No. 5 Virginia (25-5, 16-1 ACC) at Maryland (16-14, 8-9 ACC)
Maryland plays its final ACC regular season game in history Sunday at noon as it takes on conference regular season champion No. 5 Virginia. It marks the Terps’ third game against a top-5 opponent in six games.
Watch: CBS – Marv Albert (Play-by-Play), Steve Kerr (Analyst)
Listen: Terrapin Sports Radio Network – Johnny Holliday (Play-by-Play), Chris Knoche (Analyst), Walt Williams(Sideline); Sirius/XM 91
Fans are reminded to account for traffic when driving to the game, as the contest is a sellout!
Storylines
• The Terps have played the Cavaliers more than any school in their program’s history. Maryland is 106-74 in 180 meetings all-time against Virginia, including a formidable 63-24 home mark.
• Sophomore Jake Layman scored 13 points and junior Dez Wells added 11 as the Terps moved to 6-2 at home in ACC play with a 64-47 victory over Virginia Tech Tuesday. It was the first time Maryland has held an ACC opponent under 50 points since defeating Virginia, 66-42, on Jan. 27, 2011 at John Paul Jones Arena.
• Maryland was highly efficient offensively against the Hokies Tuesday, dishing 18 assists and totaling just five turnovers. It was the first time the Terps committed five turnovers or less in a game since Feb. 14, 1998 against top-ranked North Carolina.
• Former Maryland coaching greats Lefty Driesell (1969-86) and Gary Williams (1989-2011) will be in attendance at the game. Driesell totaled 348 victories at Maryland and is a member of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame, while Williams led Maryland to the 2002 national title and is a finalist for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
• Maryland legends Gary Williams, Lefty Driesell, Tom McMillen, Walt Williams and Juan Dixon will be signing autographs prior to the contest to commemorate the Terps’ final ACC game. Additionally, the first 12,000 fans will receive an ACC timeline poster, and fans can share their favorite ACC memories on an interactive wall.
Maryland Outpaces Virginia Tech, 64-47
Jake Layman came off the bench to score 13 points, and Maryland defeated Virginia Tech under a barrage of 3-pointers in a 64-47 Atlantic Coast Conference victory Tuesday night.
The Terrapins (16-14, 8-9) connected five times from beyond the arc in an 18-5 run that turned a 29-28 halftime deficit into a 12-point lead. If the teams don’t meet in the ACC tournament, Maryland will head to the Big Ten after this season with a five-game winning streak against the Hokies and a 32-10 lead in the series.
Dez Wells began the charge with a three-point play and Nick Faust added a 3-pointer. After Jarell Eddie made two free throws, Seth Allen popped a 3 before Joey van Zegeren scored on a follow — the Hokies’ lone basket in the first 7½ minutes of the second half.
Scouting Virginia
Virginia captured its first outright ACC regular season title since 1981 when it defeated No. 4 Syracuse, 75-56, on March 1. The Cavaliers have climbed to fifth in the Associated Press national poll – their highest ranking in over a decade.
The Cavaliers boast the nation’s best defense, holding opponents to a meager 54.8 points per game. Virginia defeated every ACC team by double-digits at home this season except for Maryland.
Freshman guard London Perrantes is an excellent ball-handler for Virginia, ranking eighth in the nation with a 3.68 assist-to-turnover ratio. Akil Mitchell is eighth in the ACC in rebounds (7.0/g).
Virginia has taken six straight games from Maryland — its longest win streak in the series. Maryland has had winning streaks of 11 straight games (1950-55) and 10 (1972-76).
Last Meeting
Joe Harris scored 19 points and No. 17 Virginia stretched its winning streak to eight games by beating Maryland 61-53 on Feb. 10.
Seth Allen scored 15 points and Dez Wells had 12 for Maryland (14-11, 6-6), which had won three of four at the time.
The play of the game came in the second half when Roddy Peters’ fast break layup was blocked by Justin Anderson with 10:45 remaining. Anderson quickly passed the ball to Harris, who pulled up for a transition 3-pointer to complete the 5-point swing. The basket gave the Cavaliers a 40-35 lead that led to a 9-0 run.
By the Numbers: Maryland in the ACC
- 1953-54 – Maryland joins the ACC, winning its inaugural basketball game, 53-49, at South Carolina on Dec. 3, 1953
- 3 – ACC Tournament titles (1958, 1984, 2004). The Terrapins shocked the conference in 2004, having entered the tournament with a 7-9 ACC record.
- 5 – ACC regular season titles (1975, 1980, 1995, 2002, 2010)
- 99 – All-ACC Selections, including five ACC POY’s (Albert King, Len Bias (2x), Juan Dixon and Greivis Vasquez)
- 447 – Wins in ACC regular season play (447-435 overall record)
- 25 – 20-win seasons during time in ACC, and 24 NCAA Tournament appearances
Pregame Activies/Giveaways Planned for Virginia Game
Maryland athletics has a wide array of pregame activities and giveaways planned for the final regular season ACC game in history against Virginia.
The first 12,000 fans in attendance will receive an incredible ACC commemorative timeline poster that captures the most memorable Terrapin moments over the last six decades. Additionally, the first 4,000 students will be given a free t-shirt courtesy of Force 3.
An autograph session featuring Maryland legends will take place on a first come, first serve basis until 11:30 a.m. Former coaching greats Gary Williams and Lefty Driesell, in addition to Tom McMillen, Walt Williams and Juan Dixon, are scheduled to appear. The autograph area will be held on the third level concourse behind section 207 and 208.
Fans will have the opportunity to take photographs with ACC championship trophies at the top of the escalator stairs on the third level concourse. Fans are also encouraged to recall their most fond ACC moments on the “My Favorite ACC Moment” interactive wall, located on the Gate A side of Heritage Hall.
Big Ten Announces 2014-15 Home/Away Opponents
Maryland’s home and away opponents for its inaugural men’s basketball season in the Big Ten Conference were announced Feb. 28.
The Terps have home dates against five teams that qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2013: Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Maryland will also host Nebraska, Northwestern, Penn State and Rutgers.
Maryland will play five home-and-home series, featuring Indiana, Michigan State, Nebraska, Penn State and Rutgers. It will also face Illinois, Iowa, Ohio State and Purdue on the road.
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