Maryland men’s basketball vs. Wagner preview

Maryland men’s basketball is coming off quite the busy week. The Terps traveled to Las Vegas to play three games in three days, and two of their matchups — No. 8 Alabama and No. 12 Gonzaga — were certainly early-season measuring sticks. Though Maryland lost both of those games by a combined 72 points, it assuredly gave head coach Buzz Williams a chance to see some of his team’s deficiencies before the start of conference play.

But things will get easier for the Terps on Tuesday, as they’re set to take on Wagner back home in College Park.

Wagner has faced two teams that Maryland has also played thus far in Georgetown and UMBC (exhibition). Against the Hoyas, the Seahawks put up 72 points — 12 more than the Terps did when they faced off against Georgetown. But Wagner also gave up 92 points in that contest. It lost 71-70 in overtime to UMBC.

Tuesday’s game will begin at 8 p.m. and air on Big Ten Network.

Wagner Seahawks (1-5, 0-0 Northeast Conference)

2024-25 record: 14-16, 6-10 Northeast Conference

Head coach Donald Copeland was named head coach following the conclusion of the 2021-22 season, and he is currently in his fourth year at the helm. During his tenure, he has ushered the program to its first-ever NCAA Tournament win, a 71-68 victory over Howard in the First Four in 2024. That same season, the Seahawks grabbed the NEC Tournament title after winning three straight road games en route to the championship.

Copeland’s squad didn’t perform quite as well last year, and they’re off to another slow start this year, too. The team’s only win so far was a 103-101 overtime victory over Manhattan on Nov. 26.

Players to watch

Nick Jones, junior guard, 6-foot-2, No. 0 — Jones is the team’s leading scorer with 16.7 points per game on 47.1% shooting. He’s also first on the team in steals (12) and second on the team in assists (12). The Maryland native averaged 16.6 points last season at NJCAA Division II Harcum College.

Eddie Placer, junior guard, 6-foot-5, No. 7 — Placer is the team’s sniper, shooting a wild 48.1% from 3-point range on a team-leading 27 attempts. He’s also second on the team in scoring with 11.2 points per game and tied for second with five steals. Last season, Placer played at NJCAA Division I Daytona State, where he averaged 9.5 points and 3.7 rebounds.

Jaden Baker, redshirt senior guard, 6-foot-2, No. 9 — Baker is the team’s primary ball handler, leading the Seahawks with 20 assists so far. Despite shooting just 36.4% from the field, he’s Wagner’s third-leading scorer with 9.5 points per game. Baker is also the team’s only player to start all six games this season.

Strength

Three-point shooting. Wagner is far and away the best 3-point shooting program in the NEC, going 41.3% from beyond the arc on 128 attempts. The next closest in terms of percentage is Central Connecticut at 35.9% on 128 attempts. This proficiency from downtown is something the Terps will need to monitor.

Weakness

Turnover margin. Like the Terps in recent affairs, the Seahawks have not exactly been elite at taking care of the ball. Among the members of their conference, Wagner has the second-worst turnover margin at -4.33. It averages 15 turnovers per game.

Three things to watch

1. Should be a Payne-dominant game. Wagner’s strengths lie in its prolific backcourt and shooters, as opposed to its interior. The Terps will once again be able to take advantage of an inside presence talent disparity, and Pharrel Payne will have the opportunity to be dominant.

2. Myles Rice’s impact. The transfer guard hasn’t lived up to his billing yet in College Park, and despite early injuries, fans are likely wanting to see far more than what Rice has provided thus far. Against Alabama, he shot 0-of-4 and didn’t play in the second half at all. Tuesday offers a chance for a bounce-back performance.

3. What comes of Alston and Del Pino flashes? There were moments in Las Vegas where both Guillermo Del Pino and Aleks Alston highlighted their potential as contributing players. It will be interesting to see if Williams continues to trust Del Pino as the primary ball handler in lineups featuring Payne, and if Alston can continue being an effective floor spacer and versatile defender.

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