Buzz Williams Returns to Charlottesville - This Time Wearing Maryland Red
There’s a familiar face patrolling the sideline at John Paul Jones Arena tonight - and while the colors may have changed, the intensity certainly hasn’t. Buzz Williams is back in Charlottesville, making his second visit in two years, but this time he’s leading a new squad. After his stint at Texas A&M, Williams is now at the helm of a Maryland team looking to find its footing.
The Terps come in at 6-5 and are staring down a major challenge against No. 23 Virginia (9-1), which tips off at 6 p.m.
ET on ESPN. Williams, of course, is no stranger to UVA fans.
As the former head coach at Virginia Tech, he’s had more than a few battles with the Cavaliers over the years. Last season, he brought his Texas A&M team to JPJ for the ACC/SEC Challenge - a game that Virginia won comfortably.
Now, he returns with a Maryland squad that’s trying to stop the bleeding after a tough stretch.
Virginia’s Post-Exam Break: Rust or Rhythm?
Virginia hasn’t played in 11 days due to the university’s exam break - a stretch that has historically produced mixed results for the Cavaliers. Some years they come out looking crisp and recharged. Other times, there’s a layer of rust to shake off.
But former UVA coach Jeff Jones believes current head man Ryan Odom has used the time wisely. Speaking on The Hootie & JJ Show, Jones noted that this break can be a turning point for teams with big aspirations.
“There will be some wrinkles people haven’t seen,” Jones said. “Coaches aren’t standing pat before conference play.
It’s time to play big-boy basketball.”
That’s exactly what Virginia has been doing so far this season. The Cavaliers are 6-0 at home and have won eight of the last nine matchups against Maryland, a former ACC rival.
Offensively, they’re humming. UVA is averaging 87.1 points per game - the second-highest mark in program history, trailing only the 1954-55 squad.
They’ve scored 80 or more in nine games already, a pace not seen since their 2018-19 national championship run.
Maryland’s Defensive Woes Meet UVA’s Firepower
If there’s one thing working in Virginia’s favor tonight, it’s the current state of Maryland’s defense. The Terps have dropped four of their last five games and have struggled to keep opponents in check.
In recent outings, they’ve surrendered 101 to Michigan, 100 to Gonzaga, 105 to Alabama, and 83 to Iowa. That’s a brutal stretch - and it doesn’t get easier against a Virginia team that’s shooting the lights out.
UVA is launching 27.5 threes per game, the most in program history, and they’re connecting at a 40% clip - good for 13th nationally. That kind of perimeter efficiency, combined with a bruising frontcourt, makes them a tough out for anyone. They’re also crashing the glass hard, ranking top 25 nationally in offensive rebounds (14.5), rebound margin (+10.2), and total boards per game (42.0).
Defensively, the Cavaliers are flexing muscle around the rim. They’re third in the country in blocked shots (7.1 per game), with big men Johann Grünloh (2.9 bpg) and Ugonna Onyenso (2.8 bpg) both ranked in the national top 11 individually.
Scouting the Terps
Maryland isn’t short on talent - they just haven’t put it all together consistently. Pharrel Payne, the 6-foot-9 forward, leads the way with 17.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.
He’s a physical presence who will need to battle Virginia’s front line all night. Point guard David Colt adds 14.8 points per game and is shooting a red-hot 46.5% from beyond the arc.
And there’s a familiar name in Elijah Saunders, who played under Ron Sanchez at UVA last season and was the team’s second-leading scorer.
The Terps will need all three firing on all cylinders to keep pace with a Cavaliers team that’s not only efficient but relentless on both ends.
A Rivalry Rekindled
This is the first meeting between these two programs since 2018-19, when Virginia edged out Maryland, 76-71, in College Park. That game was a battle, and tonight’s matchup has the potential to be another hard-fought contest - especially with Williams on the opposing bench.
For Virginia, this game is about keeping momentum rolling and fine-tuning before the grind of conference play begins. They’ll host American on Monday night in their final non-conference tuneup.
But first, they’ll have to handle Maryland - and a head coach who knows a thing or two about winning in this building.