The University of Maryland will likely reveal their entire 2010-11 Men’s Basketball schedule this coming week.
Despite the full schedule being unknown, we do know of the Major conference opponents the Terrapins will face this year.
11/18 vs. Pittsburgh in the Semi-Final of the Coaches vs. Cancer Tourney at Madison Square Garden.
11/19 vs. Illinois or Texas in the Final or Consolation of the Coaches vs. Cancer Tourney.
12/1 @ Penn State as part of the ACC vs. Big 10 Challenge.
12/5 vs. Temple in the BB&T Tournament at the Verizon Center.
It has also been rumored that Maryland will again face Villanova, this time in Philadelphia. It is possible that game is not played until the 2011-12 season though. With Pittsburgh, Penn State, and Temple already on the schedule; it would only be appropriate to have to face another team from Pennsylvania.
Here are some early previews on the known and potential opponents:
Pittsburgh:
http://espn.go.com/ncb/notebook/_/page/notebooksummershootaround100825/big-east
“Jamie Dixon has a great program. Not good, but great. Every time you think the Panthers will take a step back, they find a way to win and wow you with high-level consistency and fight. With a young and inexperienced team last year, Pitt seemed to will itself to 25 wins and the best scoring defense in the league. This season, Ashton Gibbs returns with the confidence of a star; Gilbert Brown should have his best year, and was very good on a tour of Ireland; Brad Wannamaker brings toughness and leadership; Gary McGhee brings strength and finishing ability; and Dante Taylor will be far better and more productive. Pitt should have the best team in the Big East when it is all said and done.”
Villanova:
“Last season, the Wildcats were a bit too young in spots to weather the tough schedule and the NCAA tournament. Yet Villanova went 25-8 and finished in a tie for second in the conference with a 13-5 record. The Wildcats finished second in the league in scoring, but second to last in scoring defense, which seemed unusual for such a good team. Nova allowed 73 points per game, yet finished fourth in the Big East in field goal percentage defense and rebound margin. The difference was at the free throw line. Villanova was aggressive without discipline far too often last year, and allowed opponents to shoot an obscene 910 free throws (27.5 FTA per game). This season, even with Scottie Reynolds and his 18 points per game gone, the Cats can be contenders for it all if they play defense without fouling. Jay Wright has always encouraged his guards to have an attack mentality and to make individual plays when things break down, and Villanova will still seek mismatches and switch screens, as always. Corey Fisher is set to have his best year and to take over; Antonio Pena should be better in the post; and sophomores Dominic Cheek, Mouph Yarou and Maalik Wayns should be ready to carry a load. The issue will be toughness. Who will bring it, and who will set the tone on the defensive end?”
Texas:
http://espn.go.com/ncb/notebook/_/page/notebooksummershootaround100826/big-12
“After a 17-0 start, nothing seemed to go right for Rick Barnes and the Longhorns. Graduation hit Texas hard, so fellow Canadian freshmen and McDonald’s All-Americans, Cory Joseph and Tristan Thompson, will get to jump-start this team immediately. Joseph’s leadership at point guard is sorely needed and will allow sophomore J’Covan Brown to play off the ball more.How do you solve a problem like too much talent? That was Rick Barnes’ issue during last season’s historic collapse, which saw an insanely talented Longhorns team drop from No. 1 in the country to a sixth-place Big 12 finish. The Longhorns are still very talented, even after the recent transfer of previously injured guard Varez Ward to Auburn.”
Illinois:
http://insider.espn.go.com/ncb/insider/news/story?id=5416676&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fncb%2finsider%2fnews%2fstory%3fid%3d5416676
“Virtually the same group that swallowed the bitter pill of being the 66th-best team in 2009-10 is back on campus, and the hype surrounding UI is quietly growing. Illinois has been mentioned as a potential dark-horse candidate for the Big Ten title, a third option for those who don’t expect Purdue or Michigan State to quickly distance themselves once conference play begins. Illinois returns 91.7 percent of minutes per game as well as 91.8 percent of points per game — both highs in the conference. That, along with a stacked incoming class, should help spread the load this season.”
Penn State:
“Penn State will return four senior starters led by All-Big Ten point-guard Talor Battle for the Nittany Lions’ eighth season under head coach Ed DeChellis. Battle, who finished second in the Big Ten scoring 18.5 ppg last season, leads a group of five of Penn State’s top six scorers from last season that return accounting for 75 percent of the Lions’ scoring and 67 percent of the rebounding. Battle will join senior forwards David Jackson (9.5 ppg), Jeff Brooks (7.4 ppg) and Andrew Jones (6.0 ppg) to form the most senior laden roster in the DeChellis era.”
Temple:
http://espn.go.com/ncb/notebook/_/page/notebooksummershootaround100818/atlantic-10
“The Owls were better than they showed in their first-round loss in the NCAA tournament, but part of that was the Cornell team they ran into. Temple won 29 games last season, and it could have been a Sweet 16 team with the right draw. This season, Fran Dunphy returns stud rebounder and scorer Lavoy Allen (who played for the USA select team that played against the USA national team) and Juan Fernandez, an outstanding guard. A key will be the continued development of Micheal Eric, who can be a difference-maker inside. Freshman guard Aaron Brown should help immediately and has international experience.”
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