Maryland men’s basketball will look to earn a fourth consecutive win to open its season on Nov. 15.
Maryland will face No. 15 Marquette at 8 p.m. in their first big test of the season. The Terps will look to get its second win against the Golden Eagles in as many meetings between the two teams. Here are three things to look for:
Will Maryland get back to dominating at home?
Maryland boasts a 315-75 (.809) all-time record at the Xfinity Center.
The Terps are 30-7 at Xfinity Center under head coach Kevin Willard. Maryland has five top-25 victories at home with Willard at the helm. However, the Terps’ most recent top-25 home victory was against No. 3 Purdue in 2022, and they went just 11-6 at home a year ago.
Maryland’s wins against Manhattan, Mount St. Mary’s and Florida A&M have been played in front of light crowds. That will change against Marquette.
“Playing in a different environment, playing in front of fans is something that we’re going to see, so our guys get used to it,” Willard said of what he wants to learn about his team. “Being ready for that is something I want to see how they react because it’s a different feeling in this building when it’s a Marquette and a Florida A&M.”
Can Maryland continue to score off turnovers?
The Terps are averaging 11.3 steals per game and have scored a total of 78 points off turnovers in their first three games. They have limited their opponents to an average of 4.6 points per game off their own mistakes.
Maryland’s average turnover margin of 12.3 is fourth in Division I hoops, but Marquette is tied for ninth at 10.3.
“I want to see our defense translate to the next level,” Willard said.
Who will dominate the paint?
Big men Julian Reese and Derik Queen have controlled the paint for Maryland. Reese is fourth on the team in scoring (13 points per game) leads the team in rebounding (8.0). His counterpart Queen is tied for second in scoring (13.7) and is second in rebounds (7.7).
“It’s been a two-way street,” Willard said of senior Reese and freshman Queen learning from each other. “I think [Reese] has helped Derik with the physicality of college and especially what we’re going to see on Friday.”
Marquette’s leading rebounders — senior forward David Joplin (6.7) and junior guard Chase Ross — do not average more than seven rebounds per game.
Maryland has outrebounded opponents, 126-105, while Marquette is on the losing side of the rebounding battle, 116-111.
“We’re going to try to be physical inside early in the game,” Willard said.
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