Georgetown Hoyas are set to face off against the Maryland Terrapins in an exciting matchup on Friday at 6 PM at the Xfinity Center in College Park, MD. Both teams come into this game with a record of 1-0. Fans can catch the action on FS1 with Jason Horowitz and LaPhonso Ellis providing commentary, or tune into the radio broadcasts on 99.1 FM for the Hoyas and SiriusXM 372 for the Terps.
The historical rivalry favors Maryland, who leads the series 38-29 and won the last matchup in a narrow 76-75 victory on November 15, 2016. Maryland has enjoyed recent success, winning two consecutive games and four of the last five encounters in this rivalry. According to KenPom Rankings, Maryland holds the 38th spot while Georgetown is ranked 90th. The KenPom projection for this evening’s game gives Maryland an 82 percent chance of winning, with a predicted score of 79-68. DraftKings has Georgetown at +6.5, with an over/under set at 146.5 and the Hoyas at +245 on the money line.
This matchup holds significant importance for both squads. Georgetown head coach Ed Cooley, in his third year, has been working to strengthen the team’s schedule to enhance their chances of securing an NCAA Tournament bid. A victory against a tough opponent like Maryland would be a crucial milestone for the Hoyas. The rivalry was recently reignited thanks to Cooley and former Maryland coach Kevin Willard, who is now at Villanova.
On the Terps’ side, the team is under new leadership with coach Buzz Williams, who has brought in an almost completely different roster, retaining only one walk-on. Interestingly, the most experienced player in tonight’s game for Maryland is Georgetown guard DeShawn Harris-Smith, a former Terp. Georgetown’s KJ Lewis, who led the Hoyas with 14 points in their opening win over Morgan State, will look to continue his strong performance as the team seeks to improve its shooting after a tough outing where they went 4-26 from beyond the arc.
With anticipation building, fans and players alike are eager to see if Baylor transfer Langston Love will make his debut. Cooley hinted at some lower-body concerns during a postgame press conference, leaving his status slightly uncertain.
As excitement surrounds this local rivalry clash, fans heading to College Park are advised to allow ample travel time to ensure they don’t miss any of the action. The bout promises to be a thrilling encounter as both teams aim for early-season supremacy.