Maryland
Takeaways from Maryland men’s basketball’s loss at Michigan State
Maryland men’s basketball Saturday squandered a massive opportunity to build its resume, falling to Michigan State, 63-54.
The Terps shot just above 30% from the field en route to scoring their lowest total in a month.
Here are some takeaways from the loss.
Maryland’s defense was elite; it’s offense was nonexistent
Maryland’s elite defense in the conference showed out against the Spartans. But so did its inefficient offense, which ranks second-worst in the conference.
Outside of Jahmir Young, who finished with 31 points on 9-of-22 shooting, the Terps couldn’t buy a shot, with all other players combining for just eight makes.
In total, Maryland shot 30.9% from the field, which included a 7-of-30 outing from 3-point range. It also committed 13 turnovers.
For nearly 35 minutes, the Terps’ defense did all it could to keep themselves within striking distance.
Michigan State stood at just 43 points with a tick over six minutes remaining, having had managed just five made field goals in the half.
But Maryland itself scored a measly 14 points itself in the opening 13 minutes and change of the second half, and its defense simply had nothing left down the stretch.
A 12-0 run by the Spartans in a matter of minutes put a game which had no business being close, finally out of reach.
Reese’s foul trouble crumbled Maryland
When Maryland’s offense is at its best, Julian Reese gets constant touches down low. When he’s out of the game, the offense generally looks out of sorts.
“The fouls on [Reese] really changed the game,” head coach Kevin Willard said.
Reese committed his second foul 2:01 into the game, and after an extended stay on the bench, he committed his third infraction with 7:04 remaining in period.
Caelum Swanton-Rodger initially saw the majority of minutes in relief, but Willard opted to finish the game with Jordan Geronimo at the center position.
Swanton-Rodger was a team-worst -11 in the first half in just six minutes of action.
Limited to nine minutes in the half, Reese was never able to fully establish his presence and when in, was forced to play with less aggressiveness than usual.
What ultimately derailed the Terps, however, was him committing an illegal screen just eight seconds into the second half. While Geronimo was serviceable as a replacement — especially on the defensive end — Reese’s sheer presence was deeply missed, with the Terps struggling to execute any offensive action for almost the entirety of the period.
Reese played just five minutes in the second half, finishing the game with only two points and one rebound.
How much longer can Young carry the load?
Young contributing to close to 50% of Maryland’s scoring on any given night has become a sight all too familiar this season.
In the Terps’ five most recent losses, Young has averaged 26.4 points per game. The team has averaged 59.4 points per game in the defeats, meaning 44.4% of the scoring has fallen on Young’s shoulders.
Against the Spartans, he didn’t have his most efficient game, missing 13 shots — eight from three — but he was essentially the only Terp who had somewhat of a feel for the basket.
“Even though he had 31, you know, I thought he struggled a little bit early coming off the bye week,” Willard said. “But his effort and his heart were unbelievable.
Donta Scott, who was second on the team with 13 points, went 5-of-19 from the floor and made only one of his final 10 shots. Geronimo was third with six points, and Reese and Jahari Long’s contributions were a minimal two free throws each.
While having an All-American-caliber player on its roster is a blessing, Maryland won’t go far if the outside contribution is as poor as it was Saturday.
Maryland
Ex-Maryland teacher sentenced to 30 years for having sex with student — but will only spend one year behind bars
A disgraced Maryland teacher who had sex with a teenage student nearly two-dozen times was slapped with a 30-year prison sentence – but will only serve one year behind bars for the crime.
Melissa Marie Curtis, 32, was handed the three-decade sentence with all but 12 months suspended for engaging in sexual acts with the 14-year-old while she was a teacher at Montgomery Village Middle School in 2015, Fox 5 DC reported.
Curtis — who was 22 at the time — had sexual intercourse with the minor more than 20 times between January and May 2015 — with illicit trysts occurring within the school, her car and several residences, including her mother’s home in Montgomery County, according to court documents obtained by the outlet.
The convicted perv also gave the eighth-grader alcohol and marijuana, the Montgomery County Police Department said.
Prosecutors said the pair were often left alone together after the young teen volunteered for an after-school program Curtis headed, according to court docs.
Police launched their investigation in October 2023 when the victim came forward with the abuse allegations.
Curtis, of Upper Marlboro, was a teacher for approximately two years and had also taught at Lakelands Park Middle School, cops said.
The sicko teacher turned herself in to police on Nov. 7, 2023, and was charged with sexual abuse of a minor and multiple counts of third- and fourth-degree sexual offenses.
She pleaded guilty June 20 to three counts of third-degree sex offenses in June, Fox 5 DC reported.
The sexual predator is required to register as a sex offender for 25 years and will be barred from having any unsupervised contact with minors other than her own children.
The judge also sentenced Curtis to serve five years of probation.
Maryland
Iowa Hawkeyes Make Horrible Decision Ahead of Maryland Game
Kirk Ferentz and the Iowa Hawkeyes are set to face off against the Maryland Terrapins this weekend in their second to last regular season game of the year.
Ahead of this week’s game, Iowa holds a 6-4 record. They have had a couple of very disappointing losses over their last four outings. Losing to Maryland would simply compound upon what has already been a rough all-around stretch of games.
Unfortunately, heading into this week’s matchup, the Hawkeyes have made a horrible decision.
As most fans know, quarterback Brendan Sullivan has been lost for the season due to injury. That led to a new starting quarterback being need this week.
Ferentz and Iowa opted to turn back to Cade McNamara as their starting quarterback.
That decision is a bad one. McNamara has played poorly all season long and fans were desperately hoping for a change away from him long before the decision was actually made.
Why is the decision to revert back to starting McNamara a big mistake?
Jackson Stratton, the team’s sophomore quarterback, has shown the ability to throw the football well in very limited time. He also has a legitimate chance to be the team’s starter for the next two years.
Going back to McNamara does absolutely nothing for the program. He will be leaving following the 2024 season and has shown nothing on the field to warrant playing time. Seeing what the Hawkeyes have in Stratton is a major need and getting him valuable playing time could help him succeed in 2025.
Stratton has received very little playing time. Last week, he completed three of his six pass attempts against UCLA for 28 yards. On the ground, he chipped in a 14-yard run.
Those numbers should have made Iowa give him a chance. At the very least, they could confirm or deny that he’s capable of being the starter next season.
Giving the starting job back to McNamara only guarantees one thing. Fans are about to see more missed passes, frustrating decisions, and a lack of an ability to move the football through the air.
Maryland
Maryland burn ban: Dry weather fuels fire along Potomac River
Dozens of firefighters utilized boats and a helicopter while battling a Monday morning blaze along the Potomac River.
Officials said someone in Virginia initially spotted the smoke, which was coming from a large, rotted tree on Rocky Island in Montgomery County near Great Falls.
They aren’t sure how the fire started but said the large response was in part due to dry conditions, with low humidity and wind.
“It took hours and hours for them to cut it up and put the fire completely out,” said Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service Public Information Officer Pete Piringer, who added that those same conditions are why a statewide burn ban remains in effect in Maryland.
Piringer also said that just in Montgomery County, firefighters have responded to about 150 outside fires since October 1.
“Fires spread very quickly when the conditions are like this,” he explained.
As a result, officials are urging the public to remain vigilant, saying that when it comes to fire danger, the region’s recent rain has helped – but it’s still not enough.
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