The Terrapins released their non-conference schedule for the upcoming season and while there are several worthwhile matches throughout the first two months, the overall schedule is a tad bit underwhelming (especially considering the games that will be played on Maryland's home court).
Overall the schedule is highlighted by an early season outing against Georgetown in the inaugural Gavitt Games, a road trip to North Carolina in the Big Ten / ACC Challenge and a showdown with Connecticut in the Jimmy V Classic inside Madison Square Garden. The two games against North Carolina and Connecticut will definitely be the Terps biggest tests prior to conference play and are the easy highlights of the first two months, but unfortunately neither will take place in College Park. They do, however, draw Georgetown in the first week of the season in what is their best home game prior to Big Ten play.
Outside of that, though, the rest of the schedule is relatively bland. Maryland will participate in the Cancun Challenge, facing Illinois State and the winner of Rhode Island / TCU, and while none of those matchups are bad per se, they're a bit hard to get worked up for as well. The home slate past that Georgetown game will include the likes of Rider, Cleveland State, St. Francis (Pa.), Maryland-Eastern Shore and Marshall. While none of those games are particularly terrible cupcakes, it is a tad disappointing that the best games early on in the season will be played away from home.
While there aren't many home showdowns here, the schedule does provide enough early challenges to help Maryland prepare for the grueling Big Ten season and add some quality wins. Also, the moderate number of manageable mid-majors means Maryland should be in good shape heading into January.
Here is the full non-conference schedule.
2015-16 Maryland Non-Conference Schedule
- Nov. 13 - Mount Saint Mary's
- Nov. 17 - Georgetown (Gavitt Games)
- Nov. 20 - Rider
- Nov. 24 - vs. Illinois State (Cancun Challenge)
- Nov. 25 - vs. Rhode Island / TCU (Cancun Challenge)
- Nov. 28 - Cleveland State
- Dec. 4 - St. Francis (Pa.)
- Dec. 8 - vs. Connecticut (Jimmy V Classic, at MSG)
- Dec. 12 - Maryland Eastern-Shore
- Dec. 19 - vs. Princeton (Royal Farms Arena)
- Dec. 27 - Marshall