After a torpid begin in opposition to the bodily Badgers, Willard’s staff rallied with pressure Tuesday night time at Kohl Heart. However 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 Faculty Park.

“We damage ourselves as a result of we didn’t make the most of among the alternatives we now have,” Willard stated. “They’re a superb defensive staff. You must give them a number of credit score 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 slim edge halfway by the second. However then they went practically eight minutes with out making a shot from the sphere, 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 pictures from shut vary — all missed probabilities to maintain the sport from slipping away.

By the point Jahmir Younger and Don Carey transformed from past the arc within the remaining minutes, it was too late. The Badgers (7-2, 1-0) dealt with Maryland’s strain and hit sufficient free throws to maintain the determined Terps from pulling off a late miracle.

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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 p.c 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.

Getting into this matchup, the Terps had dominated most video games. Even after 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 sport didn’t slip away fairly but because of Wisconsin’s poor capturing. However 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.

Earlier than the sport, Willard, who coached within the Massive East for 12 years at Seton Corridor, described Wisconsin as “the Massive Ten model of Villanova” as a result of the Badgers are “not flashy” however as a substitute “tremendous regular.” They confirmed that Tuesday, carrying down the Terps and sustaining their poise regardless of some offensive struggles.

Right here’s what else to find out 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 in opposition to 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 Massive Ten groups have frontcourt gamers who will pose vital challenges.

Wisconsin’s beginning forwards — 7-foot Steven Crowl and 6-9 Tyler Wahl — had been Maryland’s hardest check but. They mixed for 21 factors, and Reese struggled on protection. (Wahl, matched up in opposition to Scott, didn’t have an ideal capturing night time, ending 3 for 10 for 9 factors.)

Willard described Wahl and Crowl as “nice passers” out of the publish, and with their teammates making pictures from the perimeter, “they’re a tricky guard,” he stated.

Reese produced on the opposite finish, ending with 10 factors on 4-for-6 capturing. He was second on the staff in scoring behind Younger, 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 stated 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.

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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 measurement within the paint and crisp passing. Their lead swelled as they hit 9 of 14 pictures to start out the sport.

“It was positively a problem,” Younger, a switch from Charlotte nonetheless adjusting to Massive Ten play, stated of Wisconsin’s physicality. “Undoubtedly needed to type of really feel my means into that early on. I really feel like we had a pair defensive lapses early to assist them get going and we had been a little bit stagnant on the offensive finish.”

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 remaining minute earlier than halftime to tie the rating. From there, neither staff had a lead of greater than 4 factors till Wisconsin capitalized on Maryland’s late drought to tilt the sport in its favor.