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“Battle For Brilliance: Men’s Basketball Takes On No. 17 Illinois This Thursday!”

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Maryland (14-5, 4-4 B1G) at No. 17/17 Illinois (13-5, 5-3 B1G)

January 23, 2025

9 p.m. ET (8 p.m. CT)

State Farm Center

COLLEGE PARK, MD — Maryland embarks on a two-game road journey as the Terps face No. 17 Illinois on Thursday evening. The matchup will be broadcast on FS1, and supporters can also tune in via the Maryland Sports Radio Network with Voice of the Terps Johnny Holliday covering the event alongside Chris Knoche.
 

Ja’Kobi Gillespie achieved 22 points, while Rodney Rice and Selton Miguel contributed 15 and 13 points, respectively, leading Maryland to a 69-66 victory against Nebraska on Sunday – marking its 12th home triumph of the season. The Terps are positioned at No. 24 in the NCAA NET, No. 24 in the Kenpom metrics, No. 17 in the Torvik standings, No. 25 on EvanMiya.com, and No. 22 on the ESPN Basketball Power Index.

Maryland has displayed formidable offensive strength, averaging 83.2 points this year, the ninth-best average in program history and ranking No. 22 nationally.


 

Major Highlights: Seeking Road Victories

  • Despite Maryland’s 0-4 record this season in genuine road games, all four matches were closely contested, finishing with an average margin of 4.3 points, including two against top 10 teams (No. 8 Purdue, No. 9 Oregon).

  • In the prior year, Maryland concluded with a 4-8 record in genuine road contests – its best record since the 2020-21 season. The last time Maryland achieved a .500-or-better road record was during the 2018-19 season (6-5).

  • Maryland’s finest road record in recent times was 8-2 in 2016-17. Since its entrance into the Big Ten, the Terps have maintained .500 or better in genuine road games in three seasons (2018-19, 2016-17, 2014-15).

  • How challenging is it to secure victories on the road? In Maryland’s 106 years of operating an intercollegiate basketball team, it has only recorded a winning record in genuine road games 33 times.

Maryland is posting an average of 83.2 points per game, the ninth-best figure in program history.

Ja’Kobi Demonstrating His Range

  • Since joining the Terps, Ja’Kobi Gillespie has accumulated double-digit points in 15 of his 19 games played.

  • Versus No. 22 UCLA, Gillespie set a new season-high with 27 points, making 4-of-8 from beyond the arc and 9-of-9 from the free-throw line. He also recorded four assists and a season-high four steals in the victory.

  • Against No. 15 Marquette, Gillespie scored 24 points, achieving 10-of-17 from the field and 4-of-9 from three-point territory. This total was just two points shy of matching his career-high of 26 points, previously set against Southern Illinois (2/14/24) while at Belmont.

  • Gillespie also leads the team with 82 total assists (4.3 per game), bringing his career total to 294. He established a new career-high by recording 11 assists against Syracuse, which was part of his first career double-double (17 points). The 11 assists were the highest by a Maryland player in a game since Melo Trimble had 12 against North Carolina (12/2/15).

  • His 4.3 assists per game rank tied for 6th in the B1G.

  • Gillespie has now achieved 1,009 career points accumulated between Belmont and Maryland across 76 career games played. He netted his 1,000th career point on a buzzer-beating three-pointer before halftime of the Nebraska (1/19) victory.

  • Previously a highly sought-after football recruit in high school, Gillespie received offers from ACC and SEC programs for football. As a wide receiver, defensive back, and special teams returner, he accomplished a touchdown trifecta, comprising a receiving touchdown, a pick-six, and a punt return in a single contest.

Juju Powerhouse

  • Julian Reese entered the 2024-25 season as one of the premier post players both in the Big Ten and nationally. Last season, he received All-Big Ten Honorable Mention accolades as a junior after being selected to the Preseason All-Big Ten Team and the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award Watch List.

  • Reese registered 15 double-doubles last season, ranking ninth nationally, and placed second in the Big Ten during the regular season.

  • Historically, Reese holds the eighth-most double-doubles of any Terps player (29).

  • Reese is among nine individuals in program history to surpass 1,100 career points and 800 career rebounds.

  • Despite a skilled group of high-scoring guards and the introduction of Derik Queen to the frontcourt, Julian Reese has nearly equaled his career-high figures from last season. Impressively, Reese has reached these figures while playing 5.9 minutes fewer per game than last year.

  • Moreover, his 3.1 offensive rebounds per game rank second in the Big Ten and is the highest for a Maryland player since James Padgett averaged 3.3 in 2011-12.

 

Queen Is Exceptional


This page was assembled systematically; to view the article in its initial location, you may visit the link below:
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and if you wish to remove this article from our website, please get in touch with us
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