College Park, MD – Coming off a rare loss at home, the ranked Duke Blue Devils take to the road, as they invade the Comcast Center for ACC action against the Maryland Terrapins this evening.
The Blue Devils fell at Cameron Indoor Stadium to Florida State last weekend 76-73, ending a 45-game homecourt winning streak. The loss was also the first in league play for Duke, which is tied atop the conference standings with NC State and Florida State at 4-1.
The Terrapins, who will be dedicating their court to former coach Gary Williams prior to this game, come into the contest having lost back-to-back games at Florida State (84-70) and at Temple (73-60). Maryland is 2-2 in- conference, tied with Virginia.
This is the 172nd meeting in this longstanding rivalry. The Blue Devils hold a 110-61 series advantage and have won three straight and nine of the last 10 meetings, overall.
The Blue Devils are one of the top offensive teams in the country, averaging an impressive 80.5 ppg and doing so on .492 shooting, including .409 from behind the arc. Scoring depth is apparent, with five players boasting of double-digit averages at this time. Freshman Austin Rivers leads the way at 14.4 ppg. Seth Curry (12.6 ppg), Ryan Kelly (12.4 ppg) and Andre Dawkins (10.4 ppg) add to the perimeter assault. Mason Plumlee (11.2 ppg, 9.3 rpg) gives the team a solid contributor in the low post. Duke faltered at home for the first time in 45 games, dropping a three-point decision to the surprising Seminoles. Rivers led four Blue Devils in double figures with 19 points. Dawkins added 14 points, while Curry and Kelly chipped in with 12 and 10 points, respectively. Mason Plumlee was neutralized down low, adding just six points and six boards to the losing cause.
Terrell Stoglin put up his usual 20 points, but it was wasted in a 13-point loss to Temple this past weekend. Stoglin was joined in double figures by Pe'Shon Howard (15 pts) and James Padgett (10 pts), but the team delivered on just 4-of-16 from the free-throw line compared to a 9-of-22 showing by the Owls. Scoring depth has been a problem for Maryland this season. Stoglin has the ability to score at will. Fueled by a .410 shooting from behind the arc, Stoglin leads the conference in scoring at 21.2 ppg. Sean Mosely ranks a distant second in the scoring column at 10.2 ppg. Padgett (9.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg) and Alex Len (7.8 ppg, 6.0 rpg) provide the best of the frontcourt options. The numbers at both ends are nearly identical, with the team shooting and allowing 43.4 percent accuracy. The Terps are averaging 68.7 ppg, but leave little room for error, allowing 68.6 ppg.
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