Maryland looks to get a big home win against a ranked Marquette squad. Can they make some national noise on Friday night?
TV schedule: Friday, November 15th, 8:00 pm ET. FS1
Arena: XFINITY Center in College Park, Maryland
It hasn't been a strong start for the Big East, with teams like Butler, Villanova, and Seton Hall taking early losses. The good news is that the top teams, including the Marquette Golden Eagles (3-0), have all handled business.
The No. 15 team in the country hasn't been overly dominant, with recent close wins over Central Michigan and George Mason, where they could've been in trouble in the second half. However, thanks to star guard Kameron Jones, they remain unbeaten. The senior guard leads the team with 22.7 ppg and 6.3 apg and is playing at an All-American level so far.
After losing former Big East Player of the Year Tyler Kolek and forward Oso Ighodaro, the question entering the season was who'd step up in their place for Marquette. Two players have emerged so far in junior guard Chase Ross (15.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg, and 4.0 apg) and senior forward, David Joplin (15.3 ppg and 6.7 rpg). This new "Big 3" could be as good as previous groups for the Golden Eagles, with Jones looking like one of the best players in the country.
Their first true test comes Friday on the road at Maryland (3-0). They have a trio of 24+ point wins over Florida A&M, Mount St. Mary's, and Manhattan, and will also have tougher competition to face. They've been led by several new faces, including Virginia Tech transfer Rodney Rice (16.7 ppg), 5-star freshman center Derik Queen (13.7 ppg and 7.0 rpg), and point guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie (13.7 ppg).
The defense for the Terps (5th nationally at 51.3 ppg allowed) has looked good against inferior competition but will it withstand Marquette? Plus, the shooting concerns, which plagued them all of last season, remains early. They're shooting just 29% from deep through three games and the defenses will only get tougher.
If Maryland can make their shots at home, they'll have the chance to get the upset. But they haven't defended someone like Kam Jones, who'll have another big night to get the road win.
Prediction: Marquette 73, Maryland 65