Maryland Set to Host No. 12 Purdue in Cancer Awareness Game at XFINITY Center
COLLEGE PARK, MD - As February basketball heats up, Maryland kicks off a pivotal eight-game month with a marquee matchup against No. 12 Purdue on Sunday at 1:00 PM. The Terps will look to reset their Big Ten campaign at home, where four of their next eight games will unfold-starting with a nationally televised showdown on CBS.
Sunday’s game also carries a deeper meaning, as Maryland will host its annual Cancer Awareness game. The Terps will take the floor in special white uniforms with pink trim, honoring cancer survivors and those currently in the fight. It’s a day that transcends basketball, but there’s still plenty at stake on the court.
A Crucial February Stretch
Maryland enters the matchup at 8-12 overall and 1-8 in Big Ten play, looking for a spark. And while the record doesn’t scream momentum, the schedule ahead offers opportunity.
Only two of Maryland’s remaining February opponents are currently ranked in the AP Top 25-Purdue and No. 5 Nebraska.
The rest of the slate includes several teams sitting in the bottom half of the conference standings, giving the Terps a real shot to build some late-season traction.
Diggy Coit: Lighting Up the Scoreboard
If there’s one reason to believe Maryland can turn things around, it starts with Diggy Coit. The senior guard is in the midst of a scorching stretch that earned him a trio of honors last week: Big Ten Co-Player of the Week, AP National Player of the Week, and a spot among the USBWA’s National Players of the Week.
Coit averaged a jaw-dropping 36.5 points over two games, including a record-setting performance at home against Penn State. He dropped 43 points in that game-setting a new XFINITY Center scoring record and coming just one point shy of Ernie Graham’s all-time Maryland single-game mark of 44, set back in 1978.
His nine made threes tied the program’s single-game record, and Maryland’s 18 total triples set a new team high. This wasn’t just a hot hand-it was a full-on flamethrower display.
Coit also poured in 41 points earlier this season against Mount St. Mary’s, making him just the second player in Maryland history to notch multiple 40-point games in a single season.
The only other? Gene Shue back in 1952-53.
That’s not just rare air-it’s historic.
Among active NCAA players, Coit is one of only three with multiple 40-point games this season, and the only one in the Big Ten to do it. He’s also the first Big Ten player since Purdue’s own Carsen Edwards in 2018-19 to accomplish the feat.
Washington’s Return Adds Stability
While Coit has been the headline act, Solomon Washington has been the steadying force since rejoining the lineup in December. After missing the first eight games due to injury, the senior forward has made an immediate impact, averaging 9.7 points and 9.2 rebounds over 12 games.
Washington wasted no time making his presence felt, debuting with 10 points and six boards against Wagner. He’s posted multiple double-doubles since, including a 17-point, 12-rebound performance against Oregon and a 13-point, 10-rebound showing on the road at No. 11 Illinois.
His rebounding has been especially valuable, giving Maryland a veteran presence in the paint. If he maintains this pace, he’ll be on track to become just the 23rd player in program history to average a double-double over a full season-a mark that dates back to 1954-55.
Buzz Williams Building a Foundation
Buzz Williams took over the program in April 2025, bringing with him a résumé that includes three straight NCAA Tournament appearances with Texas A&M. Now in his first season in College Park, Williams is working to establish a new identity for the Terps.
He’s already part of an elite group of coaches, seeking to become just the third in Division I history to win 100 games at four different schools-joining Maryland legend Lefty Driesell and Steve Alford. Williams has already logged 100-win stints at Marquette, Virginia Tech, and Texas A&M, and he’s one of only 12 active coaches to win an NCAA Tournament game at three different programs.
His track record speaks for itself: 23 NCAA Tournament games coached, 12 wins-both ranking among the top 25 among active Division I coaches.
Series Snapshot: Maryland vs. Purdue
The Terps trail the all-time series 6-10, and Purdue has taken four of the last five matchups. But the last time Maryland got the better of the Boilermakers, it was a memorable one.
On Feb. 16, 2023, the Terps knocked off then-No. 3 Purdue 68-54 at the XFINITY Center, setting off a court-storming celebration.
This series has been tight more often than not-nine of the 16 meetings have been decided by five points or fewer. If Maryland can channel some of that 2023 energy, Sunday could be another nail-biter.
Promotions and Atmosphere
Expect a lively crowd on Sunday. In addition to the Cancer Awareness theme, Maryland has a full slate of promotions lined up throughout February. Upcoming themed games include a Black Out against Ohio State and a Checker Flag Game against Illinois.
But Sunday’s Pink Out will be about more than just fanfare. It’s a chance for the Terps to honor a cause bigger than basketball-and maybe, just maybe, start rewriting the script on their season.
Tip-off is set for 1:00 PM at the XFINITY Center.