5-2 Maryland Hosts Virginia Tech In The ACC / Big Ten Challenge

This evening the 5-2 Maryland Terrapins host 5-2 Virginia Tech in the annual ACC / Big Ten Challenge.

According to ESPN’s Match-up Indicator, The Hokies arrive at College Park as the slight favorite tonight (51.6% chance of victory).

After winning their initial five games vs. Maine, at Navy, Radford, St. Francis, and Merrimack; Virginia Tech has dropped consecutive decisions to #9 Memphis, and #25 Xavier.

Following a long stint with Wofford, this is Head Coach Mike Young’s third campaign manning the bench for Virginia Tech.

In Young’s rotation, he has five players averaging 27 minutes a game, and four others averaging between 9 and 16 minutes per.

The two leading scorers are 6’4 Junior Guard Nahiem Alleyne, and 6’9 Senior Forward (and Berlin, Maryland native) Keve Aluma.

Alleyne is averaging 13.1 ppg, on 10.6 field goal attempts. He’s shooting 40.6% from 3, and making 95.5% of his free attempts (3.1 per).

Aluma – who averaged 15.2 ppg, and 7.9 rebounds per game last year – has seen his averages drop to 12.6 ppg, 5.4 boards.

Per KenPom:

Virginia Tech is 26th overall, with the 33rd overall adjusted offense, and the 24th overall adjusted defense.

Maryland enters tonight 45th overall, with the 60th overall adjusted offense, and the 43rd overall adjusted defense.

The Hokies are 333rd in Tempo, while Maryland is 166th.

Maryland Quick Hits

• After tonight, Maryland jumps into Big Ten play Sunday when they host Northwestern. That is followed by three more Out-of-Conference games vs. Florida, Loyola (MD), and Brown.

• Eric Ayala, Fatts Russell, and Donta Scott are each averaging 30+ minutes per game.

• Marcus Dockery has played 3 minutes in 1 game. James Graham III has played 5 minutes in 1 game. Pavlo Dziuba has been on the court in 3 games, while Ike Cornish, and Arnaud Revaz have yet to see any action.

• With Georgetown last year, Qudus Wahab averaged 28 minutes per game, and 8.3 Field Goal Attempts per. With MD, those averages are down to 19 minutes per game, and 6.9 FGAs.

• Scott, Russell, Ian Martinez, and Xavier Green are all averaging 27.6% and under from 3.

• Ayala is at 30.2% from outside, while Hakim Hart is leading the way at 35%.

• Martinez was 49.5% from the floor last year for Utah, on 3.7 FGA’s per. With MD, that shooting percentage has dropped to 37.8%, while the FGA’s have increased to 5.3.

• Russell’s FG Attempts per game are down with MD compared to last year in Rhode Island (12.1 to 10.1); but his FG % is up (40.8% vs. 33.7%). He is getting to the line less though (5.7 attempts per this year vs. 6.9 last year), and he’s converting at a lower percentage (70% this year, 80% last year) once there. His assists, rebounding, and steals are also down.

• Simon Wright (Elon Grad transfer) had 23 minutes vs. Vermont, and has 5 minutes combined in three other games.

• Hart exploded for 24 points against Richmond, going 8 for 9 from the floor. In the six other games, he has not reached double figures in scoring. In four of those games, he scored 2 or less. His attempts per game are down from 5.4 last year to 4.3 this year.

• Scott is getting more attempts per game this year (9.9 vs. 7.6 last year); but his scoring is down to 10.3ppg vs. 11ppg last year. Mainly that is due to his 3 point shooting decreasing from 43.8% on 3.6 attempts per last, to 27.6% on 4.1 attempts per this year. He is converting at a higher rate at the line, and his rebounding is also up.

• Green (Old Dominion Grad transfer) started 90 games the last 3 years for the Monarchs, averaging 30+ minutes per game. With MD, he’s averaging 16.7 minutes per game off the bench. That dropped some in the Bahamas though, as he had 10 minutes vs. Richmond, and 14 vs. Louisville. For his career, he’s 37% from the floor, including 35% from 3. With MD, he’s 21% from the floor (just 2 FGA’s per), including 20% from 3.

• Ayala is averaging the same 15.1 ppg he averaged last year, but he’s taking three more shots per game. His 3 point % is down, with his 3 point attempts up. His FT % is down, and his FT attempts are down. Rebounding, and assists both up slightly.

• Freshman Julian Reese is averaging 7.9 ppg, and 4.4 boards across 18.6 minutes per. He’s scored in double figures three times, and he’s had at-least 5 rebounds four times. He’s 16 for 19 at the foul line, and he’s had at-least 1 block in 6 of the 7 Maryland games so far.

• Maryland is 200th Nationally (71.1 ppg) in Scoring Offense.
• Maryland is 150th Nationally (67.3 ppg) in Scoring Defense.

After losing to Louisville in the Finals of The Bahamas Championship, tonight and the 12th vs. Florida represent the last opportunities for Maryland to add out-of-conference wins of note to their resume.