Even with Sunday’s loss at Ohio State, things broke quite well for Maryland last week when it comes to the race for the Big Ten regular season title. None of the teams behind the Terps were able to put a dent into Maryland’s lead, so they enter Wednesday’s game at Minnesota with a two-game lead in the loss column on Michigan State, Penn State, Illinois and Wisconsin. Take care of business against the Golden Gophers, who are in dire need of a big win at this point in the season, and Mark Turgeon’s squad can clinch at least a share of the Big Ten title with a win over Michigan State Saturday night.
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That will be easier said than done, as Maryland is 4-5 in true road games this season. But it’s important to note that Sunday’s loss in Columbus ended a four-game road win streak that included victories at Illinois and Michigan State. The Ohio State game was a tough one, as Anthony Cowan Jr. and Jalen Smith got off to slow starts and really didn’t get going until the second half. And just as it appeared that Cowan had pulled Maryland within three points of the Buckeyes, the #refshow struck. Cowan believed he was fouled on the layup and kicked out in frustration over the lack of a call. With the officials seeing on replay that he had kicked an Ohio State player (not intentionally, and he barely grazed him), Cowan was given a technical foul that was also his fifth personal.
I guess by the letter of the law this was the “right” call, especially when taking into consideration that a collision with another player sent the Ohio State defender into Cowan. But how is Cowan supposed to know that in the heat of the moment? It isn’t as if he was able to see that collision while attempting (and converting) the layup. In a situation like that I would much rather the official speak with Cowan and Turgeon, and keep it moving. Most people, be they officials or private citizens, can tell the difference between intentionally kicking another person and accidentally doing so. With that off my chest, time to move on to the business of the day.
While Minnesota has been brutal away from The Barn, going 2-8 in true road games, they’ve been solid at home with 10 wins out of 14 games played. Pitt transfer guard Marcus Carr and sophomore post Daniel Oturu lead the way for Richard Pitino’s Golden Gophers, and the latter’s matchup with the aforementioned Smith is what has pushed the number of NBA scouts/executives expected to attend this one into double digits. Sophomore Gabe Kalscheur is the team’s third-leading scorer, and he, Carr and Payton Willis are the ones most likely to hoist from beyond the arc. But Minnesota doesn’t shoot the ball particularly well as a team, as the Gophers currently rank 13th in effective field goal percentage and three-point percentage in conference games.
Defensively Minnesota defends well inside of the arc, but the three-point defense (ranked 10th in conference games in three-point percentage defense) leaves something to be desired. And this isn’t a pressure defensive team either, as the Gophers are ranked 13th in the Big Ten in defensive turnover percentage. The keys for Maryland offensively are quite simple: take care of the basketball, which has been an issue at times during conference play, and be smart when it comes to their shot selection. The Terps have been one of the Big Ten’s best with regard to free throw rate and they lead the league in field goal percentage. Taking advantage of those areas on the road can be tough, but the Terps have the players needed to get it done.
At this point in the season Cowan and Smith are known quantities, even with their struggles Sunday afternoon. More often than not those two can be counted on to deliver, and Darryl Morsell is the “glue guy” that many teams would love to have. But with an eye towards March, could there be another player whose production will have a major impact on Maryland’s tournament hopes? In my opinion there is, and it’s sophomore wing Aaron Wiggins.
After scoring a total of 20 points in the three games prior, Wiggins tallied 20 in the loss to Ohio State. He hasn’t shot the ball as well as many hoped he would before the season began, making just 31.8% of his three-point attempts and 36.6% of his shots from the field overall. His scoring average in losses (11.4 ppg) is just over a point higher than his average in wins (10.3 ppg), and what Maryland cannot afford is the sophomore suffering a crisis of confidence. Earlier in the season Wiggins got a bit gun shy at times, but Sunday’s performance was a step in the right direction after struggling in the three games prior. Cowan and Smith are going to do most of the heavy lifting, that much is for certain. But if Maryland is to play deep into March, they’re going to need consistent production from Wiggins as well.
Wednesday’s game won’t be against a surefire NCAA tournament team, but rather one desperate to get back onto the bubble. That sets this game up as a good opportunity for Wiggins to build on Sunday’s performance with an eye towards the bigger battles on the horizon.
BSL Analyst
Raphielle’s been writing about college sports for more than a decade, making the move to college basketball alone in 2013. Beginning his work with the former website CollegeHoops.net in 2003, Raphielle spent 3 years writing for NBCSports.com beginning 2013, covering CBB and the Olympics. In 2016, Raphielle joined Heavy.com. If there’s a game on, there’s a strong likelihood that he’s watching it.