Preview: Maryland men’s basketball heads to Las Vegas for Players Era Festival doubleheader

Photo courtesy of Mackenzie Miles/Maryland Athletics

Riding three straight victories, Maryland men’s basketball (4-1) is back in action for the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas, even while most of its fanbase is asleep on the East Coast.

By EST, the Terps will be playing in a doubleheader on Nov. 25, starting with UNLV (3-2) at midnight and No. 12 Gonzaga (5-0) at 9:30 p.m. 

Only one other team has played two games in one day since the 1980-81 season: Georgia in the 2008 SEC Tournament. The last time the Terps did so was Feb. 22, 1930.

The Rebels enter the game following consecutive victories over Memphis and Saint Joseph’s. They rank No. 26 in the country in points per game, yet are a bottom 40 team in the country in three-point shooting percentage. Both the Rebels and the Terps are tied in turnovers per game at 13.2. 

The comparisons between the two sides don’t end there: both teams are led by head coaches in their first year, both have just one returning player from their 2024 rosters and both have six players currently in double-figure scoring.

The Rebels are ranked No. 99 overall in the country according to KenPom, but their 65th-ranked offense will be the highest-ranked offense the Terps have played so far this season. UNLV also plays a fast-paced game, ranking 21st in the country in possessions per game (80).

The Terps are 1-4 against the Rebels all-time, but the two sides haven’t faced off since the 1986 NCAA Tournament – a victory for the Rebels and the final game for Maryland greats Lefty Driesell and Len Bias. 

The first true first test of the Terps’ young season will be against No. 12 Gonzaga. The Bulldogs rank No. 3 in KenPom, with the No. 8 offense and the No. 6 defense. 

The Bulldogs have won their games by an average of 36.2 points, which includes a victory over then-No. 23 Creighton. They rank 12th in the country in points per game and 8th in rebounds per game. Their offense is led by senior forward Graham Ike, who is averaging 17 points and just over nine rebounds per game. 

Prior to playing the Terps, the Bulldogs will square off against No. 8 Alabama, one of three ranked matchups in the first round of the tournament. 

Based on the results of the two games, the Terps could play another game as soon as Wednesday. Regardless of the outcomes, Buzz Williams has the Terps doing something they haven’t done much in recent years: face quality teams early in the season.