Old Dominion ready for test against Maryland

Old Dominion coach Mike Jones returns to his stomping grounds when his team faces Maryland on Sunday night in College Park, Md.

Less than two miles away, Jones coached 19 seasons at national prep powerhouse and alma mater DeMatha Catholic. Jones also served one season as an assistant at Maryland before taking over last year at Old Dominion.

Will playing in Jones' familiar neighborhood serve the Monarchs (4-9) well as they challenge the struggling Terrapins (6-6), who have lost five of their last six?

Jones brings with him seven players with ties to the Washington, D.C. area, including 7-footer Caelum Swanton-Rodger, who spent two seasons at Maryland.

The Monarchs are paced by KC Shaw (16 points per game) and Jordan Battle, who averages 14.2 points and a team-high 5.5 rebounds per game.

Old Dominion is looking for a return to form of Robert Davis Jr., the Sun Belt Conference Preseason Player of the Year who is shooting just 29.5% from the floor.

The Monarchs got off to a promising start in league play, toppling league favorite James Madison before falling to Coastal Carolina 76-74 on Dec. 20.

The Monarchs committed 13 turnovers compared to five for the Chanticleers.

"We've got to do a better job, especially in the last eight minutes of the game, taking care of the basketball and executing at both ends," Jones said.

Maryland has been plagued by turnovers as well, leading the Big Ten with 14.2 per game. The Terrapins have also been negotiating a brutal schedule.

Of their last five losses, four have come against ranked teams, including an 80-72 defeat at then-No. 23 Virginia on Dec. 20. They committed 19 turnovers in the loss and were without top scorer and rebounder Pharrel Payne (17.5 points, 7.2 rebounds).

"They turned the ball over 10% of the time. We turned it over 23% of the time," Terrapins coach Buzz Williams said. "That's a high tax to pay."

With Payne's status uncertain because Williams does not provide injury updates, the Terrapins will look for offense from David Coit (14.8 ppg) and Darius Adams (12.3 ppg).

Old Dominion is seeking its first win over a major-conference school since 2018, when it upset then-No. 25 Syracuse.

-Field Level Media