Maryland (8-2) vs. Saint Francis (4-7)
December 17, 2024
7:30 p.m.
XFINITY Center
COLLEGE PARK, MD -- Maryland returns home to host Saint Frances in non-conference play following a week off after a split start to Big Ten play. The game will tip at 7:30 PM on BTN. Fans can listen to the game on the Maryland Sports Radio Network with Voice of the Terps Johnny Holliday calling the action alongside Chris Knoche and Walt Williams.
The Terps are riding a 21-game home win streak against unranked non-conference opponents. Maryland enters the game ranked No. 16 in the NCAA NET, No. 17 in the Torvik ranking, No. 20 in the Kenpom ratings, and No. 24 on EvanMiya.com. Maryland has been explosive offensively averaging 85.5 points this year which ranks as the sixth-best average in program history and ranks No. 20 nationally this season. Defensively, the Terps are giving up just 61.1 points per game which is 16th nationally and the best for the program since 1981-82.
- Holiday Photo on the Court:Season ticket holders are invited to take their family photo on the court postgame with Santa Testudo.
- Season Swishes: Pick up tickets for just $13 and get a free holiday t-shirt. CLICK HERE TO BUY!
Big Notes: Queen, Gillespie, Scoring, And Kill Shots
- In his first week of Big Ten play, Derik Queen did not disappoint averaging 21.5 points and 11.5 rebounds as the Terps defeated Ohio State at home before falling at No. 8 Purdue. Queen had a career-high 26 points against Purdue.
- Ja'Kobi Gillespie also had a big start to Big Ten play averaging 20.5 points and 4.0 assists per game. He was 8-of-15 from three-point range in the two games.
- Maryland leads the nation in 10-0 or better runs - a statistic that the analytics website EvanMiya.com terms a 'Kill Shot'. Maryland has 15 such runs this year which is one shy of matching last year's total number. In 2022-23, the Terps had 27 kill shots which was tied for 11th nationally.
- Maryland leads all Big Ten teams in scoring improvement compared to last season. In 2023-24, Maryland averaged 69.0 points compared to 85.5 per game this year. That's a +16.5 improvement which is the best in the league.
Maryland is averaging 85.5 points per game which is the sixth-best mark in program history.
Ja'Kobi Showing The Range
- Since joining the Terps, Ja'Kobi Gillespie has scored in double figures in eight of his 10 games played. He also had a big start to Big Ten play averaging 20.5 points and 4.0 assists per game. He was 8-of-15 from three-point range in the two games against Ohio State and Purdue.
- Against No. 15 Marquette, Gillespie had a season-high 24 points going 10-of-17 from the floor and 4-of-9 from three-point range. That total was just two shy of matching his career-high of 26 points scored against Southern Illinois (2/14/24) when he was at Belmont.
- Gillespie also leads the team with 32 total assists (3.2 per game) giving him 244 for his career.
- Gillespie now has 877 career points between Belmont and Maryland through 67 total career games played.
- A highly-touted football prospect while in high school, Gillespie received offers from ACC and SEC programs on the gridiron. As a wide receiver, defensive back, and special teams returner, he pulled off a touchdown trifecta with a receiving touchdown, a pick-six, and a punt return in a single-game.
Ja'Kobi Gillespie averaged 20.5 points and 4.0 assists in his first two Big Ten games while going 8-of-15 from three-point range.
Juju Beast
- Julian Reese entered the 2024-25 campaign as one of the top post players in the Big Ten and nationally. Last season, he earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention honors as a junior after being named to the Preseason All-Big Ten Team and to the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award Watch List.
- Reese posted 15 double doubles last season which were the ninth most nationally and stood second in the Big Ten during the regular season.
- Reese has 25 total double-doubles after posting 14 points and 11 rebounds in the win over Alcorn State.
- Dating back to 1996-97, Reese has the fifth-most career double doubles for any Terp.
Queen Is The Truth
- Derik Queen arrived in College Park as one of the most heralded recruits in program history and has lived up to the hype early in the season. From starting his career with a 20/20 double-double to scoring a career-high 26 points at No. 8 Purdue, Queen has quickly shown he is one of the best players in the country.
- Queen leads Maryland in scoring at 17.5 points per game and 8.2 rebounds per game.
- In the Big Ten, Queen has already solidified himself as one of the top players early.
- Since 2008-09, there have been 34 20-point games by Maryland freshmen. In just his first nine games, Queen already has four.
- Since 1996-96, Derik Queen's career-high 26-point performance at No. 8 Purdue marked the most points scored by a Maryland freshman in a true road game since Terrell Stoglin and Justin Jackson each scored 28 points in 2011 and 2017, respectively.
- Queen leads the team lead in scoring at 17.5 points per game. That average is second-best among Maryland freshmen dating back to 1947-48.
