Syracuse will try to snap its losing streak when it heads to College Park to take on Maryland. Here is a quick look at the game:
DREAM SCENARIO: Maryland isn’t an NCAA tournament team right now. In fact, they’re barely on the fringe of the bubble. The Terps are seventh in the ACC with a 7-7 conference record and have a 15-12 overall record. But with games against Syracuse and Clemson this week, it could either launch, or torpedo, their NCAA hopes. A win over the Orange would be the resume win that the Terrapins have so desperately lacked this year. A victory over the Tigers would potentially vault Maryland into sixth in the ACC standings. That would leave two more games against Virginia Tech and Virginia. Running the table would give Maryland 19 wins on the season, and a good showing in the ACC tournament would probably be enough. Then again, this is the dream scenario for the Terps, who are realistically left with a razor-thin margin in their final season in the ACC.
» Related: Where does Syracuse go after dropping two games?
SCOUTING THE TERRAPINS: The Terps will have had six days off since their last game, and Maryland is expecting a sellout crowd at the Comcast Center, with the students planning a “Flash Mob” that made headlines against Duke last year. Dez Wells leads the team in scoring at 14.8 points per game after having diversified his offensive portfolio this season. Though Wells is mostly known for his powerful drives to the basket, he can also score on his midrange jumper and capped a brilliant 21-point performance against Miami on Jan. 29 with a game-winning 3-pointer. Michigan transfer Evan Smotrycz averages 11.0 ppg and a team best 6.2 rpg.
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING: The last time these two teams met was in the 2008 NIT. Jonny Flynn scored 23 points and Donte Greene added 16 as the Orange advanced to the quarterfinals with a 88-72 win. Maryland owns the all-time series between the two teams, 5-2.
GAME INFORMATION: Monday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. at the Comcast Center in College Park, Maryland. TV: ESPN.
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