Maryland

Wes Moore Would Like to Make History

Published

1 year ago

July 9, 2023

Wes Moore, who is currently America’s lone Black governor, works from a creaky-floored second-story office in the Maryland State House. The building—Georgian brick, shaded by giant trees, in the quiet center of Annapolis—is a small icon of American history. It is the only statehouse to have served as the nation’s capitol. (The Continental Congress, meeting there in 1784, ratified the Treaty of Paris, which ended the Revolutionary War and established the United States.) The building holds bronze statues of Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass, who were born, and enslaved, on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

Moore can seem surprised to find himself in the governor’s office, though the swerving path of his life has been a defining feature of his rise. He spent his early childhood in Takoma Park, a suburb of Washington, D.C. His great-grandfather emigrated from Jamaica, in the nineteen-twenties, but went back after he was threatened by the Ku Klux Klan; his son, Moore’s grandfather, returned to the United States. When Moore was three, his father died of an illness, and his mother, a freelance writer, moved with her three children to live with her parents in the Bronx. She enrolled Moore at Riverdale Country School, an exclusive private school, but as a teen-ager he had a run-in with police, and, after more trouble, he was threatened with suspension; his mother sent him off to Valley Forge Military Academy and College. He thrived there, joined the Army, and enrolled at Johns Hopkins University, where he graduated in 2001. He went to Oxford on a Rhodes Scholarship, and worked at Deutsche Bank in London, before he rejoined the Army, as a captain, and deployed to Afghanistan, with the 82nd Airborne. In 2010, after a stint in investment banking, he became a minor celebrity for his book “The Other Wes Moore,” a best-seller about the divergent path of his life and that of a man with the same name, who went to prison. Eventually, Moore switched to nonprofit work, and, in 2017, he became the C.E.O. of the Robin Hood Foundation, an anti-poverty group based in New York.

Over the years, his story has attracted journalists and political prospectors. Oprah Winfrey became a friend; he met Barack Obama in the White House. But when Moore entered the Maryland governor’s race, in 2021, having never run for office, he faced a broad field of competitors, including Tom Perez, the chair of the Democratic National Committee, who was endorsed by the Washington Post and the Baltimore Sun. Initially, Moore was polling at one per cent. During the campaign, he was accused of having hyped the trials of his youth; in his book, though he never claimed to have been born in Baltimore, he described the two Wes Moores as plying “the same streets,” and he did not correct some interviewers who assumed that he had grown up in the city’s gritty sections. There were other efforts to challenge his candidacy: in an ugly episode, a prominent donor to one of his rivals circulated an e-mail arguing that Maryland voters would not elect a Black governor: “Three African-American males have run statewide for Governor and have lost. . . . This is a fact we must not ignore.” But Moore drew crucial endorsements from the teachers’ union and prominent Democratic officials, and attracted a fortune in donations, thanks in part to Winfrey, who appeared in advertisements and at a virtual fund-raiser. He narrowly won the primary and went on to trounce a far-right Republican, Dan Cox, who had hired buses to take people to Washington, D.C., for protests at the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Moore would be Maryland’s first Black governor—and, instantly, a subject of prognostication about his potential for higher office.

On the morning of his inauguration, this past January, Moore arranged a ceremony a few hundred yards from the statehouse, at the Annapolis dock that once served as a receiving point for slave ships. To Moore, history is a complex partner in his politics; he often says that he didn’t run simply to make history, but he embraces the power of his breakthrough, and he has tried to convert that momentum into legislative progress against inequalities in education, employment, and wealth. In a recent speech at Morehouse College, he described Maryland as “the proving grounds of redlining and other discriminatory and predatory housing policies that have served as one of the greatest wealth thefts in our nation’s history.” Drawing on his experience in the military, he has also conceived of a civilian program for young people who seek a project larger than themselves. In his first year in office, he created a voluntary year of service for high-school graduates, which is in the spirit of AmeriCorps and which he hopes to make available to every student in Maryland. Signing the bill, he described service as a source of “civic bonds” that can keep people from “retreating to our corners of political ideology.”

At forty-four, Moore is bald but boyish, and is built like a wide receiver, the position he played at Johns Hopkins. On camera, he can project relentless charm, but, in person, when he settles down, he is blunt and succinct. In February, Time wrote, “The Maryland governor may be the Democrats’ most talented newcomer since Barack Obama.” When I visited Moore recently—to talk about service and greed, unity and polarization—the walls of his office were still sparsely decorated, except for some notable historic items, and we started there. Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

Can you help me get a feel for where we are right now? Has this always been the governor’s office?

This has always been the governor’s office. And, at four months, we’re still getting things on the walls. But maybe my favorite thing on the wall that I didn’t bring is that. [He points to a case holding an old document.] That’s George Washington’s handwritten resignation of his commission [as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army]. Downstairs, inside the rotunda, is where George Washington, for the first time in the history of the country, willingly gave up power and said, “The power is not mine. The power belongs to the people. And I don’t get to choose who leads. The people do.” And it really did set the foundation for every election we’ve ever had since. It is the foundation of democracy.

Consent, ultimately. The willingness to lose.

And your willingness to accept the results shouldn’t depend on the results. And so I love that document up there, both because I found myself running against an election denier and [because] it just shows how tenuous democracy is. We’re not that far today from fundamental political questions: What is democracy? And what results do we accept and what don’t we? [Moore points to another item on the wall, the photo of his swearing-in.] And then, right there, is when I was being sworn in as the sixty-third governor. Look at that dynamic, that arc.

You started that day at the city dock?

It was very intentional. It’s partly a tribute to Alex Haley and to “Roots,” because his family traced back to Annapolis. So I said, “I want to start the day there.” And so myself, the lieutenant governor, and a couple hundred people all met down at the dock, and we had a moment of silence. Then we basically marched from the docks up to the statehouse, which is a short march in terms of geography, but we really wanted to highlight the power of the journey. The statehouse was built by enslaved people. So now I was about to get sworn in as the sixty-third governor of a state, literally in front of a building that was built by the hands of those who were enslaved.

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Maryland

Villanova vs Maryland Prediction, Bet Builder Tips & Odds

Published

4 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Press Room

Villanova vs Maryland Prediction, Bet Builder Tips & Odds

Maryland Look the Smart Pick on the Spread

Our best wager is that Maryland are going to cover a generous -6 on the spread. You can get 1.92 that there’s a bigger margin of victory against Villanova.

57-40 Win for Villanova in Pair’s Last Encounter

Villanova Wildcats claimed a victory in their previous game. A 93-49 home win occurred against Pennsylvania Quakers.

Maryland Terrapins won their last game, beating Canisius Golden Griffins at home. It was a 108-37 win.

Villanova beat Maryland in their last head-to-head matchup. It was a 57-40 scoreline.

Expert College Basketball Analysis

The college basketball forecasts are only made once we have established the latest team news. It’s also important to study the form and investigate the most relevant stats to get the full picture.

Key Villanova vs Maryland stats:

The -6 line has been covered by Maryland in 4 of their last 5 games.
The -6 line has been covered by Maryland in 13 of their last 20 games at home.
The +6 line hasn’t been covered by Villanova in 6 of their last 10 games on the road.
The +6 line hasn’t been covered by Villanova in 3 of their last 5 games.

We’re excited to see Maryland at -6 on the spread in this college matchup. We think it’s a great number for the betting favorites to cover at odds of 1.92.

If you’re looking for a bigger potential return on your stake, there is always the option to move the line. Consider the betting odds and whether each line can be covered.

Maryland -6 Probability

The sportsbooks imply that our pick has a 52.1% prospect of winning. Taking all factors into consideration, our cappers think there’s a stronger chance of success and have a probability interval between 55-60%. That means we’re regarding it as a value wager.

Villanova vs Maryland Prediction

Maryland -6 @ 1.92

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Published 03:52, 24 November 2024

Correct Score Prediction

Rather than betting on the Terps to win, there’s the option to try your luck when it comes to the correct score lines. Take a chance on a 74-63 triumph in their favor.

Villanova vs Maryland Odds

The odds and lines are updated on a frequent basis. You might therefore find that they are different to the ones listed for the betting predictions and bet builder tips.

Latest Moneyline Odds Suggest Maryland Victory

Maryland have the shortest price to win this college game, with the sportsbooks giving them a 70% probability due to their 1.43 Moneyline betting odds. The market suggests that Villanova are least likely to win at 2.80.

6 is where the spread lies, with total points being 140 right now. There are many ways to bet on basketball including the Totals. Those that want to back Under 140 can find odds of 1.91 available.

The betting sites offer stacks of team props and game lines when it comes to most college basketball contests. Make sure you look through all the available options before deciding which bet to place.

Betting Lines & Odds

Moneyline

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Point Spread

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Total Points

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Player Props & Micro Betting

There is regularly betting value to be found from wagering on the player props with the best online gambling sites. You can find lots of ways to back for or against a specific player lining up for one of the two teams.

Micro betting provides a rollercoaster ride for college basketball bettors. It can be great to enjoy the live lines, with the opportunity to bet on the Next Field Goal. Watch the live action before deciding which way to go.

Team Stats

Latest regular season and playoff games stats.

Villanova Stats

Maryland Stats

Moneyline

4 wins and 6 defeats in the last 10 games
2 wins and 8 defeats in the last 10 games on the road

Moneyline

5 wins and 5 defeats in the last 10 games
6 wins and 4 defeats in the last 10 home games

Point Spread

+6 Betting Line: Have covered the spread in 6 of the last 10 games
+6 Betting Line on the Road: Have covered the spread in 4 of the last 10 games on the road

Point Spread

-6 Betting Line: Have covered the spread in 5 of the last 10 games
-6 Betting Line at Home: Have covered the spread in 6 of the last 10 home games

Total Points
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Game Totals: An average of 140.20 pts in the previous 10 games
Game Totals on the Road: An average of 136.30 pts in the previous 10 games on the road
Over 140: Covered in 4 of the previous 10 games
Over 140 on the Road: Covered in 3 of the previous 10 games on the road
Team Totals: Have scored an average of 72.60 pts and allowed 67.60 pts in the last 10 games
Team Totals on the Road: Have scored an average of 65.00 pts and allowed 71.30 pts in the last 10 games on the road

Total Points

Game Totals: An average of 140.30 pts in the previous 10 games
Game Totals at Home: An average of 141.50 pts in the previous 10 home games
Over 140: Covered in 5 of the previous 10 games
Over 140 at Home: Covered in 5 of the previous 10 home games
Team Totals: Have scored an average of 76.00 pts and allowed 64.30 pts in the last 10 games
Team Totals at Home: Have scored an average of 79.30 pts and allowed 62.20 pts in the last 10 home games

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Maryland

Instant Analysis: Illinois Basketball Dominates Maryland Eastern Shore 87-40

Published

12 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

Instant Analysis: Illinois Basketball Dominates Maryland Eastern Shore 87-40

Coming off its first loss of the season, No. 25 Illinois took the floor at its State Farm Center home in Champaign on Saturday with plenty of motivation against struggling Maryland Eastern Shore.

So even when the Illini showed up with something less than their sharpest weapons, they managed to hammer the Hawks with size, muscle and blunt-force effort in an 87-40 runaway win.

An excellent defensive performance helped stake Illinois (4-1) to an early lead against the Hawks (2-6), allowing the opportunity for more floor time for its non-starters, including freshman Morez Johnson Jr., who had career highs of 10 points and 13 rebounds in just 13 minutes. Freshman forward Will Riley led the Illini with 19 points off the bench – all in the second half – and junior guard Kylan Boswell continued his recent upswing with 13 points, four rebounds and another sinister defensive performance.

Never gave up on the play.@morezjohnsonjr with the rebound and putback!
2H 3:37 | #Illini 84, Maryland-Eastern Shore 33
Subscribe/stream on B1G+ https://t.co/WexJfPhFf1 pic.twitter.com/C4G3Je0lqH
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— Illinois Men’s Basketball (@IlliniMBB) November 23, 2024

After falling to No. 8 Alabama on a middling shooting night, Illinois came out clanking in the first half against the Hawks, “hitting” an atrocious 4-for-21 3-pointers (19.0 percent) before the break. But the Illini’s suffocating defense turned that blemish into an inconsequential blip.

Illinois held Maryland Eastern Shore to 7-for-33 field-goal shooting (21.2 percent) in the first half – including 1-for-12 from 3-point range – and forced 10 turnovers. The Hawks seemed to not know what hit them – and, as Mike Tyson might have noted, certainly had no plan after getting punched in the face. The Illini seemingly cut off every avenue on their opponents, who finished the first half with no assists.

After halftime, Riley was ablaze, pulling up for feathery jumpers and slinking to and around the rim for all-angles buckets that came easily for an 18-year-old in just his fifth college game. The outsized Illini annihilated the Hawks on the boards, 59-38, and held them to 22.1 percent field-goal shooting for the game.

A little shake-n-bake from @willriley_7 😏
2H 9:04 | #Illini 68, Maryland-Eastern Shore 24
Subscribe/stream on B1G+ https://t.co/WexJfPhFf1 pic.twitter.com/XWjTyCdnYp
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— Illinois Men’s Basketball (@IlliniMBB) November 23, 2024

CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein Has High Praise for Illinois Basketball Freshmen

Top 5 Must-Watch Matchups for Illinois Basketball in 2024-25

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Maryland

No. 11 Maryland women’s basketball vs. Saint Francis preview

Published

20 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

No. 11 Maryland women’s basketball vs. Saint Francis preview

No. 11 Maryland women’s basketball will be back in action on Sunday to host Saint Francis.

The Terps have enjoyed a week off after a dominating win over Towson last Sunday, 98-63, and will look for their first 6-0 start since the 2021-22 season.

“It’s been a week of practices for us to improve and get better,” head coach Brenda Frese said. “Able to really work on some things defensively and fine tuning things on the offensive end to get ourselves ready for Saint Francis.”

Sunday’s matchup will tip-off at 1 p.m. from Xfinity Center and stream on Big Ten Plus.

Saint Francis Red Flash (1-5, 0-0 Northeast Conference)

2023-24 record: 5-25, 4-12 NEC

Head coach Keila Whittington is in her sixth season with the Red Flash and has only led her team to a winning record once. Saint Francis has an overall 46-102 record under Whittington.

Saint Francis earned its first win of the season on Wednesday night, when the Red Flash took down Robert Morris, 58-55, on the road. Saint Francis has suffered defeats to NJIT, Lafayette, Coppin State, Canisius and Loyola Maryland.

Players to watch

Yanessa Boyd, sophomore guard, 5-foot-9, No. 0 — Boyd is in her second season with the Red Flash and has solidified herself as a starter, leading the team in minutes. She also leads the team with 7.7 points per game. after finishing third last season with 7.1 points per game. Boyd is from Frederick, Maryland, and finished her high school career at Riverdale Baptist.

Ineivi Plata, freshman guard, 5-foot-3, No. 10 — Plata has started every game and is second on the team in minutes as freshman out of White Plains, New York. Plata is currently averaging 4.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.6 turnovers per game. She is 9-of-29 from the field and 2-of-16 from 3-point range this season. She scored a career-high nine points against Coppin State.

Natalie Johnson, junior guard, 5-foot-8, No. 5 — Johnson is in her first season with Saint Francis after transferring from Robert Morris, who Johnson had 10 points against on Wednesday. She has only started one game this season, but averages 7.5 points per game, the second most for Saint Francis. Johnson averages 19.8 minutes per game and is a solid piece off the bench for the Red Flash.

Strength

Rebounding. The Red Flash have outrebounded their opponents this season, 194-188. As a team, Saint Francis averages 32.3 rebounds per game, which ranks fifth in the NEC, and is led by Marina Artero and Plata, who both average 4.0 rebounds.

Weakness

Turnovers. Saint Francis turns the ball over 21.7 times per game, leading to a -7.8 turnover margin for the Red Flash. Opponents average 19.7 points off turnovers and the Red Flash’s assist-to-turnover ratio is 0.5.

Three things to watch

1. A differential against Coppin State. The Red Flash fell to Coppin State, 74-38, on Nov. 12, while Maryland previously took down Coppin State on Nov. 7, 70-47. That is a 59-point margin between Maryland’s and Saint Francis’ performances against Coppin State. While anything can happen, the Terps should have no issues beating Saint Francis.

2. An easy stretch. After the Terps defeated then-No. 11 Duke and Syracuse, they have entered a three-week stretch against lower-level competition until its first Big Ten game on Dec. 7 against Purdue. Their final nonconference game of the regular season will be in the midst of Maryland’s conference schedule against No. 4 Texas in the Coretta Scott King Classic. The Terps will need to be conscious of keeping their foot on the pedal over the next two weeks before their schedule gets tough.

3. Keeping pace. The Terps have three players averaging double-digit points in Kaylene Smikle, Shyanne Sellers and Christina Dalce, as well as two players who are averaging upward of seven rebounds per game in Dalce and Saylor Poffenbarger. Scoring and rebounding have been key parts of Maryland’s game thus far, and the Terps are in position to improve these averages Sunday.

“We just want to take where we’re at and continue to keep building and improving and getting better,” Frese said.

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