Opponent: Loyola (Chicago) Ramblers (5-4)
Location: Royal Farms Arena, Baltimore, Maryland
Tipoff: 4:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 8
Last matchup: This is their first meeting
Last game: Maryland lost to Purdue 62-60 on Thursday, Loyola (Chicago) lost to Ball State 75-69 on Wednesday
Odds: Maryland -9.5, per Oddsshark
Kenpom prediction: Maryland wins 74-67
TV: BTN — Brandon Gaudin (Play-by-play) and Jon Crispin (Analyst)
Streaming: BTN2Go
Radio: Maryland Sports Radio Network — Johnny Holliday (Play-by-play) and Chris Knoche (Analyst) — 105.7FM (Baltimore), 980AM (DC)
Student Radio: WMUC Sports — Connor Newcomb (Play-by-play) and Max Marcilla (Analyst)
What to watch for Maryland: The front-court
Bruno Fernando and Jalen Smith have shown teams why they are one of the most dominant front-courts in college basketball. The duo is averaging a combined 26.7 points and 17.7 rebounds per game. They are also shooting efficiently, with Fernando and Smith shooting 70 and 52 percent from the field, respectively. Their size is going to be a lot for Loyola (Chicago) to handle, as both Bruno and Stix are listed at 6-foot-10 — taller than any player on the Ramblers.
What to watch for Loyola Chicago: The two seniors
Clayton Custer and Marques Townes were both instrumental pieces in Loyola’s Cinderella run to the Final Four last year. The two seniors enter the showdown averaging a combined 28.8 points per game. Although both of their three-point shooting has slumped this year, they are sharpshooters who can and will punish bad defense. With Maryland being a relatively inexperienced team, the Ramblers’ two seniors could make a huge difference in the game.
