Terps Host Northwestern for B1G Opener Sunday

Maryland (5-3) vs. Northwestern (5-2)
December 5, 2021
XFINITY Center
12:00 pm EDT

COLLEGE PARK, MD - The Maryland men's basketball team looks to bounce back Sunday when it opens Big Ten Conference play against Northwestern at noon on Big Ten Network. The Terrapins are 5-2 in conference openers since joining the league in 2014-15.

NORTHWESTERN STORYLINES

CHANGE OF LEADERSHIP

On Friday afternoon, Maryland Athletics announced it had mutually parted ways with head coach Mark Turgeon, who had been at the helm of the program since 2011-12.
Assistant coach Danny Manning, one of the most accomplished basketball figures of all time, was tabbed by Director of Athletics Damon Evans to serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the season.

BIG TEN PLAY IS BACK

Maryland is set to open its eighth season in the Big Ten Conference, having finished in the top-5 in five of its first seven seasons.
The Terrapins are 82-50 (.621) in the Big Ten in its tenure, a mark that ranks fourth in the conference in that seven-year span. Maryland claimed a share of the Big Ten Championship two seasons ago in 2019-20, before the season was cut short due to COVID-19.

Student section. NCAA MBB: Maryland Terrapins vs. Virginia Tech Hokies at XFINITY Center in College Park, MD on Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. Maddie Kyler/Maryland Terrapins

PLAYING WITH HART

Junior Hakim Hart broke out for a season-high 24 points on 8-of-9 shooting, including 19 in the second half, as Maryland defeated Richmond, 86-80, on Thanksgiving in the Bahamas.
The Terrapins trailed by nine points at the break and outscored the Spiders by 15 in the second half.

Hakim Hart (13)NCAA MBB: Maryland Terrapins vs. Richmond Spiders at Baha Mar in Nassau, Bahamas on Thursday, Nov. 25, 2021. Zach Bland/Maryland Terrapins

BALANCE IS KEY

Through eight games of the season, the Terrapins have presented a balanced scoring attack with four players averaging double-figures.
Junior Qudus Wahab most recently scored 18 points, including 14 in the first half, in Maryland's defeat to Virginia Tech on Dec. 1.

Fatts Russell (4)NCAA MBB: Maryland Terrapins vs. Richmond Spiders at Baha Mar in Nassau, Bahamas on Thursday, Nov. 25, 2021. Zach Bland/Maryland Terrapins

ALL EYES ON AYALA

Maryland senior Eric Ayala surpassed the 1,000-point milestone in the first game of the season against Quinnipiac, becoming the 58th player in program history to do so.
Against George Mason (11/17), Ayala passed Walt Williams for 13th in program history in 3-pointers made. He currently sits at 165 3-pointers for his career. Former teammate Aaron Wiggins (2018-21) ranks 12th with 172.
Prior to the season, Ayala was selected Preseason All-Big Ten and is on the watch lists for the Wooden Award and Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award.

Eric Ayala (5)NCAA MBBD: #20 Maryland Terrapins vs. Hofstra Pride at XFINITY Center in College Park, Maryland on Friday, Nov. 19, 2021. Zach Bland/Maryland Terrapins

SERIES HISTORY

Maryland holds a formidable 10-3 all-time record against Northwestern, having won 9-of-11 meetings since becoming conference foes in 2014-15.
The Terps are undefeated (5-0) at home against the Wildcats, including a 76-67 victory in the last meeting in College Park on Feb. 18, 2020, when Jalen Smith had 22 points and a career-best 19 rebounds.

Northwestern University against Maryland March 3, 2021 in Evanston, Ill.

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Players Mentioned

#2 Aaron Wiggins: G; 6' 6"; Junior

#5 Eric Ayala: G; 6' 5"; Senior

#13 Hakim Hart: G; 6' 8"; Junior

#33 Qudus Wahab: F; 6' 11"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#2 Aaron Wiggins
: 6' 6"; Junior
: G

#5 Eric Ayala
: 6' 5"; Senior
: G

#13 Hakim Hart
: 6' 8"; Junior
: G

#33 Qudus Wahab
: 6' 11"; Junior
: F