Maryland Takes On No. 1 Alabama In NCAA Second Round

BIRMINGHAM, AL – Coming off a thrilling first round win over No. 9 seed West Virginia, No. 8 seed Maryland will take on No. 1 seed and No. 1 ranked Alabama on Saturday night in the NCAA Tournament Round of 32. This will be a rematch of the 2021 NCAA Tournament meeting between the two squads and the Terps will look to knock off a No. 1 ranked team for the 11th time in program history. In the NCAA Tournament, this will mark the sixth time in program history to take on a No. 1 seed.

The game will be televised on TBS starting at 9:40 p.m. ET (8:40 p.m. CT), while fans can also listen to the Maryland Sports Network (105.7 FM – Baltimore, The TEAM 980 AM – Washington, D.C., Sirius XM 201, One Maryland App) with Matt Noble (play-by-play) and Chris Knoche (analyst) calling the action.

Maryland has a 43-28 record in the NCAA Tournament. The Terps have reached the Sweet Sixteen 14 times, the Elite Eight four times, the Final Four twice, and won the NCAA National Championship title in 2002. The Terrapins have won 15 of their last 16 opening round games dating back to 1997. The NCAA Tournament bid marks Maryland’s sixth appearance in the last seven applicable years. It would be the seventh appearance in eight years if the 2020 tournament had not been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Kevin Willard becomes the first coach in Maryland history to lead his squad to the NCAA Tournament in his first season at the helm.

The Terps are 10-30 all-time against No. 1-ranked opponents, last beating the best team in the land on Jan. 19, 2008, when Maryland knocked off No. 1 North Carolina, 82-80, at the Dean Dome in Chapel Hill. James Gist had 22 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Terps and end UNC’s 18-0 start to the season. Bambale Osby’s layup with 21 seconds left in the game the Terps the win. Maryland’s last game against a No. 1 team came on Jan. 4, 2018, when the Terps lost to No. 1 Michigan State, 91-69 in East Lansing. The last time Maryland played the No. 1 team in the land in the NCAA Tournament came in the 2016 NCAA Sweet 16, falling to No. 1 Kansas, 79-63 in Louisville.

Series History – alabama