Maryland (19-9) vs. Northwestern (20-8)
When: Sunday, Feb. 26 | 12:00 p.m. ET
Where: Xfinity Center (College Park, Md.)
Television: BTN (Streaming on FoxSports) - Watch Live
Broadcasters: Brandon Gaudin (play-by-play), Stephen Bardo (color)
Radio: Maryland Sports Radio Network | Listen Online
Line: Terps -6.5
Over/Under: 129.5
Series history: Maryland leads the all-time series 11-4, with the Terps winning the most recent meeting 94-87 in 2OT on Jan. 12, 2023 in Evanston.
Projected Starting Lineups
Northwestern
Boo Buie (6-foot-2, Sr., G) - Averaging a team-high 17.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and a team-high 4.4 assists and 1.1 steals per game.
Ty Berry (6-foot-3, Jr., G) - Averaging 8.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game.
Chase Audige (6-foot-4, Sr., G) - Averaging 14.5 points and 3.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists and a team-high 2.5 steals per game.
Robbie Beran (6-foot-9, Sr., F) - Averaging 8.0 points and 4.8 rebounds per game.
Matthew Nicholson (7-foot, Jr., C) - Averaging 6.0 points, a team-high 5.6 rebounds and a team-high 1.2 blocks per game.
Maryland
Jahmir Young (6-foot-1, Sr., PG) - Averaging a team-high 16.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, a team-high 3.4 assists and a team-high 1.3 steals per game.
Don Carey (6-foot-5, Sr., SG) - Averaging 6.5 points and 1.9 rebounds per game.
Hakim Hart (6-foot-8, Sr., G/F) - Averaging 12.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.2 steals per game.
Donta Scott (6-foot-8, Sr., F) - Averaging 11.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.
Julian Reese (6-foot-9, Soph., F) - Averaging 11.2 points, a team-high 7.1 rebounds and a team-high 1.0 blocks per game.
How big is Sunday afternoon's game for Maryland? With a win, the Terps would move into a tie for second place in the Big Ten standings with just two games remaining. Equally as important, a win over the Wildcats would give the Terps a possible tie breakers over Northwestern should they finish the season with the same conference record. Maryland already holds a possible tie breaker over Indiana, who completed a season sweep of Purdue with a win over the Boilermakers in West Lafayette, as well as Illinois, who the Terps defeated in their lone meeting back in December.
Sunday's Senior Day will mark the third sellout in the month of February for the Terps, who will honor five seniors, although three -- Jahmir Young, Hakim Hart and Donta Scott -- could potentially return next season due to COVID.
For Maryland, one of the biggest keys Sunday will be ball security. Northwestern comes into the game with three players averaging over a steal per game, including senior guard Chase Audige, who ranks in the top 10 nationally in steals. As a team, Northwestern forces 14.5 turnovers per game. Maryland has played just three teams this season that force more turnovers: UCLA, Tennessee and Rutgers.
Defensively for the Terps, it starts with shutting down lead guard Boo Buie, who has score 20-plus points in four straight games, including a 35-point outburst in the Wildcats' most recent outing at Illinois. Another Northwestern starter Terp fans may remember is senior forward Robbie Beran, who scored a season-high 19 points last season versus the Terps. While only averaging 8 points per game this season, he's a capable three-point shooter who can spread defenses out and open up driving lanes for guards like Buie and fellow senior Chase Audige.
Sophomore big man Julian Reese enters Sunday's game playing some his best basketball of the season over the past month. He'll face another tall test in Northwestern 7-footer Matthew Nicholson, who leads the Wildcats in rebounds and averages 1.2 blocked shots per game. Hart and Scott are also coming off of big performances in the Terps' last win over Minnesota. Look for each of them to use their versatility to cause mismatches on both ends of the floor as they look to go out with a win in what could potentially be their final home game in a Terps uniform.
"Donta has been the most consistent guy for us on the defensive end all year," Willard said following the Minnesota game earlier this week. "He's our anchor. I'm able to do so many things with him defensively."
When: Sunday, Feb. 26 | 12:00 p.m. ET
Where: Xfinity Center (College Park, Md.)
Television: BTN (Streaming on FoxSports) - Watch Live
Broadcasters: Brandon Gaudin (play-by-play), Stephen Bardo (color)
Radio: Maryland Sports Radio Network | Listen Online
Line: Terps -6.5
Over/Under: 129.5
Series history: Maryland leads the all-time series 11-4, with the Terps winning the most recent meeting 94-87 in 2OT on Jan. 12, 2023 in Evanston.
Projected Starting Lineups
Northwestern
Boo Buie (6-foot-2, Sr., G) - Averaging a team-high 17.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and a team-high 4.4 assists and 1.1 steals per game.
Ty Berry (6-foot-3, Jr., G) - Averaging 8.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game.
Chase Audige (6-foot-4, Sr., G) - Averaging 14.5 points and 3.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists and a team-high 2.5 steals per game.
Robbie Beran (6-foot-9, Sr., F) - Averaging 8.0 points and 4.8 rebounds per game.
Matthew Nicholson (7-foot, Jr., C) - Averaging 6.0 points, a team-high 5.6 rebounds and a team-high 1.2 blocks per game.
Maryland
Jahmir Young (6-foot-1, Sr., PG) - Averaging a team-high 16.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, a team-high 3.4 assists and a team-high 1.3 steals per game.
Don Carey (6-foot-5, Sr., SG) - Averaging 6.5 points and 1.9 rebounds per game.
Hakim Hart (6-foot-8, Sr., G/F) - Averaging 12.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.2 steals per game.
Donta Scott (6-foot-8, Sr., F) - Averaging 11.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.
Julian Reese (6-foot-9, Soph., F) - Averaging 11.2 points, a team-high 7.1 rebounds and a team-high 1.0 blocks per game.
How big is Sunday afternoon's game for Maryland? With a win, the Terps would move into a tie for second place in the Big Ten standings with just two games remaining. Equally as important, a win over the Wildcats would give the Terps a possible tie breakers over Northwestern should they finish the season with the same conference record. Maryland already holds a possible tie breaker over Indiana, who completed a season sweep of Purdue with a win over the Boilermakers in West Lafayette, as well as Illinois, who the Terps defeated in their lone meeting back in December.
Sunday's Senior Day will mark the third sellout in the month of February for the Terps, who will honor five seniors, although three -- Jahmir Young, Hakim Hart and Donta Scott -- could potentially return next season due to COVID.
For Maryland, one of the biggest keys Sunday will be ball security. Northwestern comes into the game with three players averaging over a steal per game, including senior guard Chase Audige, who ranks in the top 10 nationally in steals. As a team, Northwestern forces 14.5 turnovers per game. Maryland has played just three teams this season that force more turnovers: UCLA, Tennessee and Rutgers.
Defensively for the Terps, it starts with shutting down lead guard Boo Buie, who has score 20-plus points in four straight games, including a 35-point outburst in the Wildcats' most recent outing at Illinois. Another Northwestern starter Terp fans may remember is senior forward Robbie Beran, who scored a season-high 19 points last season versus the Terps. While only averaging 8 points per game this season, he's a capable three-point shooter who can spread defenses out and open up driving lanes for guards like Buie and fellow senior Chase Audige.
Sophomore big man Julian Reese enters Sunday's game playing some his best basketball of the season over the past month. He'll face another tall test in Northwestern 7-footer Matthew Nicholson, who leads the Wildcats in rebounds and averages 1.2 blocked shots per game. Hart and Scott are also coming off of big performances in the Terps' last win over Minnesota. Look for each of them to use their versatility to cause mismatches on both ends of the floor as they look to go out with a win in what could potentially be their final home game in a Terps uniform.
"Donta has been the most consistent guy for us on the defensive end all year," Willard said following the Minnesota game earlier this week. "He's our anchor. I'm able to do so many things with him defensively."
