Maryland Terrapins vs Alcorn State Braves Picks and Predictions December 1st 2024

Maryland Aims to Sharpen Skills vs. Winless Alcorn State

Maryland Prepares for Big Ten Opener

Maryland will get one last nonconference warm-up before dipping into Big Ten play, hosting winless Alcorn State on Sunday afternoon in College Park, Md.

The Terrapins (6-1) begin their conference slate on Wednesday at home against Ohio State, followed by a challenging road game against No. 13 Purdue on Dec. 8. Afterward, Maryland will briefly return to nonconference action before resuming league play in January.

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Dominance Against Nonconference Foes

Maryland has shown it can compete with elite programs, pushing then-No. 15 Marquette in a close four-point loss and edging Villanova in a one-point win. Against less formidable opponents, the Terrapins have dominated, with all five of their other victories coming by at least 24 points.

Their latest effort was a 91-67 win over Bucknell on Wednesday, led by reserve forward Tafara Gapare, who scored a team-high 19 points.

Head coach Kevin Willard highlighted the team’s ability to capitalize on turnovers, a cornerstone of their success so far this season.

“One of the things we are doing a better job this year is forcing a lot of turnovers and capitalizing on those turnovers,” Willard said. “It allows us to continue to press on multiple possessions. Last year, we pressed one out of every five possessions. We’re pressing four possessions in a row and that is going to wear opposing teams down.”

Alcorn State Seeks First Win

Alcorn State (0-8) comes into the matchup still searching for its first win of the season. The Braves came close on Friday, leading South Alabama by five points with under two minutes left in regulation before falling 74-65 in overtime.

Despite the slow start, Alcorn State head coach Landon Bussie is optimistic about his team’s progress, noting their improvement since suffering early blowout losses by 41 and 55 points.

“I was never concerned about us getting better,” Bussie said in a postgame radio interview. “I’m not going to take my foot off the gas on these guys.”

Key Players to Watch

Maryland’s Derik Queen leads the Terrapins with 16.0 points per game, showcasing his ability to dominate in the paint. On the other side, Alcorn State guard Keionte Cornelius paces the Braves with 9.9 points per game.

Outlook

Maryland will look to fine-tune its aggressive, high-pressure defensive system and extend its win streak to four games, while Alcorn State aims to play spoiler and notch its first victory of the season. With Big Ten play looming, the Terrapins will use Sunday’s matchup as an opportunity to build momentum.