Maryland men’s basketball’s first game against higher-end competition didn’t go so well.
The Terps looked outmatched at home against Georgetown, recording a 70-60 loss that felt more lopsided than that at times.
Now Maryland hits the road for the first time this season. It heads to Milwaukee to take on another Big East opponent in Marquette; the school Buzz Williams had his first extended head coaching stint at. The Golden Eagles are Maryland’s first Quad 1 opponent of the season.
Saturday’s contest is set to tip off at 2 p.m. ET and will stream on Peacock.
Marquette Golden Eagles (3-1, 0-0 Big East)
2024-25 record: 23-11, 13-7 Big East
Marquette’s trip to College Park a year ago was explosive. Derik Queen and Ja’Kobi Gillespie each scored 24 points, and second-team All-American Kam Jones countered with 28 for the then-No. 15 Golden Eagles. Ultimately, two late missed free throws by Deshawn Harris-Smith pushed Marquette to a 78-74 win.
But fifth-year head coach Shaka Smart’s squad looks vastly different than it did a year ago. Now graduated are both of Marquette’s All-Big East selections — Jones and forward David Joplin — as well as program stalwart Stevie Mitchell.
While Marquette’s starting lineup consists of zero transfers and four upperclassmen, that group’s experience with Smart hasn’t made up for the loss of high-end talent. It lost to Indiana, its one high-major opponent thus far, 100-77.
Players to know
Chase Ross, senior guard, 6-foot-5, No. 2 — Ross is one of just two returning starters from a season ago. He’s shined as Marquette’s new top offensive option, averaging team highs in points (18.2) and assists (4.0) per game, alongside 4.5 rebounds per game.
Ben Gold, senior forward, 6-foot-11, No. 12 — The New Zealand native is the other 2024-25 starter back in this season’s lineup. His size and defensive prowess will make him crucial for Marquette slowing down Pharrel Payne. Gold only averages nine points per game, but he nearly doubles the Golden Eagles’ runner-up in rebounds per game (8.5).
Royce Parham, sophomore forward, 6-foot-8, No. 13 — Parham’s first collegiate campaign earned him All-Big East freshman team honors. He’s been a do-it-all presence as Marquette’s first man off the bench in year two, ranking second on the team in both points (9.5) and rebounds (4.8) per game despite being tied for fifth in minutes per game (19.2).
Strength
Continuity. Marquette is the ultimate rarity in modern college basketball: it doesn’t have a single transfer on its roster. Along with that, five of its six of its top minute-getters already have a season in Smart’s system with at least 14 minutes per game. Maryland’s 15-transfer roster has been noticeably disjointed at times through three games — that’s not a problem the Golden Eagles will have.
Weakness
Shooting efficiency. Like the Terps, Marquette simply hasn’t put its shots down well enough this year. The Golden Eagles are shooting just 45.6% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc, with a very similar shot diet to Maryland.
Three things to know
1. Can Maryland keep getting to the line? Marquette is one of the better teams in the country at avoiding fouls. Its opponents are shooting just 14.5 free throws per game, far fewer than the Terps’ 29.7 attempts per game this year.
Williams has made it clear repeatedly he needs his team to get to the line frequently. That’s going to be easier said than done Saturday, even if it could be Maryland’s key to victory.
2. Myles Rice’s status. Rice returned from an ankle injury against Georgetown and exploded in the fourth quarter en route to 19 points and seven rebounds. But he was back on the injury report against Alcorn State. The Indiana transfer can play a leading role in Maryland’s offense, and having him against Marquette would be a huge bonus.
3. Williams returns to Milwaukee. Williams led the Golden Eagles from 2008 until 2014, bringing the team to the only conference regular season championship and Elite Eight appearance of his career in 2012-13. He hasn’t played a game against Marquette since he left.
“I’ve been praying about it for a long time, since [former interim athletic director Colleen Sorem] told me we were playing them,” Williams said. “We’ll handle it the right way … my energy and emotion will be consumed with, can we figure out how to do the things that are important.”
