Maryland to play UConn in Jimmy V Classic next December

After pulling out of this season's Jimmy V Basketball Classic because of what was called a "scheduling conflict," the Maryland men's basketball team will play in the annual doubleheader at Madison Square Garden in New York next season.

The Terps will face Connecticut on Dec. 8, 2015. The teams met in last season's Barclays Classic in Brooklyn, N.Y. The Huskies won by a point and went on to win the national championship.

Virginia and West Virginia will play in the other game at next year's Jimmy V Classic, which is televised by ESPN and benefits the Jimmy V Foundation for cancer research. (It's named after the late North Carolina State coach and broadcaster Jim Valvano, who died in 1993 after battling bone cancer.)

"We are excited that our program will have the opportunity to play on the national stage in one of the premier early-season tournaments in the country," Maryland coach Mark Turgeon said in a statement. "It's a tremendous field comprised of some of the nation's top programs. It is an honor to compete in this event, which for more than two decades has raised money and awareness in the fight against cancer."

Tickets for next year's Jimmy V Classic are scheduled go on sale in the fall of 2015. Prices range from $15-$275.

Maryland was initially scheduled to face Villanova in this year's Jimmy V Classic on Tuesday night. The Terps dropped out after five players transferred from the program last spring. The No. 7 Wildcats will play Illinois instead.

[More from sports] Orioles prospect Gunnar Henderson dominated in Delmarva. Now, he’s embracing the challenge of figuring it out in Aberdeen. »

At the time the Terps pulled out of this year's Jimmy V Classic, Turgeon didn't know how good his revamped team was going to be this season because its inexperience.

Currently 8-1, the Terps moved up two spots to No. 19 in this week's Associated Press writers poll, despite a loss to then-No. 7 Virginia on Wednesday.

Maryland returns to action Wednesday night to face North Carolina Central (6-3) at Xfinity Center.

don.markus@baltsun.com

twitter.com/sportsprof56

Maryland to play UConn in Jimmy V Classic next December

Don't miss our 4th of July sale!
Save big on local news.

SALE ENDS SOON

$1 FOR 12 WEEKS

Don't miss our 4th of July sale!Save big on local news.

SALE ENDS SOON

$1 FOR 12 WEEKS

Don't miss our 4th of July sale!
Save big on local news.