79 replies to this topic

[BSLZackKiesel]

Following a tight victory over Nicholls on Tuesday night, Maryland will travel to Southern California for a Friday night matchup against UCLA at historic Pauley Pavilion. They have yet to win away from College Park this season, and will be facing off against a Bruins team that's hit a bit of a rough patch. Mick Cronin's team is currently sitting with a record of 5-5 (0-0) and has lost three straight games, including a massive upset at the hands of Cal State Northridge on Tuesday night.

 

UCLA lost most of the talent from last year's Sweet Sixteen squad, and are relying on a number of underclassmen this season. 4-star freshman guard Sebastian Mack is a very talented player and leads them in scoring, but his shooting has been inconsistent so far. As a team they're shooting just 43% from the field, including 32% from beyond the arc. As is typical of a Cronin-coached team, they're led by their effort on the defensive end and rank as a borderline Top-25 defensive unit according to KenPom.

 

The legendary Bill Walton will be on the call for ESPN2 in this one, so at least the broadcast will be entertaining regardless of the action on the court.

 

KenPom Rankings

• Maryland: #78 (#159 AdjO, #25 AdjD; #261 AdjT)
• UCLA: #76 (#146 AdjO, #26 AdjD; #298 AdjT)

[SonicAttack]

KenPom Rankings

• Maryland: #79 (#166 AdjO, #23 AdjD; #271 AdjT)
• UCLA: #77 (#153 AdjO, #25 AdjD; #301 AdjT)

Kenpom  has this as a tossup.  Should be a good game.

[makoman]

Even last year when things were going well they couldn't do a thing on the road. UCLA seems down too but on the road I'm not optimistic. 

[Pedro Cerrano]

LosAngelesSportsandLife is probably saying the same things about this game only substituting UCLA for Maryland.

 

UCLA has been a dumpster fire this year.  Lost to Cal State Northridge last night and beat UC Riverside by a point.

[BSLMikeLowe]

The legendary Bill Walton will be on the call for ESPN2 in this one, so at least the broadcast will be entertaining regardless of the action on the court.

 

Not many chances left for him to boast about "The Conference of Champions." Wonder if Oregon State/Washington State get custody, or he goes to the Big Ten with his alma mater.

[Mike B]

The Terps will have to play much better than they did last night, but this is a winnable game.  Winning in Pauley Pavilion should be motivation enough.

[Mike B]

Not many chances left for him to boast about "The Conference of Champions." Wonder if Oregon State/Washington State get custody, or he goes to the Big Ten with his alma mater.

I wonder if he will continue to call the Big 10 schools truckstop schools.  Walton was a Great player but he is a tool.

[BSLZackKiesel]

Maryland's YouTube channel just posted a good conversation between Len Elmore and Bill Walton ahead of this game.

 

[BSLZackKiesel]

UCLA enters this game as 3.5-point favorites. ESPN gives them a 63.9% chance to win.

[SonicAttack]

Len had some nice things to say about Cronin, and I agree.  He didn't say much about Kevin, other then his dad was a fiery PG.  He just knows Mick better.  Anyway, I like the Terps to win this game, but I expect a loss.  Money on UMD, but....  If Kaiser and DHS hit their shots, and limit their own turnovers, then Terps win. 

[BSLMikeLowe]

The first of what will probably be an annual trip to the West Coast. I hope Willard is paying attention to what works and what doesn't as far as adjusting to the long plane rides and time zone changes for future seasons when, hopefully, there are higher expectations and the games take on more meaning as conference matchups.

[BSLZackKiesel]

The first of what will probably be an annual trip to the West Coast. I hope Willard is paying attention to what works and what doesn't as far as adjusting to the long plane rides and time zone changes for future seasons when, hopefully, there are higher expectations and the games take on more meaning as conference matchups.

Pretty sure they flew out on Wednesday evening, because I know Willard had them in the gym and practicing in Los Angeles on Thursday. Believe that's a day earlier than they typically travel for road games, which makes sense.

[BSLMikeLowe]

Pretty sure they flew out on Wednesday evening, because I know Willard had them in the gym and practicing in Los Angeles on Thursday. Believe that's a day earlier than they typically travel for road games, which makes sense.

 

In future seasons I could see them having two games per season out West. It'd be nice if the Big Ten would simply schedule it so one year they play at the LA schools back-to-back on like Thursday/Saturday or Friday/Sunday, then the next year do the same at the PNW schools. But if there's one certainty in the conference realignment era it is that they will do the dumbest thing imaginable if that is what also happens to make the most money.

[BSLZackKiesel]

Starting Five: Young, Harris-Smith, Scott, Geronimo, Reese

[BSLZackKiesel]

This game will begin on ESPNews due to the G-League game running long.

[BSLZackKiesel]

Young with a hot start from beyond the arc.

[BSLZackKiesel]

Early 9-1 run for Maryland.

[Mackus]

Early still, but the Terps appear to be the less bad team.

[BSLZackKiesel]

Neither team is going to have enough players to finish the game at this rate. Refs are averaging more than a foul per minute thus far.

[BSLZackKiesel]

Young doing everything in his power to ensure we don’t see a repeat of last year’s game. 13 points in 10 minutes.