Listen Live: Maryland Vs. UNC [Live Audio] ACC/Big Ten Challenge
Listen to play-by-play of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge matchup between No. 2 Maryland and No. 9 UNC from Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina at 9:35 p.m. ET on 105.7 The Fan! (no streaming)
PREVIEW
When: 9:30 PM ET, Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Where: Dean E. Smith Center, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
TV: 9:35 p.m. ET, ESPN
Radio:9:35 p.m. ET, Sports Radio 105.7 FM The Fan Baltimore
By SportsDirect Inc.
Longtime conference rivals Maryland and North Carolina square off Tuesday when the ninth-ranked Tar Heels host the No. 2 Terrapins in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The Tar Heels hope to continue the dominance they exerted toward the end of Maryland's tenure in the ACC, as North Carolina has won eight straight meetings dating to 2010 and 14 of the last 18.
Chapel Hill has been a frequent destination for the Terrapins, if not a fond one – they're 17-58 all-time at North Carolina and 8-19 in the Smith Center. Maryland might have its best team in years, but the Terrapins have hardly been tested by their early-season schedule, which has not yet included a ranked opponent or a true road game. The Tar Heels began the season atop the rankings but toppled after a 71-67 loss at Northern Iowa on Nov. 21. They rebounded to beat Northwestern and Kansas State to win the CBE Hall of Fame Classic last week despite continuing to play without All-America guard Marcus Paige, who has missed the first six games with a broken right hand but is expected to play against Maryland.
ABOUT MARYLAND (6-0):
Fifth-year coach Mark Turgeon has amassed a talented roster led by home-grown point guard Melo Trimble (14.8 points, 4.5 assists). The addition of Georgia Tech transfer Robert Carter (13 points, seven rebounds) has added a post player to complement forward Jake Layman (11.7 points, 5.3 rebounds), and Duke transfer Rasheed Sulaimon (11.2 points) gives the Terrapins a second explosive guard to draw defenses away from Trimble. The emergence of 6-11 freshman Diamond Stone, who has scored in double figures in consecutive games including a career-high 15 Saturday against Cleveland State, could prove to be a difference-maker, and his size inside will be critical against the Tar Heels.
ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA (5-1):
With Paige sidelined, sophomore swingman Justin Jackson has picked up much of the scoring load, putting up a career-high 25 points at Northern Iowa before averaging 21.5 points and nine rebounds to earn MVP honors in the CBE Hall of Fame Classic. Forward Brice Johnson (13 points, 10.3 rebounds) has been a force inside, collecting five double-doubles in six games, and frontcourt mate Kennedy Meeks (14.3 points, 7.5 rebounds) is off to a solid start. The Tar Heels have taken care of the ball despite being without their top ball-handler in Paige, averaging just 10.5 turnovers per game.
TIP-INS
1. Maryland's 10 wins in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge are tied for the second-most in the history of the event.
2. North Carolina is shooting 52.2 percent in the second half this season and has shot 50 percent or better after the break in 13 of its last 16 games dating to last season.
3. The Terrapins have shot 59 percent over their past two games, including 55 percent from 3-point range.
PREDICTION: North Carolina 77, Maryland 74
