Small forward Nik Caner-Medley scored eight points against Western Carolina Wednesday night.

THREE POINTERS

1. LET’S GET PHYSICAL

Boston College is known for its physical style and strength in the paint. Forwards Jared Dudley and Craig Smith average 18.7 and 15.4 points per game, respectively, and are tenacious on the glass.

One of the major criticisms of the big Terp men is they aren’t physical enough. Senior forward Travis Garrison was impressive Wednesday night, scoring 23 points and grabbing 14 rebounds, but that was against undersized Western Carolina.

If Garrison can turn in a similar performance, the Terps should be in good shape. They will just have to keep Dudley and Smith off the offensive boards.

2. CONTROL TEMPO

It’s no secret the Terps like to get out in transition against almost anyone they play. George Washington actually played a little too fast for the Terps, but Boston College won’t. The Eagles take care of the ball, as evidenced by their low turnover totals.

Through seven games, Boston College has turned the ball over about 12 times per game compared to the Terps’ 15 per contest.

The Terps need to get out on the break early to get the Comcast Center crowd into the game early.

3. FROM DOWNTOWN

The Terps are shooting about 44 percent from 3-point range this season, but haven’t taken many attempts. They are 40-for-90 through eight games and boast a wealth of 3-point shooters who can knock it down consistently.

If the Terps can connect from outside, it will open up the paint for Garrison and junior forward Ekene Ibekwe. If the big men can get Dudley and Smith in foul trouble, they can take away a large part of the Boston College offense, but they can start by hitting a couple of three-balls.

Mike Jones hasn’t shot particularly well in his past two games and the Terps will need “The Trigger” to hit a couple threes.

JUMPBALL

REBOUNDS

Travis Garrison has led the Terps in rebounding the past five games and is averaging 11.3 boards per game over his past three.

Garrison has to show up against Boston College because the Terps don’t have a lot of depth in the paint outside of Ekene Ibekwe and James Gist.

Gist was experiencing back spasms after falling to the floor against Western Carolina and his status is uncertain for the Eagles.

With the Terps possibly shorthanded in the paint, they will have to control the boards. Craig Smith and Jared Dudley will attack the offensive glass and the Terps allowed too many offensive boards in a loss to George Washington.

One-on-One

TERPS’ CHRIS MCCRAY (G) vs. EAGLES’ SEAN MARSHALL (G)

Terp coach Gary Williams said he was hopeful Chris McCray would play against Boston College, but the senior guard removed any doubt about his status after he didn’t play against Western Carolina.

“I’m definitely playing,” he said.

The Terps need McCray – who leads the team in scoring with 17.1 points per game – to put up some big numbers against the Eagles. McCray carried the Terps against George Washington, but it wasn’t enough. After taking a couple days off to recuperate from an ankle sprain, McCray says he will be ready to go.

Boston College’s Sean Marshall averages 14.6 points per game and will likely be McCray’s assignment.

THE MATCHUP

Maryland  Terrapins             Boston  College

6-2 (0-0 ACC)                          5-1 (0-0 ACC)

RPI #69                                   RPI #9

SOS #58                                 SOS #21

WHEN: Sunday, 8:00 p.m.

WHERE: Comcast Center

T.V./RADIO: Fox Sports Net

DATA: The Terps face their toughest opponent of the season thus far as No. 6 Boston College opens its ACC play.

TERPTRACKER

Team Stats

                                                 Terps                                BC

Average PPG                              86.0                                   78.9

Field Goal %                               .484                                   .486

3-Point %                                  .444                                   .333

Free Throw %                           .722                                   .736

Rebounds/G                               40.6                                   33.9

Assists/G                                   17.8                                   15.4

Turnovers/G                               15.0                                   11.6

INDIVIDUAL STATS

TERPS

POS                                       MIN      PTS       REB        AST

G C. McCray                          32.4 1     7.1        3.3           4.1

G D.J. Strawberry                     26.4    10.4        2.5           5.1

F N. Caner-Medley                     30.3     11.5        5.9          2.1

F J. Gist                                   19.9       9.0        4.4         0.9

F E. Ibekwe                              20.9     12.9       5.5         0.9

BOSTON COLLEGE

POS                                        MIN            PTS          REB           AST

G L. Hinnant                             33.3           8.1            2.7             4.7

G S. Marshall                             30.0          14.6          4.6             1.6

F J. Dudley                               36.6          18.7           7.9             2.6

F C. Smith                                33.6          15.4           8.0             1.6

F J. Oates                                 23.4           5.6            3.6             0.7

BOSTON COLLEGE

Welcome to the ACC Boston College. The Eagles are entering their first game in their new conference. Boston College went out of the Big East with a bang last year, taking the regular season championship with a 13-3 conference record. The Eagles reeled off 20 straight wins to start the season, went 25-5 overall and lost in the second round of the NCAA tournament to Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Last year’s ACC newcomers Miami and Virginia Tech both lost in their ACC openers, but neither left the Big East in such good shape.

SERIES RECORDS

ALL-TIME SERIES Terps lead 3-1

LAST MEETING 1990

RECENT MEETINGS

1990- (N)- L, Terps 85, Boston College 100

1983- (H)- W, Terps 89, Boston College 76

1973- (H)- W, Terps 58, Boston College 37

1958- (N)- W, Terps 86, Boston College 63

TERPS’ LAST 3

12/7 vs. Western Carolina

W 87-57

12/5 vs. George Wash.

L 78-70

11/30 vs. Minnesota

W 83-66

EAGLES’ LAST 3

12/6 vs. Michigan State

L 77-70

12/3 vs. Sacred Heart

W 77-66

11/26 vs. Oklahoma State

W 76-68