COLLEGE PARK, Md. –  Brenda Frese, who is currently in her 12th year as the women’s basketball head coach at the University of Maryland, recently signed a multi-year extension to her contract, director of athletics Kevin Anderson announced Friday.

The extension keeps Frese on the Maryland sidelines through at least June 2021. With the extension, she could earn up to four additional years, through June 2025, with rollovers.

“Coach Frese has been the driving force in putting Maryland women’s basketball in a position of national prominence during her time here in College Park,” Anderson said. “Her 2006 national title, ACC dominance and consistent top recruiting classes have made Maryland a contender year after year.”

“We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to ensure that her passion and vision will enable us to remain as one of the top programs in the country for many years to come.”

Frese brought the Terrapins their first national title back in 2006 and has earned an overall record of 280-81 (.749) in her time in College Park. The Terps have finished in the top four of the ACC in six of the last seven years and won the 2009 and 2012 ACC titles. In her 11 postseasons, she’s taken the Terrapins to five Sweet Sixteens and four Elite Eights.

The 2002 Associated Press National Coach of the Year has brought in eight top-10 recruiting classes since coming to College Park, and four of her players have won ACC Rookie of the Year honors.

“I really want to thank our director of athletics, Kevin Anderson, President Wallace Loh and the entire university for this extension,” Frese said. “I’m very  grateful to be able to represent one of the top universities in the world and have such longevity. I’ve been fortunate to have great players, a terrific staff and an incredibly supportive community. Maryland has been a-dream-come true for me, both professionally and personally. I want it to be that way for all the great people we bring into our program.

“I truly feel like this is the best place in the country to be in so many different ways. There’s no place that has a better combination of where to live, where to get a great education and where to have a great basketball experience. ”

Maryland has led the ACC in attendance since Frese took the reins in April 2002, leading the league in six of the last eight years. Nine of the conference’s top 10 single-game attendance records belong to Maryland under Frese’s tenure.

No. 7 Maryland will welcome the defending national champion Connecticut to Comcast Center Friday for a 6 p.m. nationally-televised top 10 matchup.

After Friday’s matchup, the Terrapins will welcome George Washington to Comcast for a 7 p.m. game Tuesday, Nov. 19, which will be shown live online for a fee on umterps.com.

FAN ADVISORY FOR MARYLAND MEN’S BASKETBALL GAME SUNDAY

Fans asked to arrive early for Maryland/Oregon State game at Comcast Center

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – In conjunction with the Terrapin men’s basketball game against Oregon State Sunday, Nov. 17, at Comcast Center, the White House has announced the expected attendance of President Barack Obama.

Maryland athletics is excited to showcase our outstanding University and basketball program and are thrilled to host the Commander in Chief. The game will tip off at 6 p.m.

While the majority of the gameday experience will remain unchanged on Sunday, please note that because of the President’s attendance,the University of Maryland is encouraging fans to arrive as early as possible with doors opening at 4 p.m., two hours prior to tip off and parking lots will open at 2 p.m.

Fans should expect additional security measures on Sunday. All persons and vehicles are subject to search upon entering both the parking lots and Comcast Center.

Gates B and D located closest to parking Lot 4B will be open for entrance into the arena until 5 p.m. and will not be available for fans to exit during or at the conclusion of Sunday’s game.

In addition, please be advised of the following parking changes:

• For fans who have Lot 4B parking permit:

• Vehicles parked in Lot 4B will not be allowed to exit until the conclusion of the game and after the President’s motorcade has left campus.

• Parking Lot 4B will be closed beginning at 5 p.m.

• Lot 4B permit holders who expect to arrive later than 5 p.m. or would like to leave the game early are encouraged to park in either Terrapin Trail garage or Lot 9B.

• All Lot 4B parking permits will be honored in any lot for Sunday’s game.

Below is a list of items prohibited in Comcast Center for Sunday’s game:

• Bags
• Sharp Objects
• Umbrellas
• Liquids

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland football team hits the road for the fourth time this season and first time in close to a month when the Terps travel to Blacksburg, Va., to take on Virginia Tech at 12:30 p.m. Saturday from Lane Stadium. It will mark the 31st all-time meeting between the Terps and Hokies in a series that began in 1919, but will be the first meeting between the two teams since 2009. The all-time series is tied 15-15 with Virginia Tech having won the last five meetings including a 36-9 win over Maryland in College Park in 2009.

LIVE Coverage on ACC Network & the Terrapin Sports Radio Network
• Saturday’s game will be broadcast on the ACC Network at 12:30 p.m. Click here to check local listings. Tim Brant (pbp), Dave Archer (color) and Rachel Baribeau (sideline) will call the action. It can also be heard on the Terrapin Sports Radio Network - Johnny Holliday (pbp), Tim Strachan (color) and Scott McBrien (sideline) have the call. The game can also be heard on Sirius Radio Channel 136 and XM Radio Channel 191, as well as over the internet at www.umterps.com.

First-and-10

• After missing the Clemson game due to injury, quarterback C.J. Brown returned as the Terps starter against Syracuse on Saturday. Brown completed career-high 21 passes for 211 yards. Maryland has passed for over 200 yards in all nine games this season and has eclipsed the mark in 10 straight games dating back to last season. That is the longest streak of 200-yard passing games in program history since the Terps did it in 11 straight games between the 1993 and 1994 seasons beginning with a 351-yard passing day at Georgia Tech on Oct. 9, 1993, and concluding with a 208-yard passing day at Clemson on Oct. 1, 1994.

• Wide receiver Amba Etta-Tawo served as Brown’s downfield threat against the Orange. Etta-Tawo finished with a career-best six catches for a career-high 109 yards receiving, including a career-long 26-yard reception midway through the fourth quarter. It is the fifth time this season a Maryland receiver has gone over 100 yards and Etta-Tawo is the fourth Maryland receiver to eclipse the mark. It marks the second time in three seasons the Terps have hit these totals. Maryland had five 100-yard receiving games from four different wide receivers during the 2011 season.

• Etta-Tawo’s 109-yard day is the second straight game a Terrapin receiver has gone over 100 yards. Wide receiverLevern Jacobs had a personal-best 158 yards receiving against Clemson (Oct. 26). Etta-Tawo averaged 17.5 yards per reception continuing the Terps’ trend of attacking defenses down the field. Despite averaging 10.0 yards per completion on Saturday against Syracuse, the Terps still rank fourth in the ACC and 12th nationally averaging 14.31 yards per catch. That average is the fourth highest in school history since 1980.

• The Terrapin defense did a good job of minimizing the impact of four offensive turnovers holding the Orange to just six points off of the four giveaways. This season, Maryland has surrendered only 63 points on 23 giveaways for an average of 2.74 points per giveaway. The number drops to 2.57 points per giveaway over the last four games as Maryland has held Virginia, Wake Forest, Clemson and Syracuse to a combined 36 points on 14 turnovers.

• In addition to its ability to minimize the impact of turnovers, the Maryland defense has done a good job of keeping its opponents out of the end zone inside the 20-yard line. On Saturday, the Terps held the Orange to one touchdown on three redzone opportunities. This season, the Terps have given up 33 redzone scores with only 19 of them resutling in a touchdown (57.6%), a mark which is the best in the conference.

• Defensive back Sean Davis led the Terps with 11 tackles against Syracuse. It is Davis’ second double-digit tackle game in the last five contests (12 at Florida State, Oct. 5). Davis has 65 total stops this season, which ranks second on the team, and he leads the squad with 39 solo tackles. Redshirt freshman linebacker Abner Logan, making his third career start, recorded his second straight double-digit tackle performance with 10 against the Orange.

• The Terps picked off Syracuse quarterback Terrel Hunt once on Saturday to increase their season interception total to 10. Freshman defensive back William Likely picked up his first career interception when he dove in front of Hunt’s intended receiver midway through the second quarter. Likely is second on the team with four passes defensed this season. Senior DB Isaac Goins leads the Terps with six passes defended, four of which have come during ACC play.

Quick Hitters From Syracuse

• Wide receiver Amba Etta-Tawo became the fourth Maryland player this season to go over 100 yards receiving. The redshirt freshman wideout finished with career highs in receptions (6) and yards (109).

• Etta-Tawo’s 109-yard receiving performance marks the fifth time a Terrapin receiver has eclipsed 100 yards joiningStefon Diggs (179, Old Dominion; 110, Connecticut), Levern Jacobs (158, Clemson) and Deon Long (110, FIU).

• The Terps have totaled 200 or more yards passing in every game this season and have thrown for over 200 yards in 10 straight games dating back to last season.

• That is the longest streak of 200-yard passing games in program history since the Terps did it in 11 straight games between the 1993 and 1994 seasons beginning with a 351-yard passing day at Georgia Tech on Oct. 9, 1993, and concluding with a 208-yard passing day at Clemson on Oct. 1, 1994.

• With 211 yards through the air, Maryland now has 2,462 passing yards and is averaging 273.6 yards per game. The Terps are on pace for 3,283 yards passing this season, which would be the most since the 1993 season when Maryland passed for a school record 3,823 yards.

• Overall, the Terps are averaging 415.6 yards of total offense. That mark is the highest per game average since 2003 when the Terps averaged 421.7 yards per game.

•.Despite averaging 10.0 yards per completion on Saturday against Syracuse, the Terps still rank fourth in the ACC and 12th nationally averaging 14.31 yards per catch. That average is the fourth highest in school history since 1980.

• Maryland held Syracuse to one touchdown on three redzone opportunities. The Terps lead the ACC in holding opponents to field goals inside the redzone. Maryland has held opponents to 19 touchdowns on 33 opportunities in the redzone.

• Linebacker Marcus Whitfield was one of four Terrapin defenders to record a tackle for loss. Whitfield now has 12.5 TFL on the season, which is tied for fourth in the ACC. His 12.5 TFL has cost opponents 96 yards, which is the fourth most in a single season in school history. He is five yards shy of tying Martin Van Horn for third.

• With four TFL against Syracuse, Maryland is averaging 7.4 TFL per game, which ranks third in the ACC and is 15th nationally. The team’s average is the highest for a Terrapin defense since 2001. That season, the Terps averaged 9.2 per game.

Maryland Gameday Notes

Scout Team Players of the Week: Each Thursday during the season Edsall will announce the scout team players of the week. This week’s scout team players of the week are wide receiver Tehuti Miles (offense), linebacker Clarence Murphy (defense), and wide receiver Regis Whittington (special teams).

Flag Bearers: Defensive lineman Zeke Riser will carry the American flag, and running back Brandon Ross, will carry the Maryland flag during Saturday’s introductions.

Game Captains: With the establishment of the leadership council for this season, Edsall will name game captains prior to each contest. The captains for the Virginia Tech game are running back Albert Reid (offense), linebacker Cole Farrand (defense), and running back Kenneth Goins, Jr. (special teams).

Maryland-Virginia Tech Series History

• Saturday will mark the 31st all-time meeting between the Terps and Hokies in a series that began in 1919, but will be the first meeting between the two teams since 2009.

• The all-time series is tied 15-15 with Virginia Tech having won the last five meetings including a 36-9 win over Maryland in College Park in 2009.

• Maryland’s last win over VT came in 1990 at Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium, a 20-13 Terps victory. Maryland’s last win in Blacksburg came in 1949. But Saturday’s matchup is only the fourth game at Lane Stadium between the two teams since then.

Maryland Men’s Basketball Welcomes Top-5 Recruiting Class

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Head coach Mark Turgeon and the University of Maryland men’s basketball team has hauled in a nationally ranked top-5 recruiting class (2014-15) according to multiple recruiting outlets.

Turgeon announced the signings of 6-4 guard Dion Wiley (Oxon, Md.), 6-2 guard Romelo Trimble (Arlington, Va.), 6-6 forward Jared Nickens (Norristown, Pa.) and 7-1 center Trayvon Reed (Snellville, Ga.).

“We added four very skilled players who, combined with their outstanding character, will be very welcomed additions to the University of Maryland basketball program,” Turgeon said. “Their personalities will fit in great with their future teammates. With their potential to get better, it should be a really fun group to coach.”

According to national scouting services, Maryland’s class was ranked No. 4 in the country by Scout.com and No. 5 by ESPN.com, Rivals.com and 247sports.com.

Wiley, Nickens, Reed and Trimble are all ranked among the top-100 players in the country.

“Maryland has really put an emphasis on recruiting,” said Jerry Meyers of 247sports.com. “Maryland really has a chance to take the program to another level. They are not backing away from a recruiting battle. They have targeted their local and regional prospects and for the most part have been successful landing those players. They have also done a great job expanding their reach nationally. This has had an impact on other recruits. Maryland basketball has done a great job getting their name out there.”

This highly touted class follows a pair of Top-20 recruiting classes in Turgeon’s first two seasons as Maryland’s head coach.

“Maryland basketball fans should be very excited about the direction our program is headed under Coach Turgeon’s leadership,” said Kevin Anderson, director of athletics. “The 2014-15 class is a testament to the hard work and emphasis that Mark and his staff have put into recruiting top student-athletes.”

DION WILEY (6-4, 210, SG, Oxon Hill, Md.)

A four-star prospect and the 4^th-ranked shooting guard (28^th overall) nationally by Scout.com… four-star prospect and the 17^th-ranked shooting guard nationally (46^th overall) by 247sports.com…ranked 49^thnationally by Rivals.com…played AAU for Team Takeover and made 38-of-79 3-pointers for first three sessions.

Turgeon on Wiley: “When you ask coaches about Dion, they always share how loyal he is to his team and teammates. He is an outstanding young man who has a tremendous upside joining our program. His ability to knock down a jump shot also complements his great passing ability.”

Wiley: “I really like the coaching staff and the style of play at Maryland. It was great the way I was recruited by the entire staff and Coach Turgeon really took an interest in me. I look forward to playing with Roddy Peters, Jake Layman, Nick Faust and the rest of the team.”

Keith Stevens, Team Takeover: “Dion is a hard-working and special player who leads by example. The coaching staff really took pride in building a relationship with Dion’s family and inner circle and it showed. He has great three-point shooting ability and can really open things up with his creativity.”

Eric Bossi, Rivals.com: “Wiley is one of the strongest and most physically tough to handle wings in the class of 2014. He is able to move opponents around with his shoulders and plays through contact with relative ease. Where the future Terp stands out, though, is as a shooter. When he’s locked in and has his feet set, his range stretches out to 23 feet and he has a quick and crisp release. He has easy college three-point range. He’s also pretty comfortable shooting off the dribble or curling off of screens to knock down open looks. He’s a scorer with a jumper, but can also punish defenders with his physicality.”

Josh Stirn, 247Sports.com: “Wiley will be able to make an immediate contribution as a shooting guard, most likely off the bench, during his freshman year. Having spent so much time playing against the best high school players in the nation, his transition to the college game should be smooth. He’s also done a great job with Team Takeover playing team basketball and understanding when to pick his spots.”

ROMELO TRIMBLE (6-2, 190, PG, Arlington, Va.)

A four-star prospect, the 6^th-ranked point guard nationally and the 33rd-ranked player overall by247sports.com…a four-star prospect and 8^th-ranked point guard nationally (35^th overall) by Scout.com… ranked 36^th by Rivals.com…played AAU for DC Assault

Turgeon on Trimble: “Romelo is a point guard with great vision who is equally adept as a passer and scorer. He excels in the pick-and-roll and was the first young man to commit to our program and played a pivotal role as we built this outstanding class. He is a winner on and off the court and we’re excited to have him at Maryland.”

Eric Moses, D.C. Assault: “Romelo is a quality person with great work ethic and dedication. He will be a great addition to Maryland. What impresses me the most is his improvement of his all-around game. He has developed into a complete basketball player.”

ESPN.com: “Trimble is a long lean combination guard that has a good feel for the game. He is an excellent shooter with three point range mostly off the catch, but can make scoring plays off the dribble as well.”

Evan Daniels, Scout.com: “Trimble brings versatility to the guard position. He’s a long-range shooter who finishes well with contact. He can score and put the ball in the basket. He’s a very smart player. He’s a true combo guard. His biggest strength is his perimeter game with his quick release and he’s one of the better shooters in the 2014 class.”

TRAYVON REED (7-1, 218, C, Snellville, Ga.)

A four-star prospect and the 7^th-ranked center nationally (75^th overall) by 247sports.com…a four-star prospect and the 12^th-ranked center nationally (86^th overall) by Scout.com…ranked 99^th overall by Rivals.com…played AAU for Atlanta Xpress.

Turgeon on Reed: “Trayvon is a long athletic rim-protector and very skilled for his size. He is a willing passer with a big upside and a very bright future.”

Reed: “I feel like Maryland is a great fit for me. Coach Bino Ranson and I formed a strong bond and I feel like the entire coaching staff is down to earth. I take pride in rebounding, blocking shots and running the floor and I’ve been working on my post moves to improve my offensive game.”

Pervis Ellison, Life Academy: “Trayvon is a very quality young man with a very mature mindset in terms of what he wants to achieve in life. He sees the floor well, has fantastic hands and has a great shooting touch.”

Paul Biancardi, ESPN.com: “Trayvon’s got a great combination of size, length and bouncy legs. He’s very mobile and moves well away from the basketball. Fans are going to love him because he can come over from the weak side and block shots. He’s got a great wing span and he’s a terrific finisher around the rim.”

JARED NICKENS (6-6, 180, SF, Norristown, Pa.)

A four-star prospect and 20^th-ranked small forward nationally (90^th overall) by Scout.com…a four star prospect and the 25^th-ranked (97^th overall) small forward nationally by 247sports.com …ranked 93^rd overall by Rivals.com…Averaged 16 points and five rebounds at Westtown School for the 2012-13 season.

Turgeon on Nickens: “Jared is a long wing player who is an outstanding shooter. He has a tremendous upside and a great feel for the game of basketball.”

Nickens: “It’s very exciting to be attending the University of Maryland. I had a great visit and it was a great fit for me. I love the school. Coach Turgeon, Coach Spinelli and the entire staff had all of the players’ best interests in mind during my visit. This is an outstanding place to fulfill my dream and to succeed both academically and athletically. I’m going to get a great education and Maryland instantly felt like family.” 

Seth Berger, Westtown School: “Jared is not only a great young man, but a great teammate. He will fill in very well with Maryland. He has always been a great shooter and now has developed into an outstanding basketball player. He’s an excellent defender, a great communicator and he always finds ways to make his teammates better.”

Jerry Meyers, 247sports.com: “He’s a very versatile player that can do a lot of different things for a team. He can guard more than one position. He’s an effective offensive rebounder and is tough to keep off the boards. He has a great feel for the game.”

COLLEGE PARK, Md. –

Offensive Coordinator Mike Locksley

On how offensive lineman Moise Larose fared in his first start:

“For a freshman, I thought he did okay. Obviously, we had some penalties there, from a referee standpoint he had a couple of calls of not having enough men on the line of scrimmage. For a guy that was thrown out to wolves in his first start, I thought he didn’t do too badly. With any freshmen you hope to see them improve every day and we feel like that’s what we’re getting from all of our freshmen including Moise.”

On quarterback C.J. Brown:

“C.J. is a competitor, we all are. From an offensive standpoint, we didn’t do a great job and it starts with me as the offensive coordinator and as well as the quarterback coach. We turned the ball over as a position, the two interceptions, and the fumble on the ground. You’re not going to beat anyone if you turn the ball over like we did last week. I have to do a better job of making sure we get that done. I expect him to bounce back, there’s no quitting with C.J. He is the guy that still has the ability, I thought he looked as healthy as he has been, and with the time off we have been able to knock some of the rust off and I’m expecting him to a big week this week. He’s had a pretty good week at practice thus far and we need to finish it off.”

On playing Virginia Tech in Blacksburg:

“Obviously the atmosphere, I’ve never been, this is one of the few ACC venues that I haven’t coached in. I have seen a ton of games that they have played, with them being a Thursday night team a lot, at the other places I have been I’ve had a chance to see the environment and what a great venue for our guys. In terms of them as a defense, they can get at you with just a four-man front. They’re going to load the box and make you throw the football or make you find ways to run against loaded boxes. We have to do a good job and I have to do a good job of having a scheme that is going to give us a chance to move the ball, sustain drives, and most importantly score points. We feel pretty good thus far we still have two days of our workweek and then Friday we’ll execute some things at walkthrough. But they are by far one of the top defenses we’ll face this year.”

Defensive Coordinator Brian Stewart 

On evaluating linebacker Shawn Petty’s first start:

“He’s learning. It’s a work in progress trying to put everything together. The game is fast and he is a true redshirt freshman because he played quarterback last year, and he is on the team as a linebacker but didn’t get reps at linebacker, it is like he was redshirted.”

On potentially having linebacker Cole Farrand back on Saturday:

“His leadership is one of the things we really missed. Having him back will really help, as far as his leadership and direction and making the calls on the field. We are anticipating him coming back, but right now we are going forward with the guys who are healthy. Any time you have all your starters in, you are going to fit the run the best. When you don’t, there is going to be some second-guessing. That’s just how it is, whether it is blocking for the offense or tackling for the defense.”

On defensive back William Likely:

“I mentioned last week that I thought the break helped him a little bit, and it has tremendously. He is an avid studier of a film, and he comes in and looks at the sheets and knows what he is supposed to do. He does a good job, and I am happy for him that he had a chance to make a play on the ball and that’s a sign of many things to come.”

On Virginia Tech:

“Last time I was down there was 2001, and we beat them. That was the last time I have been down there, but I am sure it is going to be exciting. They are playing well, they are a physical team, and they can both run and throw the ball. They have young offensive linemen that are doing an excellent job. Offensively, they have a good quarterback. Logan [Thomas] is a big kid, and there are a lot of quarterback runs that he is pretty good in, and he can toss the ball. He can hang in there because he is so big, and he can wait for guys to clear so he can throw the ball.”

– Maryland –

Game Info

• Maryland hosts Abilene Christian in its 2013-14 home opener Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. in Comcast Center on the Raycom Sports Network. It is the first meeting in history between the sides, as Abilene Christian begins its first season in Division I play.

• The game can be seen live on the Raycom Sports Network, called by Wes Durham and Mike Gminski. Fans can also listen to Johnny Holliday and Chris Knoche live on the Terrapin Sports Radio Network.

Storyline

• Maryland has won 35 consecutive home openers dating back to 1976 when it lost to Notre Dame, 80-79, in overtime. The Terps are 75-17 (.815) all-time in home openers. Maryland defeated Morehead State in its home opener last season, 67-45, led by 12 points from Nick Faust.

• The Terps lost a heartbreaker to No. 19 UConn Friday night at Barclays Center, 78-77. Once trailing by 17 points in the second half, Maryland mounted a furious comeback that led to a game-winning bid by Dez Wells. Wells’ shot rimmed out with three seconds remaining, however, as the Huskies sealed the win.

• Maryland’s second half comeback was prompted by a Shabazz Napier technical foul with 11:43 to play. The Terps responded to the tech by posting an 11-0 run that included nine points (two 3-pointers) by sophomore Jake Layman. Layman’s nine points came in a span of 2:08.

• Nick Faust led the Terrapins with 17 points against UConn, while Evan Smotrycz posted 13 points and nine rebounds in his Maryland debut. The Terps had five scorers in double-figures (Faust-17, Smotrycz-13, Wells-13, Layman-13, Mitchell-12).

• Point guard Seth Allen sustained a fracture in his left foot during practice on October 29 and is expected to miss 10 weeks. Dez Wells started as Maryland’s point guard against UConn Friday.

On Home Openers

Maryland has won 35 consecutive home openers, last falling in a home opener on November 27, 1976 to Notre Dame, 80-79, in overtime. Maryland is 75-17 (.815) all-time in home openers in College Park.

The Terps defeated Morehead State, 67-45, in last year’s home opener at Comcast Center. Maryland had control from the outset with a 35-19 halftime advantage, and was led by 12 points from Nick Faust and nine rebounds fromCharles Mitchell.

Head coach Mark Turgeon is 15-0 all-time in home openers.

Scouting Abilene Christian

Abilene Christian fell in its season-opener at Duquesne, 94-75, Friday, November 11, and most recently lost to St. Bonaventure on Monday, 75-47. Last Friday’s game against Duquesne was the Wildcats’ first contest as an NCAA Division I affiliate. The newest member of the Southland Conference, the Wildcats open the season with a tough slate that includes 10 consecutive road games.

Abilene is led by Harrison Hawkins, who is averaging 14 points and three rebounds. Hawkins’ teammate, Austin Cooke, is averaging nine rebounds and 8.5 points through two games.

Sophomore Parker Wentz (8.3 ppg) is the Wildcats only returning player from a season ago, as the squad added 12 new faces, including eight junior college transfers.

Last Time Out

Maryland showed incredible resiliency in its season-opener against No. 19 Connecticut Friday at Barclays Center, climbing back from a 17-point second half deficit to earn an opportunity for a game-winning shot in the waning seconds. With six seconds remaining on the clock, Evan Smotrycz inbounded the ball to Dez Wells at the elbow, but the junior’s game-winning bid rimmed out as UConn held on for the 78-77 victory.

Junior Nick Faust had a team-high 17 points, including a critical string of consecutive baskets toward the end of the game, while Wells finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Smotrycz had 13 points and nine rebounds in his Terrapin debut, sparking Maryland with a 4-for-4 shooting start.

Varun Ram appeared in his first contest in a Maryland uniform, while freshmen Roddy Peters (18 mins., 5 pts.) and Damonte Dodd made their collegiate debuts.

Layman Sparks Second Half Run

The Terps’ resiliency was on full display against UConn Friday as their dramatic comeback bid fell one bucket short. From the  point when UConn took a 67-50 lead with 11:52 remaining, Maryland responded to a Shabazz Napier technical foul by outscoring the Huskies, 27-11, for the remainder of the game.

The run was sparked by sophomore Jake Layman, who had posted only four points prior. Layman hit one-of-two free throws from the techincal foul, and then sank a 3-pointer on the same possession. After Roddy Peters finished a lay-up, Layman made two more free throws and added a second 3-pointer to cap an 11-0 Maryland run. Layman’s nine points in the run came in a span of 2:08.

Quick Hitters

• Guard Seth Allen broke his left foot in practice on October 29 and is expected to miss 10 weeks. Dez Wells started at point guard in the exhibition against Catholic.

• Maryland won 25 games in a season for the ninth time in school history last year. The Terps also won 25 or more in 1971-72 (27), 1984-85 (25), 1994-95 (26), 1998-99 (28), 1999-2000 (25), 2000-01 (25), 2001-02 (32) and 2006-07 (25). Mark Turgeon is the third Maryland coach to achieve the feat, joining Lefty Driesell and Gary Williams.

• Turgeon’s winning percentage of .600 (42-28) through his first two seasons is the best mark by a Maryland coach in program history. Bud Millikan had a .592 winning percentage, Gary Williams had a .574 mark and Lefty Driesell garnered a .519 percentage.

• The Terps appeared in the NIT for the eighth time in school history last year, and hold a 14-7 record in the tournament.

• The NIT appearance marked the ninth time in the last 11 years that head coach Mark Turgeon has led his team to the postseason. Turgeon led Wichita State to the NIT in 2003, 2004 and 2005, and the NCAA Sweet Sixteen in 2006. He then led Texas A&M to the NCAA second round all four of his years in College Station (2008-11).

• Head coach Mark Turgeon’s teams have won at least 20 games in five of the last six seasons and eight of the last 10.

• Maryland set a single-season record for games played (38) last season. The previous record was 37 in 1984-85.

• Maryland did not beat a ranked opponent in either of the two seasons prior to last year. The Terps had three wins over a ranked team last year: No. 14/15 NC State (Jan. 16), No. 2/1 Duke (Feb. 16), and No. 2/2 Duke (March 15).

• The 13-game winning streak Maryland went on last season was tied for the second longest in school history, trailing just the 14-game streak the Terps went on in 1931-32.

Head Coach Mark Turgeon

• Turgeon led his teams to at least 20 wins in eight of the last 10 seasons.

• His teams have advanced to postseason play nine times in the last 11 years, including NCAA berths in five of the last eight seasons. His record in the last nine years is 226-112 (.675).

• As a player, assistant coach and head coach, Turgeon has compiled a 26-13 NCAA Tournament record (8-4 as a player, 13-4 as an assistant, 5-5 as a head coach).

• In 14 NCAA Tournament appearances as a player, assistant coach and head coach, Turgeon has lost an NCAA opener only twice (Oregon in 1995 under Coach Jerry Green, and 2011 as the head coach at Texas A&M – 57-50 loss vs. Florida State).

Lengthy Lineup

The Terps’ length could cause formidable matchup problems for opponents this season, as its starting lineup against UConn on Friday averaged 6’7.5”. The starting lineup featured forwards Shaquille Cleare (6’9”), Evan Smotrycz (6’9”) and Jake Layman (6’8”), and guards Nick Faust (6’6”) and Dez Wells (6’5”).

Featuring tall players is nothing new to Maryland, however, as the Terps trotted out a lineup averaging 6’8” three times last season (Wells, Faust, Layman, Cleare, Len). That combination of players was just 1-2 in three games – defeating Clemson (2/23) and falling to then-No. 1 Duke (1/26) and Georgia Tech (2/27).

Milestones, Streaks, etc.

• Dez Wells has scored at least nine points in 12 consecutive games dating back to last season.

• Head coach Mark Turgeon needs just eight more victories to reach 300 for his coaching career.

• Maryland’s last victory over a ranked team was an 83-74 win over then-No.2 Duke on 3/15/2012 in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament in Greensboro Coliseum.

• The Terps’ last road win over a ranked team was an 82-80 win at then-No. 1 North Carolina on 1/19/2008.

• Maryland’s last losing season came in 1992-93, the last year of devastating NCAA sanctions levied against previous staffs at Maryland.

• Each school in the ACC has had a losing season since the Terps fell below .500 21               seasons ago. In fact, nine of the 11 ACC opponents have suffered through a losing season          since the Terps won the NCAA title in 2002, with Duke and UNC the exceptions.

Maryland Debuts

A number of players made their Maryland debuts Friday night against UConn. Transfers Evan Smotrycz (13 pts, 9 rebs) and Varun Ram (2 mins.) saw their first action of the season after sitting out the entire 2012-13 season due to NCAA transfer rules. Smotrycz came from the University of Michigan, while Ram transferred from Trinity College.

A pair of freshmen also made their collegiate debuts for Maryland as Roddy Peters and Damonte Dodd subbed in from the bench. Peters tallied five points in 18 minutes of action, and will be looked upon to make significant contributions in the wake of Seth Allen’s injury.

Summer Tour: The Bahamas

Maryland traveled to the Bahamas for its Summer Tour this past August, earning three victories in three days against Bahamas All-Stars, Commonwealth Giants and Grand Bahamas All-Stars.

Sophomore Jake Layman starred on the trip for the Terps, averaging 21.3 points over the course of the three contests, including a pair of 25-point performances.

Junior Dez Wells opened the trip with 22 points, nine rebounds and a number of electrifying dunks in the Terps’ 92-84 victory over the Bahamas All-Stars. Sophomore Seth Allen led the way in the second game, notching 26 points and 10 assists in a 97-90 win over the Commonwealth Giants. Layman and Nick Faust closed the trip with 25 and 20 points, respectively, in the Terps’ 11-point win over the Grand Bahamas All-Stars.

The trip was particularly significant for sophomore Shaquille Cleare, a native of Andros, Bahamas. Although Cleare was unable to play due to injury, his family and friends were in attendance at the games to support the Terps. The sophomore also enjoyed showing his teammates and coaches around the Bahamian mainline.

Experience is Evident

Head coach Mark Turgeon returns his most experienced team in three years as coach at Maryland, including 12 letterwinners from a season ago. Among the returners is Dez Wells, Nick Faust, Jake Layman and Shaquille Cleare, who combined for 94 starts a season ago. Additionally, Evan Smotrycz started 42 games during his two seasons at Michigan.

Despite the experience, it must be noted that none of Maryland’s rotational players are seniors which bodes well for the future. Former walk-on John Auslander is the lone senior on the squad.

Tough Schedule

With the addition of Syracuse, Pittsburgh and Notre Dame to the ACC this season, Maryland will play a highly formidable schedule in 2013. Including last week’s game with No. 18 Connecticut to open the season, the Terps are scheduled to face seven ranked teams in the Associated Press Preseason Top-25.

For the first time in the history of its existence in the ACC, Maryland will not play Duke, North Carolina or North Carolina State at home. In fact, this marks the first year Maryland will not play Duke at home since 1955.

The 18-game conference slate features four home-and-home dates for Maryland: Pittsburgh, Florida State, Virginia and Virginia Tech.

Fresh Faces

Head coach Mark Turgeon and his staff signed its second consecutive consensus top-20 recruiting class this season with the addition of local products Damonte Dodd (Centreville, Md.) and Roddy Peters (District Heights, Md.).

Maryland has had a player recognized on the ACC All-Freshman Team three out of the last four seasons, and hopes to continue the trend this season with Peters and Dodd. Prior to Nick Faust in 2012, Terrell Stoglin was honored in 2011 and Jordan Williams was honored in 2010.

Turgeon on Peters: “He has excellent court vision, a great feel for the game and his length at his position is a great asset. He’s an unselfish basketball player that is all about winning.”

Turgeon on Dodd: “Damonte will be fun to coach and he really has big upside. He runs, rebounds, and blocks shots, and his best years on the basketball court are ahead of him.”

Home Sweet Home

Maryland has been a dominant home team over the years:

• The Terps are 865-298 (.744) all-time at home dating back to 1923-24.

• Maryland is 159-36 (.815) all-time at Comcast Center.

• Maryland is 213-41 (.839) at home the last 12 seasons (since 1998-99).

• Maryland is 76-17 (.817) in home-openers in College Park all-time, including a 36-game winning streak (last loss on 11/27/76 to Notre Dame, 80-79, OT). The Terps did not play a home game in 1918-19.

Fear the Turtle!

Maryland is one of the most consistent winning programs in the country following more than a decade of excellence:

• The Terps have averaged 22.41 wins per season the last 17 years, including eight consecutive 20-win seasons from 1996-2004.

• Maryland has 18 postseason appearances in the last 20 years, including 11 consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament from 1993-2004.

• The Terrapins have won at least two postseason games (ACC, NCAA, NIT) in 10 of the last 15 seasons.

• The Terps have advanced to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen seven times in the last 19 years.

• Maryland made consecutive trips to the NCAA Final Four in 2001 and 2002 .

• The Terps captured the 2002 NCAA National Championship.

• The Terps captured the 2004 ACC Tournament Championship.

• Maryland shared the 2010 ACC Regular-Season Title with eventual national-champion Duke.

Working Overtime

• Maryland is 48-51 all-time in overtime games. Maryland was 0-1 last season in extra sessions, falling to Virginia, 61-58, at Comcast Center on March 10, 2013.

• Maryland has played at least one overtime game in 18 of the last 21 seasons. The Terps did not go overtime in 2010-11, marking the first time in eight seasons they finished business in regulation for the entire.

• Maryland’s 89-74 OT win over Vermont (11/21/08) marked the largest winning margin in an overtime game for the Terps, who outscored the Catamounts 17-2, including the first 17 points of the extra session.

• Maryland is 25-18 in overtime games played at home, including a 6-1 mark at Comcast Center. The last overtime game at Comcast was on March 4, 2012, when Maryland lost to Virginia, 75-72.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. –

Head Coach Randy Edsall

Opening Statement:

“It’ll be a nice cold day today. Get back on the practice field, get back to work, and prepare for Virginia Tech who’s a very good football team, outstanding defensive team. Its statistics really paint the picture of who they are. And then offensively, you have an outstanding quarterback in Logan Thomas and again when you take a look at their roster, defensively, a lot, I think eight fifth-year seniors or eight seniors total with fifth-year regular seniors. So, very experienced group and same thing on the offensive side of the ball. So we’ll have to have a good week of preparation and I know our guys are looking forward to that opportunity to go down there this weekend.”

On Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas:

“He’s their leader in a lot of statistics for a quarterback, big, strong, athletic, really good arm strength, can see over top of the line. So again, he’s a guy that has been very, very productive for them and understands what they want to do offensively and where to go with the football so he presents a tremendous challenge for you.”

On defensive back William Likely:

“Will is a guy from the very first day that he came in here, you could see he had something special about him. Just in terms of how he went about his business and how he was doing everything and again the competiveness of Will. The thing that I like about Will, he understands that he’s not the tallest guy in the world, he plays with a chip on his shoulder and he competes his butt off each and every day. He’s a smart football player, he works extremely hard at getting better, never satisfied, tough guy. I could talk all day about him because he optimizes everything that you want in a football player.”

On the team’s execution recently:

“We can always call better plays. Not every play is going to work. When they don’t work, I’m sure there’s a play or defense that we could have called that’s better. This is a collective effort between coaches and players. It’s not just about the players. It’s about all of us. All of us have to do the best job that we can. That’s all I can ask of our coaches, myself, our players is to give the best effort you possibly can. I’ve been in this long enough and I’ve learned from some of the best in the business. I was fortunate enough to coach at the highest level of this profession, the NFL. There are some times you can have the best game plan and have everything planned for what you want to do to execution wise, but you can still come out on the short end of the stick and that’s football and life. That is going to happen, but the thing is we’re trying to make sure, as coaches, that we put together the best possible game plans for our players to go out and be able to execute and deliver on Saturday. What we want for the players to do is go out and give their best effort on Saturday, so we can execute that game plan and give the effort. I say every time, ‘play every play like it’s the last play you’re going to play.’ That is what we want and when it comes up short, we all can do a lot better, if it comes out short. That to me is the mentality that you’ve got to have. It is a collective effort on all of us.”

On the biggest difference in Virginia Tech in its wins compared to its losses:

“When they played Boston College and Duke it is pretty much the same thing for us, turnovers. They had four turnovers and interceptions against Duke and the same against Boston College. They had a pick-six go against them in the Boston College game. They were down on the one-yard line going in and they had an interception. Turnovers are a big part of the ball game. We know ourselves that if we don’t turn the ball over, we give ourselves a lot more opportunity. What we need to be able to do is generate turnovers and not turnover the ball ourselves, because that would help us and give us a better opportunity to be able to win.”

On Virginia Tech’s special teams:

“Frank [Beamer] is an outstanding coach. He is the winningest active coach in FBS. His special teams have been outstanding over the years. Their punter is unbelievable, averaging 44.6 yard per punt. They are very sound and solid in the kicking game. What you’ve got to do is just make sure that you’ve got a plan together. What you really have to do is go out and make sure you have a basic plan with fundamentals and techniques. If you do that, you should be able to be okay. You’ve got to make sure that this week you mind your P’s and Q’s to make sure that your kids are doing the things that you need them to do fundamentally, so we don’t hurt ourselves in the kicking game.“

– Maryland –

Wells Named to Wooden Award Preseason Top 50

LOS ANGELES – Maryland men’s basketball guard Dez Wells has been named to the John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 as announced today on ESPN.com. Wells was chosen through a preseason poll of national college basketball experts.

Created in 1976, the Wooden Award is the most prestigious individual honor in college basketball. It is bestowed upon the nation’s best player at an institution of higher education who has proven to his university that he is making progress toward graduation and maintaining a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA.

The Terps’ leading scorer last season with 13.1 ppg, Wells returns to the Maryland backcourt with a full season of head coach Mark Turgeon’s system under his belt. Wells’ do-it-all ability was on full display Friday against UConn when he scored 13 points and added seven rebounds and six assists.

Wells is one of eight basketball players from the Atlantic Coast Conference selected to the award list.

The players on the list are considered strong candidates for the midseason list and the official voting ballot, which will consist of approximately 20 top players who have proven to their universities that they are also making progress toward graduation and maintaining at least a cumulative 2.0 GPA. The Wooden Award All American Team, consisting of the nation’s top 10 players, will be announced the week of the “Elite Eight” round of the NCAA Tournament.

Previous winners include such notables as Larry Bird (’79), Michael Jordan (’84), Tim Duncan (’97), Candace Parker (’07 and ’08), Kevin Durant (’09) and Maya Moore of Connecticut (’09 and ‘11).

Since its inception, the John R. Wooden Award has contributed close to a million dollars to universities’ general scholarship fund in the names of the All American recipients. The Award has also sent more than 1,000 underprivileged children to week-long college basketball camps in the Award’s name.

Follow the candidates and get the latest news throughout the season by logging on towww.WoodenAward.com or going to the Wooden Award facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/WoodenAward.

– Maryland –

Honorable Mention: Golf: PGA Tour OHL Classic at Mayakoba (Thursday-Sunday 2pm from Riviera Maya, Mexico live on Golf Channel); Boxing: Andre Ward vs. Edwain Rodriguez (Saturday 10pm from Ontario, CA live on HBO); High School Football: MPSSAA Playoffs-4A North Semifinal Howard @ Perry Hall (Friday 7pm); “The Book Thief” and “The Best Man Holiday” out in theaters (Friday); “Man of Steel” and “Turbo” available on Blu-Ray/DVD (Tuesday)

10. Elton John (Thursday 8pm Verizon Center), Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (Monday 7:30pm Verizon Center); Manchester Orchestra (Tuesday 7:30pm Rams Head Live), Eli Young Band (Wednesday 8pm Rams Head Live), Dr. Dog (Saturday 9pm Rams Head Live); The Lone Bellow (Friday 9pm Baltimore Soundstage), Zach Myers/Silvertung (Saturday 8pm Baltimore Soundstage); Dave Davies (Wednesday 8pm Rams Head on Stage); Bret Michaels (Thursday 9pm Rams Head Center Stage); Gary Clark Jr. (Tuesday & Wednesday 7pm 9:30 Club), Skrillex (Thursday 8:30pm 9:30 Club), Sister Hazel (Saturday 6pm 9:30 Club); Widespread Panic (Tuesday 8pm Modell Performing Arts Center at The Lyric); The Mowgli’s (Wednesday 7:30pm Rock & Roll Hotel); Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds (Friday 8:30pm The Hamilton); Rick Ross (Sunday 8pm D.A.R. Constitution Hall); Roger Clyne and The Peacemakers (Sunday 8pm State Theatre); Counting Crows “Echoes of The Outlaw Roadshow” available in stores/on iTunes (Tuesday)

The Lone Bellow HAS to win “Best New Artist” this year, right?

GARY CLARK JR GARY CLARK JR GARY CLARK JR GARY CLARK JR GARY CLARK JR

I’d listen to Sister Hazel sing “Row Row Row Your Boat”.

I’ve tried telling you about Sister Sparrow before. Stop missing the memo.

9. NBA-Washington Wizards @ Dallas Mavericks (Tuesday 8:30pm from Dallas live on Comcast SportsNet PLUS), Washington Wizards @ San Antonio Spurs (Wednesday 8:30pm from San Antonio live on Comcast SportsNet), Cleveland Cavaliers @ Washington Wizards (Saturday 7pm from Verizon Center live on Comcast SportsNet)

Meanwhile, JJ Hickson…

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