Feature photo by Greg Fiume and courtesy of UMTerps.com
14-year-old Robert Carter Jr. had his eyes glued to the television. On a school night, he watched as Syracuse and Connecticut battle through six overtimes in the Big East Tournament Quarterfinals at Madison Square Garden.
Nearly seven years later, Carter Jr., now a forward on the No. 6 Maryland basketball team, listed some of his favorite basketball moments that have taken place at Madison Square Garden, from Kobe Bryant to Stephen Curry and Reggie Miller to Kemba Walker.
Current Maryland guard Rasheed Sulaimon played three games at Madison Square Garden two seasons ago in a Duke Blue Devils uniform.
On Tuesday night, Sulaimon and Carter Jr., transfers from Duke and Georgia Tech respectively, will take the court wearing Maryland uniforms as the Terps (7-1) take on Connecticut (5-2) under the lights of Madison Square Garden in the Jimmy V Classic.
“It’s amazing. Growing up watching Duke play at Madison Square Garden, known as the ‘Mecca,’ it’s always a good experience to go up there,” Carter Jr. said. “This is my first time actually playing in the Garden so I’m very excited to just go up there and try to put on a show.”
It will be guard Rasheed Sulaimon’s fourth time playing at the “Mecca” during his collegiate basketball career, but his first with the Terps at the arena that sits 18,200 fans.
“Going back there and thinking about the number of great basketball players and great games that have been in the Mecca of basketball as they call it,” Sulaimon said. “Everybody knows Madison Square Garden, if you’re a big basketball fan, if you’re from the states or overseas.”
On Monday, Sulaimon further established his allegiance to the Terps heading into their game against the Huskies. He referred to Duke as “the other school” and his former head coach Mike Krzyzewski as “the coach I played for before.”
Having experience at Madison Square Garden with his “other school,” Sulaimon is prepared to lead his current team as they battle the Huskies.
“It’s going to be a great venue to play in,” Sulaimon said. “I think once tip off is underway, any first half jitters for myself or any of my teammates will quickly go away and all the focus will go on winning the game.”
For the Terps, it will be their first big game at a neutral location that isn’t part of a regular season tournament. Head coach Mark Turgeon expects a thrilling environment.
“First home crowd, that was huge, a lot of pressure on our guys in that Georgetown game. North Carolina was our first true road game, that building was electric,” Turgeon said. “This will be our first neutral court game, building should be electric again, I can’t promise you how it’s gonna go, but hopefully we’ll handle it a little bit better.”
The then No. 2 Terps fell to then No. 9 North Carolina 89-81 on Wednesday before trouncing Saint Francis (PA) 96-55. In the most recent AP poll, the Terps fell four spots to No. 6.
Of all teams to not be ranked in this week’s AP poll, Connecticut received the most votes. After starting the season 4-0, the Huskies dropped games to Syracuse and No. 20 Gonzaga, losing each contest by three points. On Thursday, Connecticut defeated Sacred Heart 82-49.
As the game approaches, Maryland will treat UConn like they would any other opponent.
“In college basketball nowadays you can’t overlook any opponent and you got to play the same way,” Sulaimon said. “You have to build a certain level of consistency, especially if you want to be an elite team like we’re trying to be.”
Now that they are both Terps, Sulaimon and Carter Jr. are trying to help the team reach its goals.
While Carter Jr. is looking forward to playing his first game at Madison Square Garden, his mind is set on achieving one thing, a victory.
“We just take it one game at a time,” Carter Jr. said. “We won against St. Francis, we are heading to Uconn, just focus on that game, just focus on getting another victory and continue to get better because it’s a long season.”
Additional reporting by Conner Hoyt
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