It’s December, which means it’s time for ... conference play?
Maryland basketball hosts Purdue on Friday night to start the Big Ten season. With the conference holding its postseason tournament in Madison Square Garden a week earlier than normal, league play starts earlier as well. Rather than shorten the Christmas break, those early games are on the first weekend of December.
This should be an interesting test for the Terps, who are 6-2 but have lost two close games in their last three contests. Maryland’s off to a good start in most facets of the game, but a 25.4 percent turnover rate—344th in Division I—won’t cut it against the stingier defenses they’ll face in conference play.
Purdue is 6-2 as well, and the Boilermakers were one of three Big Ten teams to actually beat an ACC team this week, taking down No. 17 Louisville. In last year’s meeting in College Park, Purdue walked out with a one-point win on Carsen Edwards’ late free throws. If this game is anywhere near that exciting, Big Ten play will be off to an electric start.
The numbers
Maryland: 6-2, 0-0 B1G
Purdue: 6-2, 0-0 B1G
All-time series: Tied 2-2
Odds: Purdue is favored by two points
How to watch and listen
Friday, Dec. 1, 7 p.m. (ET), Xfinity Center, College Park
TV: BTN - Kevin Kugler (Play-by-Play), Dan Bonner (Analyst)
Streaming: BTN2Go
Radio: 105.7 FM (Balt.), 980 AM (DC), Sirus 137 / XM 193, TuneIn Radio App (Johnny Holliday, Chris Knoche, Walt Williams); WMUC Sports (Liam Beatus/Alex Flum)
In other news
From The Baltimore Sun, Maryland might play a bigger lineup in this game to combat the size of the Boilermakers.
D.J. Moore is the best wide receiver in the Big Ten, officially.
Here’s InsideMdSports’ Josh Stirn with some burning Maryland football offseason questions.
The Diamondback has the story of Maryland volleyball’s rise this season, which led to the Terps nearly making their first NCAA Tournament since 2005.
Yesterday was the fourth anniversary of the Kick Six, so to celebrate, here’s our friend Jarred Belman’s video tribute, featuring Testudo Times’ resident defensive ballhawk Jared Goldstein.
My tribute to the greatest call/moment in recent sports history. Happy anniversary Kick Six. #AuburnsGonnaWinTheFootballGame pic.twitter.com/VJQE71q73f
— Jarred Belman (@JarredBelman) December 1, 2017
But perhaps most importantly of all, Ric Flair has joined the Maryland baseball bandwagon.
@rvaughnUMD Hey Terps!... Good Luck This Season!!!Wooooo!
— Ric Flair® (@RicFlairNatrBoy) November 30, 2017