Florida vs Maryland: 2021-22 college basketball game preview, TV schedule

New interim head coach Danny Manning and the Maryland Terrapins travel to the Barclays Center to take on the #20 ranked Florida Gators in the Basketball Hall of Fame Invitational.

TV schedule: Sunday, Dec. 12 – 4:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network

Arena: Barclays Center – Brooklyn, NY

It has been a disappointing start to the season for the Maryland Terrapins, which ultimately led to the departure of then-head coach Mark Turgeon right before the team’s previous game against Northwestern – a 67-61 loss. Maryland currently stands at 5-4.

With Maryland, its struggled all across the court, but especially with their shooting. The team is coming in tied for 313th in the nation from three-point land, shooting 28.9% behind the arc. The team also has not scored more than 61 points on their three-game losing streak.

Transfers in Fatts Russell and Qudus Wahab have not lived up to the hype coming into the season that they had. Russell is only averaging 12.1 points per game and shooting 36.6% from the field, after showing promise last season at Rhode Island, while Wahab has dropped in points per game (11.1), rebounds (6.8), and overall minutes on the court (20.4) from his previous season at Georgetown. Both have just been a disappointment and arguably a liability to start the season for the Terrapins.

Florida is coming in after starting the week No.20 and losing to Texas Southern from the SWAC who came into the game winless. Texas Southern won 69-54, the first time a ranked SEC team lost to a SWAC opponent – ever. The team did rebound quite nicely though, beating North Florida by 30 on Wednesday, 85-55.

The Gator’s hot start before the loss to Texas Southern was mainly due to their defensive prowess. No team has scored more than 70 points on them all season, as opponents have only scored 59.1 points per game, forcing 18.2 turnovers, 10.9 steals, and 5.9 blocks.  Their impressive start included wins over No. 21 Ohio State, Florida State and Cal.

Offensively, Colin Castleton has been getting it done, leading the team in points (15.7), rebounds (9.3) and second in assists (2.1). The loss of Tre Mann and Scottie Lewis to the NBA definitely has hurt the team at the guard spot, but their guard rotation has filled in quite okay with Tyree Appleby, Myron Jones, and Phlandrous Fleming Jr. However, not having a star guard like Mann and Lewis were has hurt the offense the Gators that it had last year.

Both teams overall are pretty good defensively, but the slight edge to Florida. However, both teams are putrid offensively, so it may not be the most fun game to watch. Florida still stands at No.20 in the AP Poll, but only 53rd in NET but 26th in KenPom. For Maryland though, the team currently stands at 153rd in NET and 54th in KenPom, after starting the season ranked No.21 in the AP Poll.

I think the game throughout will be sloppy with a lot of good defensive highlights. That will keep the game close, but Florida will pull away with the win slightly near the end of the second half.