Previewing #6 Virginia basketball’s first road test at Maryland

The opening days of the 2026-27 season could not have gone more differently for Virginia and Maryland.

The ‘Hoos (4-0, 0-0 ACC), fresh off a 30-win season and the only power-conference program to retain all of its eligible players, hit the ground running. With a trio of dominant home wins over Drexel, Northeastern, and Bucknell sandwiching its statement neutral-site victory over then-No. 12 Arkansas, No. 6 Virginia will enter College Park boasting its highest AP Poll ranking since late February 2023.

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Meanwhile, the Terrapins (1-1, 0-0 B10) brought back just four players from last season’s disappointing 12-win season and have already encountered another speed bump as they try to find their footing in the early days of the Buzz Williams era, losing to rival Georgetown by 12 last Saturday.

The vibes in Charlottesville and College Park are at opposite ends of the spectrum, and KenPom projects a six-point Cavaliers win on Friday night. But college basketball never ceases to surprise, and Ryan Odom’s ‘Hoos need to be fully prepared for a rock fight.

Tip-off for the 186th meeting between Virginia and Maryland is set for 8:00 PM EST on Friday at the Xfinity Center in College Park, with TV coverage available on Peacock. In the meantime, here are three Terrapins to keep an eye on and two reasons why the ‘Hoos will need to bring their A-game to take down their former ACC rival.

Three Maryland players to know

#21 | Pharrel Payne

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A 6-foot-9, high-motor fifth-year senior who dominates in the low post, Pharrel Payne personifies Buzz Williams’s gritty, hard-nosed coaching philosophy.

Payne followed his head coach over from Texas A&M, averaging 17.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game in his first season for Maryland last year. Now, after checking in at No. 73 in CBS Sports’ preseason top 100 and 1 players in college basketball list, Payne is off to another hot start, posting 28 points (10-for-14 FG) and eight rebounds against the Hoyas on Saturday.

He’s not a floor-spacer…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/previewing-6-virginia-basketball-first-130200765.html

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Publish date : 2026-11-13 13:02:00

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