The Terps play their first game in more than a week.
After an eight-day break, Maryland men’s basketball returns to action Tuesday against Saint Francis (PA).
Last Sunday, the Terps suffered their second loss of the season at then-No. 8 Purdue, 83-78. The game was tied with seven minutes remaining, but Maryland crumbled in the final five minutes and missed out on an upset win.
Tuesday’s game will begin at 7:30 p.m. and air on Big Ten Network.
Saint Francis Red Flash (4-7, 0-0 Northeast Conference)
2023-24 record: 8-22, 4-11 NEC
Head coach Rob Krimmel is in his 13th season with the program and led the team to an NEC Tournament championship in 2016-17. The Red Flash have struggled under Krimmel in recent years, though, finishing with a losing record in each of the last four seasons.
This year, Saint Francis is off to another rough start in nonconference play, and have lost two of its last three games, including a 69-66 loss to Niagara on Saturday.
Players to watch
Bobby Rosenberger III, sophomore guard, 6-foot-5, No. 14 — Rosenberger is one of two starters from last year’s team still with the Red Flash, and he has accepted the increased responsibility appropriately. He leads the team with 13.5 points per game, shooting 47.1% from the field, 30.9% from three and 81% from the free-throw line. He also averages 5.1 rebounds per game and 1.9 assists per game.
Last season, he posted nine points per game, 4.8 rebounds per game and 1.8 assists per game.
Riley Parker, junior guard, 6-foot-2, No. 11 — Along with Rosenberger, Parker has started in all 11 games for Saint Francis this season. He is averaging 10.3 points — the second most on the team — 3.8 rebounds and a team-high 4.4 assists per game.
He spent the last two seasons at Cochise College, a Division I junior college program.
Jeremy Clayville, freshman guard, 6-foot, No. 7 — Clayville is the Red Flash’s leading scorer off the bench, averaging 9.2 points per game. Most of his points have come from 3-point range as well; Clayville is shooting 43.9% from deep on 5.7 attempts per game. He also leads the team with two steals per game.
Strength
Guard depth. Saint Francis’ success lies in the hands of its guard play, led by Rosenberger, Parker and Clayville. Sophomore guard Ace Talbert also averages 10.2 points per game, but he has missed the last six games. If the Red Flash have any chance at beating the Terps, it starts on the perimeter.
Weakness
Paint protection. Led by 6-foot-8 forward Miles Webb, Saint Francis’ paint protection has been relatively weak this season. The Red Flash rank eighth of nine teams in the NEC with 2.4 blocks per game. Part of these struggles have to do with the absence of forward Valentino Pinedo, who has missed the last five games.
Three things to watch
1. A potential bounce-back game for Reese. Julian Reese struggled mightily in Maryland’s loss to Purdue, fouling out after 23 minutes, which aided the Terps late-game collapse. Even when he was on the court, though, Reese was not particularly effective, shooting 2-of-6 from the field for six points, while totaling seven rebounds, two blocks and two turnovers. Against a weaker opponent without much of a paint presence, Reese could be fed early and often, hoping to make amends from last game.
2. Can Queen develop a 3-point shot? Derik Queen knocked down his first collegiate 3-pointer against Purdue, shooting 2 for 5 on the day. If Queen can expand his game beyond the arc consistently, he will be extremely difficult to game plan against, and open up space for Reese and other Terps attacking the paint.
3. A potential look-ahead game. Saint Francis poses little threat to the Terps, who have dominated low-major opponents this season, defeating all six by an average of 38 points per game. With an exciting nonconference game against Syracuse in the Gotham Classic at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, on deck, the Terps could find themselves overlooking the Red Flash.