Free Live Odds - Scores and Odds - Sports News - Sports Information - Live Scores - Sports Statistics - Sports Articles - Sports Standings - Live Scor

GAME NOTES: The struggling North Carolina Tar Heels invade College Park this afternoon to take on the Maryland Terrapins in an ACC showdown.

North Carolina has lost its last two games and five of the last six to plummet to 13-9 overall and 2-5 in league action. The defending national champs were knocked off by Virginia Tech on Thursday by a 74-70 final, and carry a 1-4 mark in true road tilts into this afternoon's affair.

Unlike UNC, Maryland has been playing outstanding ball lately, as the Terrapins have won five of their last six games to move to 15-6 overall and 5-2 in conference. On Thursday, the Terps posted a 71-67 decision over Florida State on the road, and they now return home where they are 10-1 thus far.

The Tar Heels own a commanding 114-56 series lead over the Terps, and the teams split a pair of meetings last season.

North Carolina was loaded with stars last season, but this year's group is rather young and inexperienced. The top two performers for the Heels are Deon Thompson and Ed Davis, a fair of forwards who are netting 14.4 ppg and 14.0 ppg, respectively. Davis leads the club with 9.5 rpg, and he has blocked 57 shots while shooting 59 percent from the field. UNC is generating 80.4 ppg while allowing 73.0 ppg to opponents. Clearly, however, that positive differential isn't reflected in its 2-5 league ledger. Against Virginia Tech on Thursday, North Carolina allowed just 38.8 percent shooting from the floor. Unfortunately, the Heels turned the ball over 19 times and shot a lackluster 4-of-15 from three-point range. Davis scored 15 points to lead the way in defeat.

Greivis Vasquez continues to lead Maryland in scoring with 17.7 ppg, and he has dished out 127 assists to go along with 33 steals. Landon Milbourne checks in with 14.4 ppg on 53.7 percent shooting from the floor, and Sean Mosley provides 11.7 ppg. The fourth and final double-digit scorer the Terps is Eric Hayes with 10.9 ppg. Maryland is racking up 79.6 ppg on 47.8 percent shooting from the field, and the club is limiting opponents to 64.7 ppg on 37.1 percent field goal efficiency. Last time out, Vasquez tallied 23 points and seven assists to help the Terps knock off the Seminoles. Milbourne contributed 18 points, and Jordan Williams finished with 14. Hayes chipped in 12 points for Maryland, which limited FSU to 37.7 percent shooting from the field.

There is no reason to believe that North Carolina will beat Maryland on the road today. Don't be fooled by the storied history and last season's success, the Heels are a mediocre ACC club, at best.