While Maryland basketball is still set to open the season against Mount St. Mary's on November, the Big Ten has announced Maryland's full 2023-24 schedule today.
Following Maryland's home game against Rider on Nov. 28, Maryland will begin conference play on December 1 against Indiana in Bloomington. Five days later, Maryland will host Penn State for the Big Ten home opener.
Schedule
Nov. 7: Mount St. Mary’s
Nov. 10: Davidson (Asheville Championship @ Harrah’s Cherokee Center)
Nov. 12: Clemson/UAB (Asheville Championship @ Harrah’s Cherokee Center)
Nov. 17: @ Villanova
Nov. 21: UMBC
Nov. 25: South Alabama
Nov. 28: Rider
Dec. 1: @ Indiana
Dec. 6: Penn State
Dec. 12: Alcorn State
Dec. 19: Nicholls State
Dec. 22: @ UCLA
Dec. 28: Coppin State
Jan. 2: Purdue
Jan. 7: @ Minnesota
Jan. 11: Michigan
Jan. 14: @ Illinois
Jan. 17: @ Northwestern
Jan. 21: Michigan State
Jan. 24: @ Iowa
Jan. 27: Nebraska
Feb. 3: @ Michigan State
Feb. 6: Rutgers
Feb. 10: @ Ohio State
Feb. 14: Iowa
Feb. 17: Illinois
Feb. 20: @ Wisconsin
Feb. 25: @ Rutgers
Feb. 28: Northwestern
March 3: Indiana
March 10: @ Penn State
Eight teams on Maryland's upcoming schedule made the 2023 NCAA Tournament, while two made the sweet Sixteen.
The 27th annual Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament will be held Wednesday, March 13, 2024 through Sunday, March 17, 2024 at the Target Center in Minneapolis.
Maryland previously announced its nonconference schedule back in late July with a start date set for year two of the Kevin Willard era.
Maryland is undefeated all-time against four of its non-conference opponents and holds the all-time series lead against all but three teams. Maryland’s Thanksgiving weekend matchup against South Alabama will mark the first-ever matchup between the two teams, while both Villanova (1-4) and UCLA (2-7) hold a commanding lead over the Terps. Villanova won the last matchup, 74-66, back in 2011 while UCLA steamrolled the Terps at home last season for what was their third consecutive loss.
Maryland is coming off a 22-win season in Kevin Willard’s first season as head coach and are led by All-Big Ten selection Jahmir Young along with Donta Scott, Julian Reese and a heralded four-man freshmen class. Maryland’s upcoming schedule features 21 games against teams in the postseason last year with eight reaching the NCAA.
“I think it’s good balance,” Willard said about his new-look roster this summer. “Obviously we have a terrific class of freshmen but I think what’s really going to help them is the fact that they do have juniors and seniors that have been through this, who have been through college basketball that understand what’s going on that can help them, keep them going in the right direction when freshmen hit the wall a little bit and I think it’s been a really good mix so far.”
Maryland cruised in their three exhibition games during their ten-day trip beginning July 31 through Rome, Florence, Venice, and Lake Como in a preseason tune-up.
“It gives the coaches a chance to see what works, what doesn’t work, what you can do but I think most importantly I think it’s a great opportunity for the guys on the team to bond, get to know each other, spend serious time off the court together, do some really interesting things,” Willard added. “It gives them an opportunity to see, culturally, what they might not have been able to see so I think these trips are invaluable. I think it’s something that players get a lot out of it, coaches get a lot out of it, fans get an early peak.”
Related Links
The good, bad, ugly: analyzing Maryland football through nonconference (+)FB + BB recruiting notes coming out of UVA weekend (+)