Maryland men’s basketball is having a busy week. The Terps traveled to Las Vegas to play three games in three days, and their two matchups – No. 8 Alabama and No. 12 Gonzaga – were certainly early season measuring sticks. Although Maryland lost both of those games by a combined 72 points, it certainly gave head coach Buzz Williams a chance to look at some of his team’s shortcomings before conference play began.
But things will get easier for the Terps on Tuesday as they prepare to take on Wagner in College Park.
Wagner has faced two teams that Maryland has also played so far in Georgetown and UMBC (Exhibition). Against the Hoyas, the Seahawks scored 72 points – 12 more than the Terps did when facing off against Georgetown. But Wagner also gave up 92 points in that contest. It lost to UMBC 71–70 in overtime.
Tuesday’s game will begin at 8 p.m. and will air on the Big Ten Network.
Wagner Seahawks (1–5, 0–0 Northeast Conference)
2024-25 records: 14-16, 6-10 Northeast Conference
Head coach Donald Copeland He was named head coach following the conclusion of the 2021–22 season, and is currently in his fourth year. During his tenure, he led the program to its first-ever NCAA Tournament win, a 71–68 victory over Howard in the First Four in 2024. That same season, the Seahawks captured the NEC Tournament title after winning three straight road games en route to the championship.
Copeland’s team did not perform that well last year and got off to a slow start this year as well. The team’s only win to date was a 103–101 overtime win over Manhattan on November 26.
Nick Jones, junior guard, 6-foot-2, No. 0 – Jones is the team’s leading scorer with 16.7 points per game on 47.1% shooting. He is first on the team in steals (12) and second on the team in assists (12). The Maryland native averaged 16.6 points last season at NJCAA Division II Harcum College.
Eddie Placer, junior guard, 6-foot-5, No. 7 – Placer is the team’s sniper, shooting a whopping 48.1% from 3-point range on a team-leading 27 attempts. He is second on the team with 11.2 points per game and second with five steals. Last season, Placer played at NJCAA Division I Daytona State, where he averaged 9.5 points and 3.7 rebounds.
Jaden Baker, redshirt senior guard, 6-foot-2, No. 9 – Baker is the team’s primary ball handler, leading the Seahawks with 20 assists so far. Despite shooting only 36.4% from the field, he is Wagner’s third leading scorer with 9.5 points per game. Baker is also the only player on the team to start all six games this season.
Three point shooting. Wagner has the best 3-point shooting program in the NEC, going 41.3% from beyond the arc on 128 attempts. Next closest in terms of percentage is Central Connecticut, where 35.9% got in 128 attempts. This efficiency downtown is something the Terps will need to monitor.
Turnover Margin. Like the Terps in recent times, the Seahawks haven’t exactly been elite at taking care of the ball. Among members of its conference, Wagner has the second-worst turnover margin at -4.33. This averages 15 turnovers per game.
1. Must be Payne-dominant game. Wagner’s strength lies in its abundant backcourt and shooters, as opposed to its interior. The Terps will once again be able to take advantage of the interior presence talent disparity, and Farrell Payne will have an opportunity to dominate.
2. Miles Rice effect. The transfer guard has not lived up to his billing in College Park so far, and despite early injuries, fans will likely want to see more from Rice than what he has provided so far. Against Alabama, he shot 0-of-4 and did not play at all in the second half. Tuesday provides a chance for a bounce-back performance.
3. What is the result of Alston and Del Pino flash? There were moments in Las Vegas when both Guillermo Del Pino and Alex Alston highlighted their potential as contributing players. It will be interesting to see if Williams continues to rely on Del Pino as the primary ball handler in a lineup featuring Payne, and if Alston can continue to be an effective floor spacer and versatile defender.
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