Maryland men’s basketball will return to Las Vegas for Thanksgiving week as a competitor in the revamped Players Era Tournament, and it learned its path to the title game Thursday.
In the first round, Maryland will face off against the Tennessee Volunteers at Michelob Ultra Arena. The game will be played on Nov. 24, but tipoff times have not been released.
Maryland and Tennessee have met five times over the years, with the Volunteers having
won three games — including the most recent affair, a 56-53 game in Brooklyn on Dec. 11, 2022, where Jahmir Young led all players with 18 points and seven assists.
That’s the only remotely recent matchup — the previous game between these two teams was played in Anchorage, Alaska, in November 1984.
These teams have become more interconnected as of late. Former Terp Ja’Kobi Gillespie had a strong 2025-26 campaign with the Volunteers. His teammate and understudy in Knoxville, Bishop Boswell, is one of Maryland head coach Buzz Williams’ transfer portal recruits.
If the Terps win, they’ll face off against either San Diego State or Iowa State on Thanksgiving Day. The tournament’s semifinals are played on Black Friday, with the finals on Saturday, Nov. 28.
Should Maryland fail to beat the Volunteers, consolation games are scheduled for both Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday as well. Only a run to the title game would see the Terps replicate their three-games-in-three-days stretch last season.
In other news
No. 3-seed Maryland women’s lacrosse plays No. 2-seed North Carolina in the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament. Jude Wilkenfeld previewed the game and will be providing in-person coverage from Evanston, Illinois.
Maryland men’s basketball alum Collin Metcalf has signed with a professional team in his native Germany.
Three-star class of 2027 lineman J.A. Agberodiola scheduled an official visit with Maryland football from June 4-6.
Three-star class of 2027 linebacker Shelvy Clark will also be making an official visit to Maryland that weekend.
Three Maryland men’s lacrosse players were named USILA All-Americans.
Maryland baseball’s Brayden Ryan entered the transfer portal Thursday.
Maryland women’s basketball alum Kaila Charles scored her 500th career WNBA point.
Five Maryland athletes will be competing in qualifiers for the NCAA track and field championships.
Athletic Director Jim Smith released an encouraging piece of financial news regarding Maryland athletics.
