Terps overpower Miami; The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

The University of Maryland beat the Miami Hurricanes 81-59, gaining sole possession of 1st-place in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

The Terrapins are now 14-5 overall, and 4-1 in the ACC. They have won their past three conference games by an average of 21 points.

The Good:

1) While the Hurricanes have now lost 4 consecutive ACC games, they started this season 15-1, and ranked among the National Top 25. Miami had a full-week off in preparation for this game. While winning on the road in conference play is always difficult, it says a lot about the Terps that Maryland won all the hustle plays, and looked like the hungrier team.

2) Four Terps scored in double-figures, and seven scored at-least 8 points.

3) Maryland had 19 assists, 7 steals, forced 18 turnovers, and were even with Miami on the boards.

4) 42 points in the paint for the Terps tonight, helped propel Maryland to shooting 51% from the field. When the Terps took 3 point attempts, they got good looks and buried 7 of their 15 shots. Maryland was again able to force foul-shots, getting to the line 25 times.

5) Besides the steals, and turnovers forced with Maryland’s pressure defense; the Terps also competed in 1/2 court-sets. Miami was limited to just 38% from the field.

6) It is amazing how much Mosley impacts games, even when he gets only a few shots. 10 points tonight on 3 for 5 from the floor, 7 boards, 3 assists, 3 steals. He is playing at a very high-level, and you can see his confidence growing every game.

7) Milbourne was 7 of 9 against Longwood, 7 of 11 against NCST, and 7 of 10 tonight against Miami. All year, he has done a good job of fighting to score inside, hitting his intermediate jumper, and hitting from the outside (42%). It seems to me that since the closing moments of the W&M loss, that Milbourne has raised his intensity to a whole other-level.

8) Another game where Jordan Williams gave Maryland exactly what they need inside. 8 points, 6 boards, 2 steals, and a block. He is a force at both ends.

9) James Padgett got 8 minutes tonight, which was good to see. Unlike in the NCST game, Gary Williams used a blow-out situation to give Padgett some extended minutes. Padgett responded with 3 boards in that limited time.

10) Two more 3’s for Hayes tonight, who also had 4 assists, 0 turnovers, and a steal. 5 games into conference play, and Hayes is still shooting over 46% from 3.

11) After just 11 minutes against NCST, Bowie had 17 minutes tonight, and responded with 9 points. He would have had more if he had not missed all 3 of his Free Throws.

The Bad:

1) Give Gregory credit for making 2 of his 3 shots, and all 4 of his FT’s. Dock Gregory for playing 14 minutes, and not having a rebound. Any point Gregory scores is a bonus, he has to give rebounding to this team off the bench.

The Ugly:

1) None. If Maryland continues to win ACC games by an average of 20 points, I am going to have end ‘The Good, The Bad, The Ugly.’ How can you critique something as ugly, when you are dominating conference games?

Up-Next:

Maryland will get a stiffer-test this Sunday when they take the floor at Littlejohn to face the Clemson Tigers. After suffering a tough defeat at-home to Duke this past weekend, Clemson went on the road tonight, and lost at Boston College.

That is a reminder of two things: 1) It typically is very tough for anyone to win on the road in this conference. 2) You have to be mentally focused every-game.

The Terps have played 5 conference-games, and shown a focus every time-out. After losing the tough OT game at Wake Forest, Maryland responded with the blow-out win at Boston College.

If the Terps can win Sunday night in Clemson, you can expect Maryland to really start turning heads at the National level.