PressBox: Terps Host Longwood In Non-Conference Battle

Terps Host Longwood In Non-Conference Battle

By Kevin Heitz

With ACC action heating up as March Madness quickly approaches, Maryland hosts Longwood tonight during the Terps' final non-conference contest of the regular season.

While the players live in a cliché world where they "take it one game at a time" and "never overlook an opponent," you can forgive Terps fans if they forget about tonight's tipoff.

Maryland is 9-0 at home against non-conference teams, and the Terps spanked Longwood, 106-55, during last season's matchup on Jan. 19, 2010. And, oh yeah, the Lancers are 0-13 on the road this season.

It may not look like a good game on paper, but for Terps fans, there are still a few storylines to keep an eye on:

• Coach Gary Williams is looking for his 665th win, which would pass the legendary UCLA coach John Wooden. Williams his one of only 12 coaches to hit the 600-win mark.

• The Terps have averaged 74.4 points during the past five games, winning four of five.

• Sophomore Jordan Williams continues to lead the nation in double-doubles with 20. He is just two short of Len Elmore's school record 22 in 1974. Williams comes into tonight's game averaging 12 boards, good for third in the nation.

• Freshman guard Pe'Shon Howard has 18 assists to just four turnovers during the Terps' past four games.

ACC ON TAP

While the Terps battle the Lancers, there are two other conference games on tonight's schedule.

Miami travels to Wake Forest looking to keep the Demon Deacons locked in the ACC basement, while the conference's top two teams and the conference's best rivalry, Duke and North Carolina, meet in a battle for first place.

North Carolina (17-5, 7-1 ACC) is coming off an 89-69 beatdown of Florida State. Duke (21-2, 8-1) dispatched NC State, 76-52, this past Saturday.

CLEMSON TOPS BC

During Tuesday's only conference game, Clemson beat Boston College, 77-69, to move into sole possession of fourth place with a 6-4 ACC mark. The Tigers were led by Jeai Grant (17 points) and Demontez Stitt (16).

Posted Feb. 9, 2011