After a torpid begin against the bodily Badgers, Willard’s group rallied with power Tuesday evening at Kohl Center. But when his No. 13 Terps wanted to grab management within the second half, they succumbed to sloppy play and scoring droughts. The Badgers pounced on these flaws, handing Maryland a 64-59 loss to finish the right begin to Willard’s debut season in College Park.
“We hurt ourselves because we didn’t take advantage of some of the opportunities we have,” Willard mentioned. “They’re an excellent defensive team. You have to give them a lot of credit for them taking us out of our offense.”
The Terps (8-1, 1-1) climbed again from down 12 within the first half, and so they secured a slender edge halfway by the second. But then they went practically eight minutes with out making a shot from the sector, lacking 10 in a row. In that point, Wisconsin took management and constructed an 11-point lead. Julian Reese missed a pair of free throws, Donta Scott missed the entrance finish of a one-and-one, and the Terps couldn’t hit photographs from shut vary — all missed probabilities to maintain the sport from slipping away.
By the time Jahmir Young and Don Carey transformed from past the arc within the ultimate minutes, it was too late. The Badgers (7-2, 1-0) dealt with Maryland’s stress and hit sufficient free throws to maintain the determined Terps from pulling off a late miracle.
The Terps racked up 14 turnovers, together with eight after halftime, in contrast with Wisconsin’s eight giveaways and simply three after the break. Maryland completed the sport capturing simply 35.5 % from two-point vary, and two of its most reliable gamers — Hakim Hart (5 factors on 2-for-10 capturing) and Scott (9 factors on 3-for-14 capturing) — had lackluster showings.
Entering this matchup, the Terps had dominated most video games. Even once they edged then-No. 16 Illinois on Friday, they held the lead for a lot of the night. Maryland had trailed for roughly eight of the 320 minutes it had performed, however Tuesday, Maryland didn’t seize the lead till Reese hit a floater early within the second half.
After that, the Terps went 5 minutes with out scoring, committing six turnovers in that stretch. The recreation didn’t slip away fairly but because of Wisconsin’s poor capturing. But when the Terps endured one other chilly stretch, the Badgers capitalized with a 16-4 run that turned Maryland’s one-point lead with 11:24 to enter an 11-point Wisconsin benefit with 3:46 left.
Before the sport, Willard, who coached within the Big East for 12 years at Seton Hall, described Wisconsin as “the Big Ten version of Villanova” as a result of the Badgers are “not flashy” however as an alternative “super steady.” They confirmed that Tuesday, sporting down the Terps and sustaining their poise regardless of some offensive struggles.
Here’s what else to learn about Maryland’s first loss:
Reese had a number of standout showings throughout nonconference play, together with a 22-point burst within the first half against Coppin State, however Maryland’s earlier two opponents, Louisville and Illinois, contained the sophomore. Reese had simply 11 factors mixed in these video games, and lots of Big Ten groups have frontcourt gamers who will pose important challenges.
Wisconsin’s beginning forwards — 7-foot Steven Crowl and 6-9 Tyler Wahl — have been Maryland’s hardest take a look at but. They mixed for 21 factors, and Reese struggled on protection. (Wahl, matched up against Scott, didn’t have an awesome capturing evening, ending 3 for 10 for 9 factors.)
Willard described Wahl and Crowl as “great passers” out of the put up, and with their teammates making photographs from the perimeter, “they’re a tough guard,” he mentioned.
Reese produced on the opposite finish, ending with 10 factors on 4-for-6 capturing. He was second on the group in scoring behind Young, who had 17 factors. Reese grabbed six rebounds whereas including two assists and three turnovers. He dedicated his fourth foul with 9:52 left, forcing Maryland to lean on a smaller lineup for a couple of minutes.
Reese mentioned he felt extra comfy as the sport went on. Reese, a sophomore in his first season as a starter, will proceed to attract troublesome matchups because the convention slate goes on.
The Terps started the sport unable to knock down three-pointers regardless of some attractiveness, and so they struggled to complete across the rim. Maryland missed 5 three-pointers earlier than Scott lastly hit one practically seven minutes in, and it took the Terps one other 8½ minutes to sink their second basket from deep.
The Badgers exploited Maryland’s protection with their dimension within the paint and crisp passing. Their lead swelled as they hit 9 of 14 photographs to start out the sport.
“It was definitely a challenge,” Young, a switch from Charlotte nonetheless adjusting to Big Ten play, mentioned of Wisconsin’s physicality. “Definitely had to kind of feel my way into that early on. I feel like we had a couple defensive lapses early to help them get going and we were a little stagnant on the offensive end.”
After the Terps had fallen into their double-digit gap, they surged again into the sport with an 11-0 run. Maryland had struggled from the perimeter, however throughout that burst, it hit three straight. Carey later hit a three-pointer within the ultimate minute earlier than halftime to tie the rating. From there, neither group had a lead of greater than 4 factors till Wisconsin capitalized on Maryland’s late drought to tilt the sport in its favor.