Maryland men's basketball "didn't play to the ability" it needed in scrimmage loss vs. Virginia Tech

12 hours ago

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABPE6T12u_Y

Maryland men's basketball is four days away from kicking off a new year under the coaching staff, a welcomed day with year one flushed and in the rear-view mirror. Yet with only five returning players from last year's team, the last month has given a revamped roster a chance to build on their on-court chemistry.

After taking down Georgia Tech in Baltimore then West Virginia in College Park, Maryland's third and final scrimmage of the preseason ended in a five point loss against Virginia Tech in a closed scrimmage in Blacksburg last weekend. While Bishop Boswell was also limited, Oklahoma State forward Robert Jennings Jr. admitted Saturday "didn't go how we planned" as the frontcourt adjusted without Pharrel Payne.

"We didn't play to the ability that we feel like we can play, and that just goes to what Mike [McNair] said -- the little details. I feel like we let a lot of little details slip and those are the things that cause you to lose games, especially we didn't have Pharrel [Payne] on the floor. Not having Pharrel on the floor and not doing our details, those will lead to losses," Jennings said.

"Being detailed in everything that we do. I think just especially the rebounding end and continuing to be physical in everything that we do," Mike McNair Jr. said about the takeaways of the loss.

With no concern about Payne's status heading into November after the redshirt senior was fully cleared to begin summer workouts, the attention now shifts to the regular season opener.

Maryland will host Bucknell on Monday, Nov. 2 for a 7 PM tipoff in the second meeting over the last three years, while head coach Buzz Williams looks to guide his team to the tenth win in the all-time series. Mike McNair Jr. is someone already plenty familiar with the Bisons given the three seasons he spent at Boston University, competing against them in the Patriot League and splitting the six meetings. Yet with a chance for the revamped roster to finally play a game that matters on the record, Maryland is looking to embrace the offseason roster overhaul and put it together on the floor.

"I feel like the biggest thing is being able to get out there with my teammates," Jennings Jr. said. "We've been here for a minute now and we've been practicing against each other. We've got so many reps against each other. Me battling an injury last year, just being able to get back on the floor with a team and playing against somebody else in a game that goes on the record and starting a new journey with a different team, that's what I'm looking forward to the most."

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