Since becoming a member of the Huge Ten in 2014-2015 Maryland has been the category of the convention nearly yearly. The Terps have gained the convention outright 5 instances, tied for first as soon as, completed second as soon as, and completed tied for third final 12 months.

Coming into this season, although, Maryland’s place on the prime of the convention was in query. The Terps misplaced key items like Angel Reese and needed to depend on a number of switch to proper the ship. The remainder of the convention, in the meantime, had seemingly caught as much as Maryland’s degree, with Iowa, Ohio State, and Indiana all projected to have sturdy seasons.

To this point, Maryland has been simply as sturdy as ever. The Terps are 18-4 total and 9-2 in convention. They’ve massive wins over #5 UConn and #9 Notre Dame.

In previous years, it’s felt like Iowa had little to no probability of beating Maryland. The Terps are often considerably extra athletic than Iowa. They often have among the best offenses within the nation. That mixed with Iowa’s sometimes poor protection has often led to entertaining video games that Iowa has misplaced as a rule.

This 12 months feels completely different. Maryland nonetheless has an ideal offense. The Terps nonetheless have some excellent and athletic gamers. However Maryland additionally appears extra susceptible than it has been shortly. And Iowa lastly is discovering the most effective model of itself — one that may win video games with rebounding and protection together with its offense.

Would Iowa defend its dwelling courtroom in a Prime 10 matchup, or would Maryland get the higher of Iowa once more?

The sport began about in addition to it may’ve for Iowa. Offensively, Caitlin Clark was scorching from the sector early, and Iowa was capable of get the ball inside to Monika Czinano or Hannah Stuelke. Defensively, Iowa used its player-to-player protection, however performed manner off of most of Maryland’s shooters daring Maryland to shoot. The Terps took loads of jumpers early and missed most of them. All advised, Iowa led 19-8 with 3:19 to play within the first when Maryland known as timeout.

After the timeout, Maryland began to assault the paint higher offensively. Iowa stored capturing nicely offensively, although, and Iowa held its lead. McKenna Warnock’s late and-1 pushed Iowa’s result in 29-18 after one.

Iowa stayed on hearth early within the second quarter and Maryland known as for timeout once more with Iowa main 40-24 with 6:57 to play. At that time, Clark and Czinano (18 and 10 respectively) have been outscoring Maryland by themselves.

The remainder of the quarter was a monitor meet, however Iowa stored on rolling offensively and led 56-38 on the half. Clark had 24 factors, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists AT THE HALF. Czinano was proper behind her with 18 of her personal.

Iowa rapidly pushed its result in 20 early within the third quarter, however then the Hawkeyes bought sloppy on offense. Maryland, in the meantime, stored attacking the basket or grabbing offensive rebounds on missed pictures. Iowa known as for timeout on the 4:59 mark of the quarter with the lead down to only 10 at 62-52.

After the timeout, Iowa calmed down and bought its offense working once more. The Hawks stored the lead in double-digits then went on a run late within the quarter because of a step-back three from Clark and a pleasant dwelling run move from Clark to Stuelke. Maryland known as timeout with 1:42 left and Iowa main 73-57. Maryland bought a pair good offensive possessions to finish the quarter, however Iowa nonetheless led 74-60 after three.

The fourth quarter was forwards and backwards. Iowa briefly prolonged its lead earlier than Maryland made a pair extra runs. Every time Maryland made a run, although, Iowa all the time had a solution offensively, and Maryland by no means reduce the lead right down to single digits. Iowa finally gained 96-82.

Clark led Iowa with 42 factors, 8 assists, and seven rebounds. She had one in every of her finest capturing nights of the season, going 13/19 from the ground and 6/11 from three. Czinano dominated within the publish, scoring 28 factors on 14/18 capturing. Stuelke was an ideal 5/5 from the ground and scored 13. A field rating for the sport is right here.

You don’t want me to inform you that Iowa’s offense is actually good. On higher nights, it’s arguably the most effective offense in school basketball.

Tonight was completely different. Within the first half particularly, Iowa’s offense was unstoppable. Clark was hitting pictures from all over the place. Czinano was getting open most possessions within the low publish and transformed nearly each time she touched the ball within the paint. And Stuelke constantly beat everybody down the ground to get dwelling run layups when Iowa pushed in transition.

Pretty much as good as Iowa’s offense was, there have been massive stretches of this sport the place the Hawkeyes have been extraordinarily poor defensively and on the glass. Maryland had 15 offensive rebounds, and bought loads of nice appears to be like on the basket.

The rebounding difficulty is considerably comprehensible. Maryland shot numerous jumpers, and that led to some lengthy rebounds Iowa couldn’t simply management. However total Iowa’s effort on the defensive glass in boxing out or hustling to balls simply wasn’t there.

Defensively, Iowa lacked focus. There have been a number of instances after a made basket the place Maryland bought a transition layup or straightforward shot as a result of Iowa by no means tried to cease the ball. The Hawks additionally bought beat off the dribble early and infrequently, and there was no actual assist protection to talk of when Maryland beat the primary defender.

Sure, Maryland is an efficient offensive staff. Sure, gamers like Diamond Miller are extra athletic than any guard on Iowa’s roster. However that doesn’t excuse an absence of effort. If Iowa’s offense wasn’t so spectacular, this sport may’ve gone a lot in another way. Iowa actually ought to have had the sport wrapped up within the first half.

1) 11-1 Indiana
2) 10-1 Iowa
3) 9-3 Maryland
3) 9-3 Ohio State
5) 8-4 Michigan

Final week and at the moment have been massive for developments on the prime of the Huge Ten standings. After Iowa beat Ohio State, the Buckeyes went on a shedding streak, falling to Indiana on the highway and Purdue at dwelling. With Maryland’s loss to Iowa, the convention race now appears pretty easy.

Certainly one of Iowa or Indiana is overwhelmingly prone to win the Huge Ten. The 2 groups will face one another twice within the season’s ultimate few weeks. Maryland and Ohio State are each excellent groups, however they’ll probably must win out to actually have a probability for a share of the title. Each have some massive video games left too, in order that’s fairly unlikely.

Iowa returns to motion this Sunday, February fifth at 11 AM CT on the highway at Penn State. The sport might be televised on the Huge Ten Community. Iowa destroyed Penn State 108-67 at dwelling earlier this 12 months, however issues can change dramatically whenever you go on the highway within the Huge Ten.