Hampton at Loyola Maryland

The early season in NCAA hoops provides a lot of mismatches. This game is certainly accomodating to that billing. These kinds of matchups as a rule don't get us inspired. It is generally hard to be sure just how motivated the heavy favorite might be, and just how much energy a huge dog might bring with the chance to take a shot at a heavyweight. But, we feel this game presents an opportunity that is unique to many of these types of games. Hampton is returning just one starter and has lost 42 of its 66 points a game last year to graduation. That is being replaced by three freshman who will be in starting roles this year. It will be very difficult for 3 freshman to get their college basketball orientation in this venue, on the road. The last two times Hampton ventured into the high octane ACC, they were greeted unkindly. A mediocre Clemson team destroyed them 98-54 and Maryland humiliated them 108-58. This is all about Maryland showing up, because if they do this is easily a 30-40 point game. The question is will they? When you have a fiery coach, there are no nights off. A look back at the "cupcakes" on Maryland's schedule the last 3 years is a true indicator of exactly that:

05-06:

FDU 111-85
CHAMINADE 98-69
NICHOLLS ST. 88-56
W. CAROLINA 87-57
AMERICAN U. 81-55
VMI 99-68
TX A&M CC 99-73

04-05:

JACKSON ST. 93-57
MERCER 93-67
NC ASHVILLE 96-72
LIBERTY 112-68
MT ST. MARY'S 85-53

03-04:

AMERICAN U. 79-48
NC GREENSBORO 85-58
MT ST. MARY'S 89-56
MD EAST-SHORE 87-38

So in summary we have 15 of these games. We don't see one game where Maryland didn't show up, so you can see verification of the coaches' desire and demand for 40 minutes of basketball regardless of the competition. The average margin of victory: 31.7 points per game. The number of times a team covered tonights line of +23.5? A big fat zero! The number of these teams that were ranked higher than Hampton? 50%. It is clear to us that this Maryland team will show up, and this Hampton team on the road with 60% of the starting lineup consisting of freshman making their debut, and a team that has lost most of its scoring to graduation, is in for a much longer night than the +23 may indicate. Terps here.