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Maryland Basketball: Q&A with Spartan Avenue

By Chris Bengel

Feb 23, 2017; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans forward Nick Ward (44) and Nebraska Cornhuskers center Jordy Tshimanga (32) and Michigan State Spartans guard Alvin Ellis III (3) fight for position during the first half of a game at the Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 23, 2017; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans forward Nick Ward (44) and Nebraska Cornhuskers center Jordy Tshimanga (32) and Michigan State Spartans guard Alvin Ellis III (3) fight for position during the first half of a game at the Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Maryland basketball team caps off the 2016-17 regular season on Saturday afternoon.

With the Terrapins set to host Michigan State, we caught up with Lead Editor Connor Muldowney of Spartan Avenue for a closer look at Maryland’s upcoming opponent. Give them a follow on their official account (@SpartanAvenueFS).

The Spartans currently sit with a 18-12 (10-7) record coming into Saturday’s game. Michigan State recently lost guard Eron Harris for the season.

This is a very important game for the Terps because a win guarantees a double-bye in the upcoming Big Ten Tournament in Washington D.C. That’s some extra rest that Maryland could definitely use.

With further ado, here’s our question-and-answer session with Connor!

Q: Miles Bridges and Nick Ward have been two of the more impressive freshmen in the Big Ten. How have they progressed from the start of the year until now?
A: Those two have been fun to watch, no doubt. However, both have had different paths from the start of the season until now. For Miles Bridges, he hasn’t had to mature much. He was kind of a physical anomaly from the beginning and has just gotten slightly better from behind the arc.

As for Nick Ward, he has gone from a raw big man with very little conditioning to one of the best big men in the Big Ten. Ward may be the biggest surprise on the team this season. He’s had to take on a much bigger role with Gavin Schilling and Ben Carter out for the year.

Q: How much has the loss of Eron Harris hurt the Spartans?
A: As of right now, not much at all. This might be a rare case of addition by subtraction as the senior guard has become more of a coach for the Spartans now that he’s out. The team loves him, and that was obvious when he went down with the injury, and I think they’re playing for him at this point. The offense seems to be flowing better without him — he was struggling in Big Ten action.

Q: What is the biggest key for Michigan State against Maryland?
A: Biggest key has to be stopping Melo Trimble. There seems to be that one guy who goes off against Michigan State every game and Trimble has to be slowed down in order for the Spartans to have a shot. Also, getting an early lead is key. Whenever Michigan State gets behind in the first half of road games, it almost never makes a comeback.

Q: Who worries you the most for the Terps?
A: A combination of Trimble and Maryland’s tough defense worries me most about the matchup. The Spartans already play poorly on the road and combine that with a solid defense for the Terrapins and a veteran point guard leading the way and this might be a disaster scenario for Michigan State.

Next: Michigan State poses significant challenge

Q: Do you see the Spartans making the NCAA Tournament?
A: As of right now, yes I do. Michigan State needs to either beat Maryland or win one in the Big Ten Tournament to get off the bubble and into the tourney and I just can’t see the Spartans losing out. While I don’t believe the win will come against the Terrapins, I do see the Spartans winning one or two in the conference tourney.