Earlier within the week, Maryland capitalized because it confronted a Wisconsin crew that was taking part in its second recreation in three days, and Saturday the Terrapins took on Nebraska, which lengthy has languished close to the underside of the Huge Ten and is navigating harm hassle. The Terps did what they wanted to do, controlling the second half in every outing and cruising to consecutive convention wins for the primary time this season.
Maryland
Maryland men get back to .500 in the Big Ten by dismantling Nebraska
This time, Maryland dismantled the Cornhuskers for an 82-63 victory at Xfinity Heart. This two-game burst, starting with Wednesday’s 73-55 rout of Wisconsin, is the primary time Maryland has gained back-to-back convention video games by not less than 15 factors since January 2010, when Gary Williams led this system.
Of their sturdy displaying Saturday, the Terps (14-7, 5-5) continued to bounce again from a 1-3 begin to Huge Ten play. The schedule has softened a bit, and Maryland will full a three-game homestand Tuesday towards Indiana with an opportunity to additional solidify its spot within the NCAA event image.
Maryland’s offense, significantly within the first half, confirmed promise with its ball motion and improved capturing from past the arc (5 for 10 earlier than halftime). Level guard Jahmir Younger has established himself because the Terps’ chief, and he delivered once more with a team-high 18 factors to go along with seven assists and 6 steals. No Maryland participant has had that many steals in a recreation since Justin Jackson in 2017.
“He’s a stud,” Nebraska Coach Fred Hoiberg mentioned of Younger, a switch from Charlotte. “He’s had an unbelievable influence on our league. … He simply does somewhat little bit of every little thing.”
The Terps had a 40-30 halftime lead, and the Cornhuskers (10-12, 3-8) whittled their deficit to eight factors a number of instances within the second half. However within the last 10 minutes, Maryland took full management at hand Nebraska its fifth loss in six video games.
5 Terps scored in double figures — together with guard Don Carey (16 factors), who benefited from good capturing from past the arc (4 for 4), and ahead Patrick Emilien (10 factors), a helpful choice for Coach Kevin Willard off the bench.
“I feel one hundred pc I’d say this was one among our [offensive] highlights of the 12 months,” Emilien mentioned. “Simply transferring the ball, all people getting touches, all people feeling like they’re contributing equally, and simply figuring out the place to go.”
Right here’s what else to learn about Maryland’s win:
Emilien, a reserve ahead whom Willard has described as an “unheralded MVP,” had a powerful displaying within the first half in aid of starter Julian Reese. Emilien has handled an ankle harm that stored him out of two video games this month, however he performed 13 minutes within the first half towards Nebraska after Reese dedicated two early fouls.
Emilien proved to be a succesful substitute, recording eight factors, 4 rebounds, a block and a steal within the opening 20 minutes.
“He simply offers us a unique dynamic in the truth that we are able to swap choose and rolls,” Willard mentioned. “He can slide over to the ability ahead. He can slide over to the middle. He was an enormous key of why we received off to such a extremely good begin.”
After Reese picked up his third foul simply after halftime, Willard turned to Emilien once more. He completed with 10 factors on 3-for-4 capturing and 7 rebounds in 25 minutes; Reese performed simply 14 minutes and had eight factors and 5 rebounds.
Nebraska shot 53.3 % from the sector and 42.9 % from three-point vary (6 for 14), each of which outpaced Maryland, however the Terps’ skill to get to the free throw line and rating off turnovers doomed the Cornhuskers. Maryland had 20 factors off 15 Nebraska turnovers, and the Terps scored 22 factors in transition.
“You shouldn’t get your ass kicked like that when you will have these sorts of percentages and that sort of effectivity,” Hoiberg mentioned. “But it surely was the turnovers and placing them on the free throw line.”
Maryland was 24 for 26 from the road, together with good clips by Younger (9 for 9) and Hakim Hart (7 for 7 on his approach to 11 factors). Nebraska made 9 of 15 free throws.
Maryland confirmed extra promise with 16 assists, which tied a season excessive, and dedicated simply 10 turnovers.
“The assists are nice, however the turnovers are even larger,” Willard mentioned after the Terps posted their fourth straight recreation with extra assists than turnovers.
The Terps have endured extended capturing struggles from the perimeter, however they’ve now had back-to-back video games with some success from three. Maryland made 6 of 14 (42.9 %) towards Wisconsin on Wednesday, then went 5 for 10 within the first half towards Nebraska. (The Terps had been 3 for 13 within the second half, dropping their clip to 34.8 % for the sport.)
Carey, a switch from Georgetown, highlighted Saturday’s capturing efficiency by making all of his makes an attempt from three-point vary. He has weathered prolonged slumps, however he arrived at Maryland with almost 200 made three-pointers in 4 seasons of school basketball. Now he’s displaying indicators that he may be returning to that type.
“It was a matter of time,” Willard mentioned. “He didn’t get too many simple ones. He made some powerful ones, which was nice to see, as a result of that’s what he’s able to doing. And if he begins doing that, then I feel it opens up every little thing else for everyone.”