College Basketball
College Hoops Preview: Delaware vs. Maryland
- Matchup: Delaware Blue Hens (0-0, 0-0) @ Maryland Terrapins (0-0, 0-0)
- Date: Nov. 6, 2018
- Time: 7:30 p.m. (est)
- Network: BTN Plus
- Location: College Park, Maryland, USA
- Venue: XFINITY Center
- Seating Capacity: 17,950
Maryland men’s basketball team will open their 2018-19 season at the Xfinity Center against the Delaware Blue Hens. Despite not being ranked in the Associated Press (AP) preseason Top 25 Poll, the Terps find themselves not far from the conversation. Additionally, this would be head coach Mark Turgeon’s highest-ranked class since joining Maryland and top class in the Big Ten. With high expectations, the Terps enter their 100th season led by junior point guard Anthony Cowan Jr. and sophomores center Bruno Fernando and guard Darryl Morsell.
Meanwhile, the Fightin’ Blue Hens look to turn things around after a 14-19 finish to their 2017-18 season. Delaware hasn’t had a winning record since their 2013-14 season when they won the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Tournament. Additionally, they will have to do so without sophomore forward Chyree Walker who left the team and elected to transfer. Despite this, starting point guard Kevin Anderson looks forward to being back on the court after injuring his knee back in December.
Terps’ Disappointing 2017-18 Season
The Terps season ended on a sour note following a 59-54 loss to Wisconsin at Madison Square Garden. Their 19-13 season was not enough to even enter the NIT. This was the first time Maryland missed the postseason since joining the Big Ten. However, this was the fourth time in seven years under Turgeon’s helm.
Perhaps the biggest disappointment was going one-and-done in the conference tournament for a second consecutive season, while also securing their worst finish ever in the Big Ten.
Additionally, Maryland lost their, arguably, most skilled player Justin Jackson to a torn labrum. While also losing Ivan Bender to a torn meniscus. Jackson was the Terps’ third-leading scorer with 9.8 points and 8.1 rebounds a game. In addition, losing Bender meant losing depth on the bench.
Nonetheless, it was a team that was always in each game but couldn’t finish off opponents when chance given. Meanwhile, they were unable to rack two games in a row on the winning side since January 1st.
But, There’s Hope
The Terps’ supersized freshman class is one of the best to have arrived at Maryland since Turgeon arrived at College Park. Among those freshmen are power forward/center Jalen Smith, forwards Trace Ramsey and Ricky Lindo, guards Eric Ayala and Serrel Smith, and wing Aaron Wiggins. Everything points at Wiggins joining the starting line alongside Cowan, Morsell, Smith, and Fernando. Nonetheless, four-star Ayala will be a great back up guard to Cowan. Similar to how Cowan was to Melo Trimble in his freshman season.
What’s To Come
The Terps have won their last four season openers, and are 7-0 at the Xfinity Center. A win against the Blue Hens will set them well against their out-of-conference opponents Navy, North Carolina A&T, Hofstra, Mt. St. Mary’s, and Marshall. All these before meeting #5 Virginia, in a battle of neighboring states and former ACC opponents.
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