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Maryland
Keys to Maryland men’s basketball’s round of 64 matchup with West Virginia
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Maryland and West Virginia will tip off the NCAA Match’s spherical of 64 on Thursday at 12:15 p.m. in a matchup between two groups who’ve had related trajectories all through the season and are evenly matched with a balanced scoring assault.
That is an intriguing eight vs. 9 matchup that can seemingly come all the way down to the wire, which is mirrored by the playing line that has West Virginia as a two-point favourite. The winner will transfer on to face Alabama or Texas A&M-Corpus Christi within the spherical of 32, and the loser’s season will finish as the primary workforce bounced from the opening spherical of the large dance.
West Virginia groups have been billed as ‘Press Virginia’ over time due to their tenacious press that journeys up opposing offenses. However that isn’t this workforce’s identification. In actual fact, as a lot as Bob Huggins is named the press grasp, his workforce hasn’t had a press fee larger than 10% for the reason that 2019-20 season. Again within the 2017-18 season, West Virginia’s press fee was 35%.
That is not to say West Virginia gained’t present a full-court press, however West Virginia ought to fear extra about Maryland’s press than the opposite approach round. West Virginia’s offense carries it. The Mountaineers’ adjusted offensive effectivity score is the fifteenth finest within the nation, in response to KenPom.com.
There are intriguing particular person matchups each coaches will attempt to exploit, however I checked out three key parts that can decide the result of the sport: Maryland’s transition protection vs. West Virginia’s transition offense, rebounding and put-back alternatives and the pick-and-roll.
Let me preface this piece by saying that is March Insanity, and with it comes chaos and unpredictability. After all groups recreation plan for his or her opponents and often trust of their matchups and plans to breed success. However the variability is so excessive in a one-and-done match setting that no matter somebody thinks they learn about a workforce or a matchup could not matter when the video games start on Thursday.
The function of the transition recreation
With out having carried out a deep dive on West Virginia simply but, Maryland head coach Kevin Willard lamented his workforce’s transition protection and stated it will be key to beating West Virginia. He was spot on.
Maryland provides up a whopping 1.083 factors per possession in transition and ranks within the sixteenth percentile, which is under common, in response to Synergy.
The final time Maryland took the courtroom — a 70-60 loss to Indiana within the Huge Ten quarterfinals — its transition protection was noticeably dangerous and a giant motive Indiana made a second-half surge.
As a substitute of working again to construct a wall and find Indiana’s guards, Hakim Hart reaches at mid-court, successfully taking himself out of the play. That forces Patrick Emilien to play the ball, leaving Miller Kopp large open for a nook three.
Maryland’s press has been efficient for essentially the most half this season, however that is an instance of lazy press protection that permits Indiana to drift the ball over the Terps’ first line of protection, giving a numbers benefit to the Hoosiers, who as soon as once more set Kopp up for a nook three.
One of many methods Willard stated his workforce can repair its transition protection is by getting again to the basics. There’s nothing extra elementary than stopping the ball in transition protection. It’s what your peewee coach all the time yelled out as a result of he didn’t know basketball and had nothing else to say.
Willard is screaming “cease the ball” on the sideline, however nobody makes a severe effort to take action. Hart reached once more, permitting Indiana’s guard to march his approach into the lane.
The excellent news for Maryland is these are fixable errors, however they should be fastened fast as a result of the Mountaineers are a potent risk in transition. One of many causes West Virginia’s offense is dynamic is as a result of the Mountaineers like to get out and run. Of West Virginia’s offensive possessions, 15.1% are in transition, the second-highest play sort behind spot-ups.
They rating 1.092 factors per possession, which ranks within the 77th percentile and is “excellent,” in response to Synergy.
These are two clips of Kansas and Kansas State failing to cease the ball and West Virginia making them pay for it.
There’s no higher clip that exemplifies how West Virginia is trying to push it in transition than this one. The second Erik Stevenson brings down the rebound, Seth Wilson and Kedrian Johnson begin streaking on reverse sidelines. Stevenson delivers a Kevin Love-esque outlet go to Wilson and the Mountaineers rating a straightforward two.
Maryland additionally thrives in transition, which may result in a fast-paced, excessive scoring affair, but when the Terps do not clear up their transition protection, they gained’t sustain with the Mountaineers.
Rebounding and limiting put backs is paramount for Maryland
Whereas West Virginia might not be the bodily pressure it as soon as was that terrorized opponents from 94 toes out, it nonetheless is a bodily, hard-nosed group that likes to crash the glass. West Virginia emphasizes offensive rebounding — it ranked fourth within the Huge 12 in complete offensive rebounds.
The Mountaineers rating 1.101 factors per possession on offensive rebound put backs, which ranks within the 53rd percentile. Right here’s how they do it:
Huggins places an emphasis on sending a number of guys to the glass to create second-chance factors. However right here’s the catch: West Virginia has a suspect transition protection — just like Maryland — as a result of it prioritizes offensive rebounding. Maryland’s offense, led by dynamic graduate guard Jahmir Younger, is at its finest when Younger is main the break in transition. If Maryland can safe defensive boards at a excessive fee, it is going to be in a position to expose West Virginia’s transition protection.
Nevertheless, that’s a giant if. Maryland was a greater rebounding workforce in convention play than many anticipated for an undersized group. The Terps have been in the course of the pack within the Huge Ten in rebounding margin. Nevertheless, they surrendered a plethora of put-backs.
Maryland’s protection provides up 1.189 factors per possessions on offensive rebound put-back makes an attempt, which grades as poor, in response to Synergy. Listed below are a number of examples:
Huggins and his employees are actually watching the identical movie and telling their workforce to place strain on Maryland’s bigs to board. Maryland wants to make sure it’s a five-man rebounding effort on Thursday afternoon.
How Maryland can exploit West Virginia’s pick-and-roll protection
It’s no secret Maryland’s offense is centered across the pick-and-roll, like many offenses across the nation. Younger is often the first ball handler, however Hakim Hart has been utilized in that function in latest weeks.
Younger didn’t have one of the best two video games within the Huge Ten Match. He mixed for 27 factors on 6-for-28 capturing from the sphere. Younger stated the protection towards him was just like what he is seen all 12 months, which included onerous hedges and blitzes. Willard attributed the struggles to Younger enjoying towards greater defenders.
Regardless, Maryland goes to want its finest participant to play prefer it Thursday. West Virginia will watch tape and should regulate its pick-and-roll protection based mostly on what has labored towards Younger the previous few video games, however the Mountaineers have proven mushy pick-and-roll coverages that Younger can exploit.
That is the precise protection that Younger desires to see. There is no such thing as a onerous hedge and no blitz. West Virginia’s protection botches its assignments, permitting Texas Tech’s guard to show the nook and explode downhill. That is paying homage to how Younger has scored buckets within the pick-and-roll.
West Virginia goes underneath the display screen, permitting Kansas guard Jalen Wilson to knock down a 3 from the highest of the important thing. Younger hasn’t had one of the best 3-point capturing season, however he shoots 44% from three as a pick-and-roll ball handler in comparison with simply 29.4% as a spot-up shooter. If West Virginia goes underneath ball screens, Younger will make it pay.
Figuring out weaknesses and strengths is the important thing to scouting. It permits groups to develop sound recreation plans they hope will lead to a win. However that is March, in spite of everything. And with it comes the insanity. In order a lot as rebounding, transition play and the pick-and-roll will play an element within the final result, there’s just one factor for sure: anticipate the surprising.
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Maryland
Maryland issues a new suicide prevention action plan for schools, families – WTOP News
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Suicide is the third leading cause of death for young people between the ages of 10 and 24 in Maryland. That’s according to a new suicide prevention action plan produced through the state’s Department of Health.
Suicide is the third leading cause of death for young people between the ages of 10 and 24 in Maryland. That’s according to a new suicide prevention action plan produced through the state’s Department of Health.
Scott Poland, the director of the Office of Suicide and Violence Prevention at Nova Southeastern University College of Psychology, talked to WTOP about the action plan he authored with his wife, Donna, who is a career educator.
The “Maryland Action Plan to Prevent Suicide in K-12 Schools” serves as a reference guide to school administrators and the community, and was developed in cooperation with the state health department’s Office of Suicide Prevention.
Poland said one thing that surprises people is that children as young as 8 years old may consider taking their own lives.
“I hear from school personnel all around the country (asking if they) have to take it seriously (if a fourth or fifth grader is talking about suicide). And the answer is absolutely yes,” Poland said.
Among the data points in the action plan is a survey of students in the “Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey of 2021/2022.” According to that survey, 21% of high school students “seriously considered suicide” in the past year, and 27% of middle schoolers considered suicide at some point in their lives.
Poland said it’s important to talk about suicide with young people, and that the idea that talking about it might encourage a young person to consider suicide is a “myth.”
“When we actually bring it up, it gives someone a chance to unburden themselves, to realize that they’re not alone, that there are alternatives and that there is help available,” Poland said.
But he said young people are most susceptible to imitating suicidal behavior: “It is important that we not glorify the suicide victim.”
Instead, Poland said, the emphasis after a suicide should be on healing those affected and helping them find appropriate ways to deal with their emotions and mental health.
The plan released this week includes providing intervention action plans for a young person who may be considering suicide.
“Part of that, of course, is removing lethal means and developing a written safety plan with them,” he said.
Poland said that can include helping people understand “the importance of calling 988, doing things that can calm themselves down,” and reaching out to the nearest trusted adult.
People can reach the national resource for crisis response services and suicide prevention by dialing 988.
Poland said social media is “wreaking havoc” on children’s emotional well-being, often making them feel “not smart enough, not rich enough, not good enough.” Poland said he’s currently working with the state of South Dakota on developing tools to help “young people be a little more mindful and make better decisions about their screen time.”
Poland said parents can help — when it comes to the hours and hours that many people spend online — by modeling healthy amounts of screen time themselves. And he said adults need to think about how they introduce technology to their kids.
“We’re in too (much of) a hurry to give kids smartphones and 24-hour internet access,” Poland said.
“I really have to compliment Maryland,” Poland said, on coming up with the new plan.
Poland said Maryland does not have an especially high rate of suicide, but “I think we all recognize that losing one young person to suicide is one too many.”
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Maryland
Getting to know Michigan State football’s Week 2 opponent: Maryland
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Game two is coming up for Michigan State football as the Spartans hit the road for an early season Big Ten matchup against Maryland. The Terps have had MSU’s number in recent years, but the Spartans’ new-look team is ready to change that narrative this weekend.
Jonathan Smith and his staff have a lot to work on this week after a lackluster 16-10 win over Florida Atlantic, but we’ve become more than used to slow starts for MSU in their first game so it’s not time to panic just yet.
While the team wraps up their preparations for Maryland, let’s take a quick look at the Terps and see what we can learn about them before the big game on Saturday.
Maryland is off and running in their 2024 campaign and had an absolutely dominant week one performance. The Terps took on UConn at home and came away with an impressive 50-7 win. Sure UConn is an awful football program, but we saw how poorly Michigan State just did against a similar opponent.
Not only was the final score lopsided, but ever major statistical category was as well. Maryland doubled UConn in first downs and rushing yards, threw for nearly 400 passing yards and even won the turnover battle 3-0. The Terps also only had five penalties for 45 yards which is significantly better than MSU’s 12 for 140 yards against FAU.
Sure all of this took place against UConn, but it appears that Maryland is in a very good spot heading into this big week two matchup.
One thing that I thought would be a positive for Michigan State in this game is that Maryland is breaking in a new quarterback as well. The Terps’ quarterback, Billy Edwards Jr., went off against UConn and completed 20-of-27 passes for 311 yards and two touchdowns. He also is a capable runner and added 39 yards on the ground, so Michigan State will have its hands full on Saturday slowing him down.
The Terps don’t have one standout running back in the backfield, so that does benefit MSU. They do however have two solid backs in Roman Hemby and Nolan Ray who both ran for over 60 yards and one score each.
The one player however that Michigan State needs to pay the most attention to is wide receiver Tai Felton. He had one of the best Week 1 performances in the country as he recorded seven receptions for 178 yards and two touchdowns. Thankfully MSU’s defense and secondary looked much improved against FAU, so hopefully that carries over into this weekend’s matchup.
The opportunity in front of MSU on Saturday is massive. The Spartans are big underdogs in this matchup which they probably deserve, but a win would do wonders not just for the overall perception of the team but for their confidence moving forward.
I’ve got a strange feeling that we’re going to be very happy around 7 p.m. ET Saturday night.
Maryland
Maryland makes filing taxes online free for some
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More than 700,000 Marylanders should be able to file their state and federal income tax returns online for free next year, saving residents hours of work and hundreds of dollars on tax software and prep services.
Maryland joined dozens of states Wednesday in a voluntary federal program called Direct File after a test run received positive reviews and showed possible cost savings. Filing paper returns by mail will still be an option.
“It’s unacceptable that Marylanders should have to pay any portion whatsoever of their refund or paycheck to fulfill a mandatory requirement like filing tax returns,” Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman said at a news conference in Annapolis.
The first-term Democrat called the program a game changer for Maryland taxpayers that will modernize her agency. It targets low-to-moderate earners with relatively simple tax returns, and is expected to expand over time.
Lierman’s office will partner with the nonprofit Code for America to integrate the Maryland tax filing system into Direct File. Eligibility requirements will be announced in January, the comptroller’s office said.
Gov. Wes Moore, State Treasurer Dereck E. Davis, members of Maryland’s congressional delegation, U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo and nonprofit partners joined Lierman for the announcement.
Funds from the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 helped build and test the system. The IRS and Treasury Department then invited states to participate.
The IRS has been considering a free e-filing option for low-income American taxpayers for decades, according to the Congressional Research Service. When tax prep companies pushed back, the federal government agreed not to compete with them if they provided free help and e-filing to low-earning taxpayers.
However, many qualified taxpayers were pushed toward paid services, according to an investigation by nonprofit news outlet ProPublica.
The IRS piloted Direct File in 12 states this year. Filers used a laptop, tablet, cellphone or other device to submit income returns and request certain tax credits offered to low-earning individuals and families.
In a survey, nine out of 10 Direct File users ranked their experience as “Excellent” or “Above Average.”
U.S. Rep Steny Hoyer, a Democrat representing Maryland’s 5th District, called paying taxes the “price of our democracy.”
“We ought to make it as easy as possible for people to comply with a legal obligation that they have to support their country, their state and their communities,” he said. “And this system of Direct File does that.”
Robin McKinney, CEO and co-founder of CASH Campaign of Maryland, said easy, free online filing makes the government work more efficiently for citizens and should deliver refunds and credits to taxpayers faster.
McKinney’s nonprofit promotes economic advancement for low- to moderate-income Marylanders and provides free tax help, among other services.
Economic Security Project, a nonprofit that advocates for guaranteed income and economic equity for working families, found that adopting Direct File could mean $355 million in costs and time saved for Maryland’s low- to moderate-earners.
Maryland recently has expanded tax credits for working families, but about $152 million goes unclaimed each year, according to the Security Project’s analysis.
They also estimated that about $148 million could be saved in filing fees and $56 million could be saved in time spent filing taxes.
That money could have gone into Marylanders’ pockets, CASH Campaign’s McKinney said, and it could have gone back into the state’s economy.
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