s a capable playmaker, who finished fifth in the ACC in usage rate and assist rate during the 2024-25 season, according to KenPom.

Lowe has struggled finishing once he’s in the lane and shooting from the outside. During his third team All-ACC season, he shot 53.1% at the rim and 33.3% on other 2-point attempts, according to BartTorvik. By comparison, Maryland guard Ja’kobi Gillespie shot 61.1% at the rim during that same season. While Lowe went 5-for-8 from beyond the arc in his Georgetown debut, he’s a career 29.9% 3-point shooter.

DJ Wagner will likely get the first shot at guarding Lowe, and his length, athleticism and physicality should be an asset. Maryland also has three other guards in Bishop Boswell, Kaden House and Andre Mills who could answer the challenge if called upon.

Behind Lowe, Georgetown is unproven on the perimeter. Kansas transfer Elmarko Jackson, who was a McDonald’s All-American coming out of high school, averaged 4.6 points per game as a Jayhawk. Oklahoma State transfer Vyctorius Miller showed some scoring ability for the Cowboys, dropping 30 points on Prairie View A&M and 24 on South Florida last season, but he missed the Hoyas’ season opener following a procedure on his right hand. No update has been provided on his status for Saturday. Kayvaun Mulready started alongside Lowe and Jackson in a three-guard lineup against Loyola, but he only scored two points and is averaging less than four points per game for his career. If Maryland can shut down Lowe, Georgetown will be in trouble.

Exploit the Hoyas’ lack of frontcourt depth

Vince Iwuchukwu, a 7-foot-1 fifth-year senior, is the Hoyas’ rock in the frontcourt. A ferocious shot blocker and rebounder, he turns the Hoyas into a formidable defensive unit when he’s on the court. He’s also a scoring threat in the post and put up an efficient 21 points on 6-for-8 shooting against Loyola.

However, the Hoyas’ frontcourt is thin behind him. DePaul transfer NJ Benson is currently ineligible as he continues fighting for a fifth year of eligibility in the court system. Seven-footer Chol Machot was the Coastal Athletic Association Defensive Player of the Year at Charleston last season, but he's taking a major step up in competition and averaged just 8.9 points per game for the Cougars.

At power forward, 6-foot-7 Caleb Williams is undersized for the position and was a defensive liability when he was asked to play there last season. American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year Josiah Parker is an intriguing piece, but like Machot, he’s taking a major step up in competition and scored just two points in his Georgetown debut.

If Maryland can attack Iwuchukwu with preseason All-Big Ten selection Pharrel Payne, get him into foul trouble, and force the Hoyas’ reserves to play big minutes, it could be a long night for Georgetown. Even if Iwuchukwu can stay out of foul trouble, he only averaged 23.1 minutes per game last season, which should give Maryland’s big men ample time to take advantage of Georgetown’s lack of frontcourt depth.

Win the rebounding and turnover battles

In Ed Cooley’s previous three seasons leading the Hoyas, he’s failed to put together an offense better than 84th nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency, per KenPom. Regardless of who has been on the roster, Cooley’s Georgetown teams have struggled to score. Last season, they finished 285th nationally in 3-point percentage and 257th in effective field-goal percentage. One of the ways to overcome poor shooting is to get more shots at the rim, which is exactly why Maryland must limit Georgetown’s extra opportunities.

Maryland dominated Bucknell on the glass, finishing with more offensive rebounds (28) than the Bison had total rebounds (22). Georgetown will present a tougher test on the boards. The Hoyas held their own on the glass in two close losses to UConn last season. In a 64-62 home loss, the Hoyas grabbed 15 offensive boards. In a 79-75 road loss, they grabbed 11. The Terps will need to play with the same tenacious approach to rebounding that led to 10 players securing at least one rebound in the opener.

Against Bucknell, Maryland converted 18 Bison turnovers into 22 points. Maryland’s nine steals created much-needed transition opportunities as the Terps struggled with Bucknell’s zone defense for large chunks of the first half. On offense, Maryland turned the ball over on 18.1% of possessions against Bucknell and on 21.6% of possessions in an exhibition win over West Virginia. After the Bucknell game, Maryland coach Buzz Williams discussed his desire to keep the turnover percentage in the “low teens.” Last season, Arkansas led the nation with a 12.2% turnover rate. Cutting its turnover rate to 14% or less, would put Maryland in elite company. If Maryland limits Georgetown’s extra opportunities by dominating on the glass and winning the turnover battle, it will be a fun bus ride back to College Park for the Terps.

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