Saint Francis (4-7) at Maryland (8-2, 1-1)
When: Dec. 17, 2024 | 7:30 PM
TV: BTN | Jason Ross, Jr. (pxp), Tavaras Hardy (analyst)
Radio: One Maryland App | 105.7 FM (Baltimore) | 980 AM (DC) | SiriusXM radio 372
Betting: Maryland -34 | O/U: 146
For the first time in nine days, Maryland men's basketball is back in action.
Maryland won the last matchup back in 2015, 96-55, while head coach Kevin Willard is 2-0 all-time against the Red Flash.
Tied with Stonehill to finish last in the NEC preseason coaches poll, Saint Francis returns three starters from last year’s eight-win season with sophomore guard Bobby Rosenberger III leading the way with 13.5 points on 47.1% shooting from the field. Riley Parker, a juco addition, adds 10.3 points per game while Ace Talbert is the third averaging double figures with his 10.2 points per game providing a spark off the bench.
Saint Francis opened the season with 20-plus point losses against Dayton, Clemson and Penn State on the road with a one-point road win vs. Campbell sandwiched in between. The Red Flash also fell by 17 at Georgetown back on Nov. 23, but Maryland will look to push Krimmel to 1-7 all-time against Big Ten opponents.
As for Maryland, they’re back on the court for the first time in nine days to end their longest break of the season.
Maryland will take its 21-game home win streak against unranked non-conference opponents into Tuesday night as they rank top-25 in the NET (15), Torvik (17), KenPom (20) and EvanMiya (24). Maryland also enters Tuesday ranked top-20 nationally in scoring offense (85.5) and scoring defense (61.1) with its defense allowing the fewest points per game since 1981-82.
Ja’Kobi Gillespie, who leads the team in assists (32), has been a big part of the Terps’ scoring balance as he’s finished in double figures in eight of the team’s ten games. Selton Miguel has also finished in double figures in four straight games and five of the last six as the fifth-year senior has found his footing within the starting lineup. Rodney Rice, who has remained in the starting lineup since the Marquette loss, has added at least two threes in all but two games this season.
Meanwhile, Derik Queen became the first Terp to be named Big Ten Freshman of the Week since Jalen Smith in 2020, drawing the award in consecutive weeks after averaging a double-double to open Big Ten play against Ohio State and Purdue.
Derik Queen Watch:
Entering Tuesday, Queen ranks:
2nd-highest scoring freshman in program history (17.5)
2nd-most 20-point games (5)
Averaging 4th-most points per game among freshmen (17.5)
T-4th-most double-doubles (4)
Julian Reese Watch:
Entering Tuesday, Reese ranks:
T-5th most career double-doubles (25)
T-9th career blocked shots (136) – will pass Travis Garrison with next one & six away from passing Damonte Dodd
13th in career rebounds (772) – ten away from passing Ekene Ibekwe
46th in career points (1,132) – five points away from passing Brad Davis, eight points from passing Steve Blake, 22 points away from passing Buck Williams
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