Maryland Basketball: Terps will face Syracuse in ACC/Big Ten Challenge
By Chris Bengel
The Maryland basketball team learned another date on their 2017-18 schedule on Thursday.
It was announced that the Terrapins will travel to Syracuse for the annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Maryland last faced Syracuse when the two teams were ACC foes back in 2014.
Among the other matchups in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge are Notre Dame/Michigan State, Duke/Indiana, Michigan/North Carolina, Louisville/Purdue, and Wisconsin/Virginia.
The Terps haven’t exactly fared well since joining the Big Ten. Maryland has gone 0-3 thus far, including a 73-59 loss at the hands of Pittsburgh in 2016.
Maryland also fell to North Carolina and Virginia in the annual event.
The Terps have faced the Orange eight times in the past and accumulated a 5-3 record in the series. On Feb. 24, 2014, Syracuse topped Maryland 57-55 in College Park behind 20 points from guard Tyler Ennis.
Maryland’s Seth Allen also had a strong game with 22 points (6-of-11 shooting). He also hit six of nine shots from beyond the arc.
Despite losing star guard Melo Trimble to the NBA Draft, the Terps still have a ton of talent returning to the program.
The freshmen trio of guards Anthony Cowan and Kevin Huerter and forward Justin Jackson are back in the fold. In addition, Maryland has two very intriguing recruits joining the team in guard Darryl Morsell and big man Bruno Fernando.
The Terps will certainly be tested during nonconference play. In addition to having to face Syracuse, they’ll take on Butler in the annual Gavitt Tipoff Games.
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Maryland also will face St. Bonaventure in the Emerald Coast Classic, which was announced last week.