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Virginia vs. Maryland: 2018-19 college basketball game preview, TV schedule

By Brian Rauf

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - NOVEMBER 06: De'Andre Hunter #12 of the Virginia Cavaliers shoots in the second half during a game against the Towson Tigers at John Paul Jones Arena on November 6, 2018 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - NOVEMBER 06: De'Andre Hunter #12 of the Virginia Cavaliers shoots in the second half during a game against the Towson Tigers at John Paul Jones Arena on November 6, 2018 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /
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Virginia and Maryland meet in a matchup of former conference rivals in the ACC–Big Ten Challenge. Who will add a big win to their resume?

TV schedule: Wednesday, Nov. 28, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Arena: Xfinity Center in College Park, MD

Virginia and Maryland have met 182 times on the basketball court since 1913 but have not met since 2014 when the Terrapins left the ACC for the Big Ten. The two teams met that season in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge but have not played each other since.

This game serves as a prime opportunity for Maryland to reassert themselves on the national stage. They missed the NCAA Tournament last year, snapping a streak of three consecutive appearances, placing head coach Mark Turgeon firmly on the hot seat going into this season.

The Terps are hoping that a trio of stars in Anthony Cowan (16.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 4.7 apg), Bruno Fernando (16.2 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 2.5 bpg), and freshman Jalen Smith (13.2 ppg, 7.5 rpg) can help them earn a statement win over the Cavaliers.

However, doing so will make a little bit of history. Maryland is 0-4 in the challenge since switching conferences. On the flip side, Virginia has won their last four games in the challenge.

UVA has used head coach Tony Bennett’s suffocating defense to become one of the country’s best teams on a yearly basis, but they’re still trying to wash the bad taste of that upset loss to UMBC out of their mouth.

The Cavaliers have risen to No. 4 in the country and are 6-0 on the season after winning the Battle 4 Atlantis. Maryland has their trio, but UVA’s combination of De’Andre Hunter (16.8 ppg, 6.3 rpg), Ty Jerome (14.0 ppg, 4.5 apg), and Kyle Guy (12.2 ppg) is one of the best in the country.

Next. ACC/Big Ten Challenge Preview. dark

Virginia plays at the slowest rate in the country, has the nation’s second-most efficient defense, and ranks in the top five in turnover rate. They’ll slow this game down, make it ugly, and make Maryland out-execute them – which the Terrapins are not good enough to do.

Prediction: Virginia wins 69-58

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