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Maryland’s winning streak at home, now more than a year old, gets the ultimate test on Jan. 2 when the Terrapins host No. 1 Purdue. But first, Maryland (8-4) has a chance to extend that streak to 19 games on Thursday night with a tune-up against Coppin State (1-12) in College Park, Md. The Terrapins are coming off a 69-60 win Friday at UCLA that was propelled by a virtuoso performance from Jahmir Young, who

No. 9 North Carolina has experienced plenty since last playing a home game earlier this month. The Tar Heels, who have been off since Dec. 20, will look to tune up for their upcoming Atlantic Coast Conference schedule with a nonconference clash against Charleston Southern on Friday night in Chapel Hill, N.C. North Carolina (8-3) had three big-time contests this month, going to New York and falling to UConn, traveling to Atlanta and coming up

Although No. 1 Purdue has played a tough non-conference schedule this season, head coach Matt Painter said games against lesser-known opponents have provided a different sort of challenge. Painter said it’s easy to get up for games against the likes of Arizona, Tennessee, Marquette or Gonzaga (all games that the Boilermakers have won this season). He then added that it can be a temptation to relax in games such as Friday’s contest against Eastern Kentucky

After ending a tough nonconference stretch with their first loss of the season, No. 12 Oklahoma will get a bit of a reprieve Thursday when they take on Central Arkansas in Norman, Okla. The Sooners (10-1) are coming off an 81-69 loss to North Carolina eight days earlier. The loss ended a four-game stretch where the Sooners beat Providence, Arkansas and Green Bay. Oklahoma also has wins over Iowa and Southern California this year. “I

After getting knocked out of the Top 25 with a lopsided loss at Memphis, Virginia tries to regroup at home against Morgan State in its final nonconference game Wednesday night in Charlottesville, Va. The Cavaliers (9-2) had the holiday break to dwell on a 77-54 setback at then-No. 23 Memphis on Dec. 19 that snapped their five-game winning streak. Morgan State arrives in town following Friday’s 89-75 loss to No. 20 James Madison. It was

Southern California felt it was a national championship contender and certainly was resembling one when the squad was unbeaten through six games. But the rest of the season was a disaster for the Trojans, who finish the campaign in a mid-level bowl when it opposes No. 15 Louisville in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego. USC (7-5) limped to the finish with five losses in six games and had to rally from 14 points down

TCU and Hawaii are set for a matchup in the third-place game of the Diamond Head Classic on Sunday in Honolulu, with each looking to rebound from a loss in Friday’s semifinals. The Horned Frogs (9-2) have won two of their past three and opened the tournament with a 111-87 win over Old Dominion before falling to Nevada, 88-75. The Horned Frogs battled back late in the second half after trailing by double digits, but

Two teams on the rise will square off for the second time this season when the Western Conference-leading Minnesota Timberwolves visit the Sacramento Kings on Saturday night. The Kings recorded a 124-111 victory in Minneapolis on Nov. 24 in the first battle between perennially losing teams that are enjoying a resurgence. Minnesota is tied with the Boston Celtics for the league’s best record at 21-6. The Timberwolves are shooting for their third straight postseason berth

St. John’s finally pleased the demanding Rick Pitino on Wednesday night. But the Red Storm will enjoy no honeymoon period as they must face No. 5 UConn three days after the Huskies infuriated the hard-driving Dan Hurley. UConn will try to bounce back from a disappointing Big East opener Saturday night when the Huskies host St. John’s in Hartford, Conn. UConn’s impressive early-season surge ended Wednesday night when the visiting Huskies were upset by Seton

Alabama needs to experience something good after a brutal stretch. The Crimson Tide might receive their wish Saturday afternoon as Eastern Kentucky comes to Tuscaloosa, Ala. Alabama (6-5) lost its most recent game Wednesday to No. 4 Arizona by 87-74 in Phoenix, ending a stretch of three consecutive games against Top 10 opponents. That left the Crimson Tide with a three-game losing streak, with other losses to Purdue and Creighton during the skid. “We have