Maryland entered Wednesday night’s matchup against #8 Michigan State as winners of four straight, and eight of their last nine contests. The Spartans represented their biggest test of the season, and a win would’ve been their best in at least two years. Unfortunately for them however, it was Tom Izzo’s squad who came away with the 58-55 victory on a halfcourt buzzer-beater from Tre Holloman. The Terrapins have three games left in their regular season, and will be looking to finish with strength heading into the Big Ten Tournament.
The 55 points that Maryland put up on Wednesday night was their lowest since last February, and their 31.3% shooting percentage the worst since their road loss to Michigan State last season. Julian Reese and Derik Queen combined for just 14 points while shooting 22.2% from the field. Both looked flustered and frustrated by the Spartans, who executed a perfect defensive gameplan against them.
For as poor as the Terrapins’ shooting was however, Michigan State’s wasn’t much better. They shot just 33.8% from the field, and Jase Richardson was their only starter to put up double-digit scoring numbers. As is often the case with an Izzo-coached squad, it was their rebounding that made the difference. The Spartans out-rebounded Maryland 45-33, and racked up a whopping 13 offensive boards. While the Terrapins have been the conference’s best team when it comes to second-chance points, they were second-best in that regard on Wednesday night.
Kevin Willard’s squad will have one more shot at a signature regular season win this year when they travel to Ann Arbor to face off against Michigan on Wednesday night. The Wolverines present a similar challenge to Michigan State, a defensive-led team who are strong on the glass. Avoiding slip-ups against Penn State and Northwestern will also be key, as the Terrapins remain in the running for the ever-coveted double-bye in the Big Ten Tournament (given to the top four seeds). For a team with such a short bench, one fewer back-to-back game would be invaluable.
Speaking of Maryland’s bench, getting more production from that unit has to be a priority for Willard during the team’s next three games. During the last five games the bench has scored a total of 16 points, including two contests (Michigan State, Nebraska) in which the starters scored every point. Jordan Geronimo has been their best bench option, spelling Reese or Queen while adding a physical energy and strong rebounding presence down low. He’s also enough of a threat at the rim to keep opposing defenses honest.
Tafara Gapare had been another strong option until coming down with the flu and losing 14 pounds from his already slight frame. He’s struggled to crack the rotation since then. DeShawn Harris-Smith and Jay Young add energetic defensive presences, but offer next to nothing on the offensive end. Over the last five games, the bench is averaging 3.2 points per game. If they can get just a few more points out of that unit, it would do wonders for this team. While most coaches typically shorten their bench dramatically during the NCAA Tournament, teams like Maryland who rely so heavily on their starters can be exposed in a major way if one or more get into early foul trouble.
Maryland will be back in action on Sunday afternoon when they face off against Penn State in Happy Valley. The Nittany Lions represent an important opportunity to get back on track, as Mike Rhoades’ squad has lost eight of their last ten games. That game, and the season finale against Northwestern, ought to give Willard a chance to tinker with some of his lineups and attempt to get his bench a little more run. Both teams however, are fighting for their lives at the bottom of the Big Ten Conference standings. They’ll need to finish strong themselves to avoid missing the conference tournament.
This has been one of the most fun Maryland teams to watch in recent memory, but teams (and coaches) in College Park are defined not by performances from October through February, but what they accomplish in March and April.
Terps Analyst
Zack is a financial analyst for a defense contractor in Washington, DC. The Owings Mills native focuses most of his efforts on Maryland Football recruiting and individual coach and player pieces; but also covers Terps Basketball. He has established relationships with Big Ten beat reporters across the conference, which he utilizes in his game previews. Now a Sr. Terps Analyst for BSL, Zack can be reached at: zack.kiesel@baltimoresportsandlife.com.