LOCAL CAPSULES
Clemson at Maryland
PLAYERS TO WATCHKris JosephAfter sitting out with a concussion and watching No. 3 Syracuse lose its first game of the year at Pittsburgh, the Orange’s top scorer (14.6 ppg) will return against visiting No. 7 Villanova in a game that could break the NCAA on-campus attendance record of 34,616, set last year when these teams met in the Carrier Dome. (Sat., 12 p.m., ESPN)Scotty HopsonAs the 6-7 junior goes, so goes Tennessee. In November, Hopson hit 16 of 24 shots in wins over Big East powers Villanova and Pittsburgh. In December, he hit eight of 31 shots in consecutive losses to Oakland, Charlotte and USC. On Saturday, Hopson takes his best shot at No. 8 Connnecticut. (Sat., 2 p.m., CBS)Jordan HamiltonThe 6-7 forward scored 27 points as No. 10 Texas solved the defense of No. 11 Texas A&M on Wednesday 81-60. Three days later, the Longhorns go on the road to try to take down another Big 12 power, No. 2 Kansas, led by the Morris twins — Marcus and Markieff. (Sat., 4 p.m., CBS)Bruce EllingtonLast year at South Carolina, Kentucky had no answer for 5-foot-9 Devan Downey (30 points) and suffered its first loss of the season. On Saturday, the No. 12 Wildcats must deal with Downey’s 5-9 successor, Ellington (14.9 ppg), a standout in the Gamecocks’ SEC wins over Florida and Vanderbilt. (Sat., 6 p.m., ESPN)Durrell SummersThe 6-5 senior guard (14.1 ppg) of mystifying No. 17 Michigan State will have an interesting matchup with 6-4 senior E’Twaun Moore (17.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg) of No. 14 Purdue on Saturday. The Big Ten teams split last season, with visiting MSU upsetting Purdue on the road. (Sat., 9 p.m., ESPN)
Where » Comcast Center, College Park
When » Saturday, 2:30 p.m.
TV/Radio » ACC Network/980 AM
Coming off a quick turnaround from Thursday’s game against Virginia Tech, Maryland faces rested Clemson (13-5, 2-2), which last played Tuesday night, losing at North Carolina. Clemson has won two of its last four trips to Comcast and is led by seniors Demontez Stitt (13.3 ppg), a 6-foot-2 guard, and Jerai Grant (12.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg), a 6-8 DeMatha graduate.
Navy at Army
Where » Christl Arena, West Point, N.Y.
When » Saturday, 6 p.m.
TV/Radio » CBS College Sports/1050 AM
Befitting of their fierce rivalry, the teams have split the home-and-home series each of the last seven years. Struggling Navy (5-15, 0-4) might be hard-pressed to keep the string intact against up-tempo Army (10-9, 2-2). The Black Knights are tied for fifth in the nation in 3-pointers a game (9.5) and are led by senior and Massaponax graduate Jeremy Hence (15.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg) and PG Julian Simmons (16.4 ppg).
St. Bonaventure at GW
Where » Smith Center
When » Saturday, 2 p.m.
Radio » 1500 AM
After back-to-back losses, George Washington (10-8, 3-1) tries to regroup against Atlantic 10 foe St. Bonaventure (9-8, 1-3). Andrew Nicholson (20.5 ppg, 7.6 rpg), a 6-9 junior, is the top scorer in the A-10. The Bonnies can be rattled by pressure. They rank last in the A-10 in assist-turnover ratio. GW freshman Nemanja Mikic (8.6 ppg) leads the conference in 3-pointers (2.5 pg).
AU at Holy Cross
Where » Hart Recreation Center, Worcester, Mass.
When » Saturday, 2 p.m.
Radio » 1050 AM
After starting 1-13, Holy Cross (4-14, 3-1) has risen in the Patriot League behind 6-1 Devin Brown (12.7 ppg) and 6-9 Andrew Keister (11.7 ppg, 7.5 rpg). The Crusaders got their most decisive win 71-50 at Navy on Wednesday night as 6-8 Eric Obeysekere had 16 points and 10 rebounds. AU (13-6, 3-1), tied with Holy Cross for second place in the conference, is propelled by 6-9 Vlad Moldoveanu (21.2 ppg, 6.3 rpg).