When Maryland head coach Gary Williams begins preparation for an opponent the Terps have already faced, he reviews that tape and then looks at the opponent’s results since.
All he’ll find for Virginia since the Terrapins’ visit to Charlottesville three weeks ago is six straight wins and 44.7 points per game combined in those victories from senior guards J.R. Reynolds and Sean Singletary.
“Their guards just killed us. We know they’re going to be out there 40 minutes, and we have to be able to play their guards better than we did,” said Williams, who pointed to the duo as a cause for the Cavs’ 49-24 free throw disparity in Virginia’s 103-91 victory on Jan. 16. “We fouled too much. When you play Singletary and Reynolds and people like that, they’re hard not to foul.”
For this group of Terrapins to notch consecutive Atlantic Coast Conference wins for the first time, their defensive intensity must match the Cavs’ perimeter aggressiveness.
“We just have to get back as fast as we can and contain them and not be able to let them get a shot off early in transition,” said Maryland junior forward James Gist.
Reynolds and Singletary have consistently ignited the Virginia offense, but sophomore Mamadi Diane (DeMatha) also had a career-high 26 points against the Terps.
“The problem with Diane is Reynolds and Singletary,” said Williams, “You just look at Virginia, they have three guys on the perimeter that can really fill it up.”
Williams also pointed to rebounding, where unheralded Virginia senior forward Jason Cain grabbed 16 boards in the first meeting.
“He’s their energy player on the inside,” Gist said. “He’s always working, he’s always active, and it’s always hard to guard a guy like that.”
Maryland has responded well after troubling losses. Prosperity has been harder to deal with and the Terps are coming off a solid road victory at Wake Forest on Saturday
“You have to be able to play well after a good win because everybody tells you how good you are, how great, you’re this, you’re that,” said Williams. “You have to be mature enough to handle that.”
Virginia (15-6, 7-2 ACC) at Maryland (17-6, 3-5)
» When: Tonight, 9
» Where: Comcast Center
» TV: Comcast SportsNet
