The Terps earned a 66-55 win Tuesday evening at Xfinity Center in maybe their most spectacular displaying of the season. The Hoosiers had gained 5 straight, and so they lean on Trayce Jackson-Davis, a standout senior and prolific scorer. But Willard’s squad responded every time Indiana (15-7, 6-5) threatened, and the Terps (15-7, 6-5) restricted the normally high-scoring Hoosiers.
For the Terps, Tuesday’s win helps quell issues that they might miss the NCAA event. With three video games remaining in opposition to Big Ten backside dwellers Minnesota and Nebraska, Maryland shouldn’t have a lot hassle attending to not less than 9 convention wins. As for their event résumé, Maryland has now toppled three ranked Big Ten opponents — Illinois (No. 16 on the time), now-slumping Ohio State (No. 24) and Indiana.
The Terps shot simply 34 p.c Tuesday, however they gained the sport with protection and poise (simply 5 turnovers).
Jackson-Davis, whom Willard described as “the best college basketball player right now,” had been on a dominant run, averaging 23.6 factors, 13.9 rebounds and 4.5 assists in January coming into Tuesday’s recreation. The Terps, with their lack of frontcourt depth and Julian Reese’s tendency to run into foul hassle, appeared weak. But Maryland held Jackson-Davis in examine. He completed with 18 factors and 20 rebounds — a powerful stat line however not sufficient to take over.
“I thought it was awesome, man,” Willard stated of Reese’s protection on Jackson-Davis. “… He’s a big-time, big-time player. And I think Julian Reese is slowly turning into just as [much of] a big-time player. It just shows you how far Julian has come.”
Maryland additionally contained Indiana’s standout freshman level guard, Jalen Hood-Schifino, who missed his first 11 subject purpose makes an attempt and completed with three factors on 1-for-14 taking pictures. Willard stated he thought the Terps’ press was (*21*) That left the Hoosiers with out sufficient choices, and Maryland’s Jahmir Young (20 factors) and Donta Scott (19) turned the sport’s main scorers as an alternative.
Reese stated the Terps “definitely felt disrespected” as a result of they believed Indiana “overlooked” them forward of its matchup with No. 1 Purdue on Saturday.
The Terps had an eight-point halftime lead, however the Hoosiers lower their deficit to 2 inside 4 minutes. Maryland responded with a 10-2 run that offered some cushion once more, and Jackson-Davis couldn’t muster any second-half heroics. Willard credited a number of late offensive rebounds for serving to the Terps prolong their possessions and restrict Indiana’s alternatives.
The Terps dealt with their three-game homestand in opposition to Wisconsin, Nebraska and Indiana with poise, assembling this successful streak earlier than they head again on the street in quest of their first convention victory away from Xfinity Center. Maryland could have its finest likelihood to reverse that pattern when it performs Saturday at Minnesota, the last-place staff within the Big Ten.
Here’s what else to learn about Maryland’s win:
The Terps, hampered early by 1-for-10 taking pictures from three-point vary, let Indiana take a seven-point lead with 9:18 to go within the first half. After Willard known as a timeout, Maryland’s pesky press pressured the Hoosiers into errors and an offensive stoop. From that time till halftime, Indiana made simply three subject targets, letting the Terps head into the break on a 22-7 run. Maryland had a 10-0 burst throughout that stretch, which included 5 Indiana turnovers.
During the timeout, Willard stated he jokingly advised his gamers, “If someone would make a shot, that’d make the bald guy real happy.” He thought they wanted to chill out “because I thought we started off good, and then we missed some shots and we got tight,” he stated.
The Terps, regardless of taking pictures 35.7 p.c within the first 20 minutes, had a 37-29 halftime lead by leaning on their stout protection and skill to get by the half with no turnovers.
Young’s stellar stretch
Young, a switch from Charlotte, has thrived as he has change into extra aware of the Big Ten. The Terps struggled from three-point vary (5 for 22), however he made 3 of 6 and likewise had success attacking the rim. Young has notched not less than 20 factors in 5 of the previous seven video games and has been integral to Maryland’s turnaround.
The Terps tallied a season-low 5 turnovers in opposition to Indiana, a welcome pattern that has persevered by a number of video games. Willard stated the staff has put the ball within the palms of Young and Hakim Hart extra usually, and that has led to enchancment.
Reese (10 factors and 11 rebounds) dealt with a lot of the defensive load in opposition to Jackson-Davis, however reserve ahead Patrick Emilien additionally contributed to the hassle. Emilien performed 13 minutes and logged two factors, three rebounds and a block.
Another bench participant, guard Ian Martinez, scored seven factors in 20 minutes and was a key a part of Maryland’s energetic protection.