Maryland vs. Virginia Tech
When: Wednesday, Dec. 1 || 7:15 pm ET
Where: XFINITY Center || College Park, MD
Watch: ESPN2 - Doug Sherman (Play-by-Play), Jordan Cornette (Analyst)
Listen: 105.7 FM (Balt) / 980AM (DC) - Johnny Holliday, Chris Knoche, Walt Williams
Maryland returns to action on Wednesday night as they host Virginia Tech in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Maryland holds a healthy 32-10 series lead against Virginia Tech as the Terps have won the last six meetings, including a 17-point win back in March of 2014. But after the Terps have lost two of their last four games, Maryland returns to the heart of their non-conference schedule as head coach Mark Turgeon looks to get his team back on track.
“Virginia Tech was like us, they were right around being ranked in the top-25 and they’re really good,” Turgeon said during Tuesday’s availability. “They’re a little bit older, they got great guards that can shoot it, their big guys play so hard, they’re extremely well-coached. So yeah, it’s what everybody thought it was going to be, that’s why the put us together. We were both teams that were picked top-25, top-30 in the country so it’s going to be a great game.”
After starting 5-0 in the third season under head coach Mike Young, the Hokies have dropped their last two to then ninth-ranked Memphis and 25th-ranked Xavier by a combined nine points. But the Hokies have seen their veterans emerge as the upperclassmen have accounted for nearly 80% of the points so far this season, which guard Nahiem Alleyne is averaging over 17 points over the last four games including nearly 43% shooting from deep. Maryland enters Wednesday’s matchup allowing opponents to shoot nearly 41% from the field, second-worst in the Big Ten, causing room for concern.
With all five starters averaging at least eight points per game, Virginia Tech’s defense has carried the Hokies into December as the Hokies are allowing opponents to shoot just 22.6% from three, best in the ACC, and held their first six opponents of the season to below 40% shooting. The Hokies have also forced their opponent into at least ten turnovers in six of the first seven games and have held opponents to under 53 points per game, the second-best scoring defense in the country. On the offensive end, Justyn Mutts and Keve Aluma both notched double-digit rebounds in the loss against Memphis. Aluma, a preseason all-ACC selection, has scored in double-figures in five of Virginia Tech’s first seven games.
Rebounding was a pivotal concern coming out of the Bahamas trip after Louisville outrebounded Maryland 51-25 in last Saturday’s loss in the Baha Mar Championship. “We gotta get a lot tougher on the glass,” head coach Mark Turgeon added. “It’s gotta become a habit or we’re just gonna end up being a mediocre team until we figure that out, but I can’t remember last time one of my teams got out-rebounded like that.”
Though Virginia Tech might lack a clear-cut star, the Hokies’ defensive prowess will once again put pressure on Maryland’s half court offense as Fatts Russell looks to the opportunity to get his team back on track. “Every game that we lose gonna hurt,” Russell said after the Louisville loss. “That’s just how we are. We’re competitors, we don’t teach losing. When you wear Maryland on your chest you just expect to win.”
Maryland will celebrate the late Len Bias after being inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame last month, becoming the fourth Terp to do so. The Terrapins will celebrate the life and legacy of Bias a number of ways, including an on-court recognition of the Bias family and a giveaway of replica golden Bias Jerseys to the first 4,000 students in attendance. The team took in the “34” documentary following Tuesday’s practice as veteran guard Eric Ayala knows the impact of Bias on Maryland basketball.
“It means a lot,” he said, “it’s special to be a part of a school like that where someone who accomplished so much like he did and be able to wear the same jersey.”