Some quick thoughts on the schedule…
The Terps open the season on November 14th against Bucknell at 8:00 P.M. and then face Youngstown State on the 18th. The Terps will get their first decent challenge against Vermont at home on the 21st before their biggest test of the non-conference schedule in the Old Spice Classic, where Maryland will face a very good Michigan State team. After that game, Maryland will either face the winner or loser of Oklahoma State/Gonzaga, depending on what they do. You can see the complete bracket here.
Following the Old Spice Classic, where Maryland can hopefully win 1 or 2 games, the Terps take on Michigan at home, which should be an easy win for the Terps. Maryland then faces GW in the BB&T Classic, where the Terps will probably lose, as they tend to do in this event every year. The Terps then finish out non-conference play against Delaware State, American, Bryant, UNC-Charlotte and Morgan State.
The Terps don’t play their first true “road” game until January 14th, when they travel to Miami. That could be something that really hurts their RPI, especially if the Terps don’t fair well in the Old Spice Classic. And this Terps team will likely need to do everything they can to improve their RPI situation this season.
Also, for the first time in a long time, the Terps won’t be playing in a random ACC game in the middle of their non-conference schedule. Although I was always slightly annoyed with that random ACC game, I thought it was a good way for the Terps to measure themselves and see where they have to get before the “official” ACC schedule started.
The Terps have a tough ACC schedule this year as they have to play UNC, Duke, Miami three times, which should be challenging, while also getting to play UVA and George Tech two times each. Maryland gets BC, Va. Tech and Wake at home, while having to go to FSU, Clemson and NC State.
One of the toughest part of the schedule appears to be from Jan. 24th – Feb. 8th, during which the Terps have to go to Duke, get BC and Miami at home, and then go to Carolina and Georgia Tech.
Another rough patch hits from Feb. 17-25th, which might be the hardest part of the schedule as over the course of a week, the Terps must go to Clemson and then play Carolina and Duke at home.
It should be an interesting season for Terps basketball. Tune back in later for more analysis on the schedule including predictions about the upcoming season.
Good to see the ACC Tourney this year in a state that does end in Carolina.
Maryland 2008-2009 Mens Basketball Schedule
11/14/08 Bucknell 8:00
11/18/08 Youngstown State 8:00
11/21/08 Vermont 8:00
11/27/08 Maryland in Old Spice Classic ESPN2 7:00
Orlando, Florida
11/29/08 Maryland in Old Spice Classic ESPN or ESPNU TBA
Orlando, Florida
11/30/08 Maryland in Old Spice Classic ESPN2 or ESPNU TBA
Orlando, Florida
12/3/08 Michigan ESPNU 7:30
ACC/Big Ten Challenge
12/7/08 vs. George Washington TBA
Verizon Center, Washington, D.C.
12/12/08 Delaware State CSN 8:00
12/22/08 American CSN 8:00
12/27/08 Bryant CSN 2:00
12/30/08 Elon 8:00
1/3/09 UNC-Charlotte CSN 12:00/1:00
1/7/09 Morgan State CSN 8:00
1/10/09 Georgia Tech Raycom 12:00
1/14/09 at Miami Raycom 9:00
1/17/09 at Florida State Raycom 12:00
1/20/09 Virginia Raycom 8:00
1/24/09 at Duke ESPN 12:00
1/27/09 Boston College ESPN2 7:30
1/31/09 Miami Raycom 8:00
2/3/09 at North Carolina Raycom/ESPN2 8:00
2/8/09 at Georgia Tech FSN 7:30
2/14/09 Virginia Tech Raycom 4:00
2/17/09 at Clemson ESPN2 7:30
2/21/09 North Carolina ABC 3:30
2/25/09 Duke ESPN 9:00
3/1/09 at NC State FSN 7:30
3/3/09 Wake Forest RSN 9:00
3/7/09 at Virginia ABC 3:30
3/12-15 56th Annual ACC Tournament TBA
Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Ga.
