Maryland basketball concludes its nonconference schedule Tuesday against Charlotte at Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore. The Terps beat Princeton last year in their return to Baltimore. Maryland won that game by 21 points, and this shouldn’t be much different.
The Terps haven’t played since Monday due to finals, while Charlotte is coming off an 87-46 beatdown at the hands of Florida. The 49ers’ best win this season came over Elon, a team KenPom ranks 143rd in the country. As has been the case in most of Maryland’s nonconference schedule, this is another mismatch.
The Terps and 49ers tip off at 7 p.m. ESPN2.
Charlotte 49ers (6-4)
2016-17 record: 14-19
Head coach: Mark Price
KenPom ranking: 197 (Maryland is 64)
Players to watch
Jon Davis, guard, sophomore, 6’1/170, No. 3. He’s the best offensive option the 49ers have. Davis is scoring 19 points per game on 50 percent shooting, and also averages a team-leading 3.6 assists.
Braxton Ogbueze, guard, senior, 6’1/187, No. 1. Ogbueze is Charlotte’s second-best scorer, though he converts at a much lower efficiency than Davis does. He’s averaging 12 points per game on only 36 percent shooting.
Anthony Vanhook, forward, sophomore, 6’4/210, No. 15. Vanhook is the most balanced contributor the 49ers have. He’s averaging 9.5 points, 6 rebounds and three assists per game, but could have trouble as a 6’4 forward against Maryland’s big men.
Strengths
Limiting and creating turnovers. The 49ers are 50th in the country in offensive turnover percentage and 59th in defensive turnover percentage.
Three-pointers. They shoot 36 percent from beyond the arc, which is good for 110th in the country. They also limit their opponents to 33 percent. This is a bit of a reach in terms of "strengths," but hey, it’s Charlotte.
Weaknesses
Two-pointers. The 49ers shoot a dreadful 45 percent from inside the arc, and their opponents hit at a 53-percent rate. Maryland big man Michal Cekovsky could make a killing down low here.
Rebounding. Charlotte only reels in 22 percent of its offensive rebound opportunities and lets its opponents get 35 percent of its chances, good for 236th and 318th in the country, respectively.
Predictions
KenPom’s prediction: Maryland wins, 83-71. The Terps have an 86 percent chance of victory.
Ryan’s prediction: Maryland wins, 86-59