Maryland Basketball: Terps begin toughest stretch

The Maryland basketball team has faced adversity throughout the 2016-17 season.

Over the next four days, the Terrapins will face their toughest slate of games to date beginning on Wednesday evening at Northwestern.

After losing their first set of losses of multiple games all season, Maryland was able to bounce back and top Ohio State 86-77 at home. Freshman guard Anthony Cowan had one of his most versatile games of the season.

Cowan scored 19 points (3-of-5 shooting) and dished out four assists in the win. All three makes were from beyond the arc and also was a perfect 10-of-10 from the free throw line.

Fellow freshman guard Kevin Huerter also had a strong outing to the tune of 18 points (7-of-12).

Huerter has been playing some of his best basketball of the season over the last five games. The New York native is averaging 13.8 points and 4.4 rebounds during that stretch.

The Terps were more efficient than they have been in quite some time. They shot 49.1 percent from the floor and 41.4 percent from beyond the arc.

Keys to the game

1.) Take smart shots – Maryland is coming off a game in which they shot the ball very well from all areas. They’ll have to do more of the same as Northwestern yields opponents to just a 64.4 points-per-game, which is second in the conference. The Wildcats also only allow their opponents to shoot 38.9 percent (first in the Big Ten). The Terps will need to take good shots and not rely on the three if it isn’t falling.

2.) Get to the rim and play through contact – This is usually Trimble’s bread and butter, but Cowan really did a great job of getting to the free throw line against Ohio State. Cowan even knocked down shots from the outside, which usually isn’t his forte. Maryland is going to need more of the same of their guards in this one. Trimble has only gotten to the line more than four times in a game once over the last five contests. That’s going to have to change going forward if the Terps want to win a Big Ten title.

3.) Slow down Bryant McIntosh – McIntosh is a guy that can score with the best of them. Without Lindsey, he’s the top option and isn’t going to shy away from hoisting up shots. He can hit from just about anywhere and averages 14.0 points a night. McIntosh showed how versatile he can be against Wisconsin and a repeat performance isn’t out of the question.

Players to watch

Bryant McIntosh (guard) – McIntosh has become Northwestern’s top option with Lindsey on the shelf as we mentioned above. He’s averaging 13.4 field goal attempts and doesn’t hesitate to throw it up early on. He hoisted up six shots in the first seven minutes against the Badgers despite only two of those going in. McIntosh also leads the team with 5.6 assists per contest, so his teammates are clearly benefitting from him running point. This is who the Terps will need to key on throughout the game.

Vic Law (forward) – Law is a very athletic wing that does a lot of things well. He is by far the Wildcats’ best three-point shooter as he is hitting at a 43.1 percent clip. He averages 13.5 points and certainly has no problem getting to the rim and boy can he finish. Aside from McIntosh, Law is the top scoring option with Lindsey out of the lineup. He’s scored 11 or more points in three of the past five games. If Law and McIntosh are connecting from deep, the Terps will be in trouble.

Sanjay Lumpkin (guard) – Lumpkin may only average 6.8 points a night, but he’s a player that can affect the game in a multitude of ways. He’s second on the team in rebounding (6.4 per game), which is due in part to his 6’6 frame. The senior guard knows how to finish at the rim and definitely doesn’t shy away from contact. Lumpkin is also a solid passer, so he can do much more than score the basketball.

Prediction

It was great to see Maryland bounce back against Ohio State this past weekend. The Terps badly needed a win after dropping two straight and ended up playing very well.

Next: Why we love Maryland sports

Maryland is going to need their guards to come up huge once again if they want to get out of the Midwest with a win. Trimble is primed for a big-time performance after a few stagnant outings. Terps win 72-64.