As expected, the atmosphere at Xfinity Center on Friday night for the No. 3 Maryland men’s basketball team's game against Rider seemed different from Tuesday's battle with Georgetown.
The ESPN signage and noted Maryland fan Scott Van Pelt were nowhere to be found. Despite an announced sellout, there were a few more empty seats as well.
What had not changed was how tentative coach Mark Turgeon’s team looked on offense and how shaky the Terps were on defense. Rasheed Sulaimon’s characterization of what he had called a potential “trap” game nearly played out, as the Broncs, a 20-point underdog, led for more than 34 minutes.