The first chance to see Maryland’s new-look men’s and women’s basketball teams will come Oct. 14 as a part of Maryland Madness, the athletic department announced Thursday.
The event begins at 8 p.m., but doors to the Xfinity Center open up three hours before. Fans who arrive early can watch the Maryland volleyball team play Iowa at 6 p.m. on the main floor.
Coach Mark Turgeon’s team lost four starters from last year, when it advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2003, but guard Melo Trimble opted out of the NBA Draft and returned to school for his junior season.
Guard Dion Wiley, a former-four star recruit, also returns after missing last season with a torn meniscus. He’ll join what’s another solid recruiting class for Turgeon, who brought in four-star recruits Justin Jackson, Kevin Huerter and Anthony Cowan for 2016.
On the women’s side, coach Brenda Frese’s team should be back in the national-title conversation after falling in the second round of the NCAA Tournament as a No. 2 seed last season.
The Terps return two-time All-Big Ten center Brionna Jones and guard Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, an Associated Press All-American a year ago. Add in a top-ranked recruiting class, guard Ieshia Small — who sat out last season after transferring from Baylor — and several returning contributors, and Maryland has the potential to make another deep postseason run.
The men’s and women’s squads will be unveiling new Under Amour uniforms. Team introductions for the women begin at 8:10 p.m., while the men will be introduced at 8:30 p.m.
