Category: NCAA Basketball

Buoyed by the right group of veteran transfers and holdovers who have jelled quicker than any in coach Brenda Frese’s history, Maryland has quietly vaulted into the list of contenders.

Lou Carnesecca and John Thompson were titans of the Big East Conference. Their most memorable moment together involves Carnesecca's iconic sweaters.

Portland Pilots (3-5) at Kent State Golden Flashes (6-2) Kent, Ohio; Friday, 7 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Portland faces Kent State after Vukasin Masic scored 27 points in Portland's 101-90 overtime victory over the Denver Pioneers. The Golden Flashes have gone 2-0 in home games.

Miami (OH) RedHawks (5-2) at Indiana Hoosiers (6-2) Bloomington, Indiana; Friday, 7 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Miami (OH) visits Indiana after Peter Suder scored 42 points in Miami (OH)'s 73-60 win against the Air Force Falcons. The Hoosiers have gone 5-0 in home games.

Charleston Southern Buccaneers (3-7) at Davidson Wildcats (5-2) Davidson, North Carolina; Friday, 7 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Charleston Southern visits Davidson after RJ Johnson scored 30 points in Charleston Southern's 83-68 victory against the UT Martin Skyhawks. The Wildcats are 3-0 on their home court.

Iona Gaels (2-7) at Sacred Heart Pioneers (3-5) Fairfield, Connecticut; Friday, 7 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Sacred Heart hosts Iona after Amiri Stewart scored 20 points in Sacred Heart's 73-65 victory against the Boston University Terriers. The Pioneers are 1-0 in home games.

Stetson Hatters (4-3) at Iona Gaels (1-6) New Rochelle, New York; Thursday, 6 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Stetson visits Iona after Cameron Thomas scored 21 points in Stetson's 84-76 victory over the Utah State Aggies. The Gaels are 1-2 on their home court.

Wichita State Shockers (3-5) at Kansas Jayhawks (7-1) Lawrence, Kansas; Thursday, 7:30 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Kansas hosts Wichita State after S'Mya Nichols scored 28 points in Kansas' 61-60 victory against the Auburn Tigers. The Jayhawks have gone 4-0 at home.

Morgan State Bears (4-6) at Sacred Heart Pioneers (2-4) Fairfield, Connecticut; Thursday, 7 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Sacred Heart faces Morgan State after Ny'Ceara Pryor scored 23 points in Sacred Heart's 59-47 loss to the Coppin State Eagles. The Pioneers have gone 1-1 at home.

Duke Blue Devils (8-1) at South Carolina Gamecocks (7-1) Columbia, South Carolina; Thursday, 9 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: No. Duke visits No.

Boston College Eagles (6-3) at Arkansas Razorbacks (4-5) Fayetteville, Arkansas; Thursday, 7 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Arkansas hosts Boston College after Izzy Higginbottom scored 26 points in Arkansas' 79-78 loss to the Bowling Green Falcons. The Razorbacks are 3-2 in home games.

McNeese Cowgirls (4-3) vs. William & Mary Tribe (1-6) Farmville, Virginia; Friday, 2 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: William & Mary takes on McNeese in Farmville, Virginia. The Tribe are 1-6 in non-conference play.

Nevada Wolf Pack (4-5) at Pepperdine Waves (4-3) Malibu, California; Friday, 9 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Pepperdine takes on Nevada after Ella Brubaker scored 20 points in Pepperdine's 68-61 loss to the Long Beach State Beach. The Waves are 2-0 on their home court.

Davidson Wildcats (3-5) at Ball State Cardinals (5-3) Muncie, Indiana; Thursday, 11 a.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Davidson will look to end its three-game road skid when the Wildcats play Ball State. The Cardinals are 3-1 in home games.

Illinois Fighting Illini (6-1) at Northwestern Wildcats (6-3, 0-1 Big Ten) Evanston, Illinois; Friday, 9 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: No. Illinois visits Northwestern after Kasparas Jakucionis scored 23 points in Illinois' 90-77 victory against the Arkansas Razorbacks.