Maryland gets a big early-season test Friday night, and Xfinity Center will have the extra edge that comes with the annual Red Out. The Terrapins, sitting at 1-1, host No. 6 Virginia in a DMV matchup that arrives with plenty of history and a fresh dose of urgency for both sides.
The Terps are back home after a rough trip to Georgetown last Saturday, where they dropped an 86-74 decision at Capital One Arena. Maryland’s offense never quite kept pace with the Hoyas, who shot better than 50% overall, going 27-of-52, and hit 50% from deep at 15-of-30.
Even in the loss, Pharrel Payne continued to look like the most reliable piece in Maryland’s attack. He finished with 28 points and eight rebounds, carrying the Terps with another strong outing after limited appearances last season.
Virginia, meanwhile, has opened the year exactly the way a No. 6 team would want. The Cavaliers are 4-0 and have won every game by double digits, including a ranked win over No.
19 Arkansas. They’ve looked every bit the part of a team that hasn’t missed a beat early in 2026.
Ryan Odom is in his second season leading the Cavaliers, and his first year was a runaway success. Virginia went 30-6, finished second in the ACC, and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Odom also earned semifinalist recognition for the Naismith National Coach of the Year.
This rivalry goes all the way back to 1913, and the numbers tell the full story of how long these programs have been crossing paths. Maryland leads the all-time series 108-77, but recent history has tilted hard toward Virginia.
The Cavaliers have taken nine of the last 10 meetings, and six of those games were decided by single digits. Three even went to overtime.
Even with Maryland out of the ACC since 2014, this one still carries the kind of energy that shows up in the stands as much as on the court.
Maryland’s challenge starts inside, where sophomore Thijs De Ridder brings a physical, bruising style that Buzz Williams and his staff know well from last season’s meeting with Virginia. De Ridder does damage in the paint as a rebounder and defender, but he also has the kind of three-level scoring that can stretch a defense. That puts extra pressure on Payne to hold his ground.
In the backcourt, sophomore Chance Mallory is another familiar name for Maryland. The Terps recruited him before losing out to UVA, and he now runs the offense as the pace-setter. He brings perimeter shooting, playmaking and tough defense on the ball.
Then there’s senior Sam Lewis, who the source puts plainly: “bucket getter.” Lewis can create his own shot and has the kind of late-game scoring ability that can swing a tight finish. For Maryland, that means the perimeter defense has to tighten up, and the on-ball pressure needs to be there from the opening tip.
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Elijah Gertrudes Patience Is Finally Paying Off For Virginia
Elijah Gertrude has spent most of his Virginia career waiting for the right moment, and this season it is finally arriving. The guard committed to the Cavaliers when Tony Bennett was still running the program, then had his path interrupted by Bennetts retirement and a major knee injury that wiped out his sophomore season, leaving him to navigate a changing roster and a changing staff while trying to get back on track.
Now in his fourth season, Gertrude has become a meaningful part of Ryan Odoms rotation and is giving Virginia real production off the bench. His breakout has been one of the more encouraging developments for a team still sorting out its identity under a new coach, because the Cavaliers are getting a player whose patience through all the upheaval is starting to pay off in a tangible way. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia May Be Getting Help Just When It Desperately Needs It
Virginia is set to get a little healthier at a time when it could use the boost, with several key pieces trending back toward the field for the upcoming game against California. Coach Tony Elliott confirmed the latest injury updates in his press conference, and the news points to a welcome shift after the Cavaliers had been working through absences in recent weeks.
The return of help on one side of the ball could matter in a game where depth has been tested, but Virginia is still not all the way out of the woods. Linebacker Maddox Marcellus and backup safety Corey Costner remain doubtful, leaving the Cavaliers with a few lingering questions even as the roster begins to stabilize. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Is Rolling Early And Maryland Will Test How Real It Is
Virginias early-season surge kept rolling with a 95-61 win over Bucknell, the kind of complete performance that suggests Tony Bennetts team is settling in quickly. The Cavaliers shot better than 50 percent from the field, put four players in double figures and piled up 30 assists, showing the ball movement and balance that can make them difficult to guard when the offense is clicking.
The defense was just as sharp, with Virginia blocking 11 shots, limiting Bucknell to 35 percent shooting and even winning the battle on the glass in a way that fit the tone of the night. The bigger question now is whether that formula travels when the competition rises, and Maryland will be the next test of how real this start is. [Read more 🡒]