Takeaways from Maryland men’s basketball’s rout of St. Peter’s

Regardless of a gradual begin, Maryland males’s basketball dominated St. Peters, 75-45, after eight days of relaxation to snap a three-game shedding streak.

Sophomore ahead Julian Reese was out with a proper shoulder damage, and whereas his absence was noticeable, it didn’t matter an excessive amount of in opposition to a nasty Peacocks workforce that had a ton of roster turnover after a Cinderella run within the NCAA Event final season.

Graduate ahead Patrick Emilien changed Reese within the beginning lineup and impressed with 10 factors. He was one in every of three Terps in double figures, becoming a member of switch guard Jahmir Younger with 14 and senior guard Hakim Hart with 20. Ian Martinez additionally made his second profession begin whereas Don Carey got here off the bench.

Whereas the Terps couldn’t purchase a 3-pointer within the first half, they acquired scorching sizzling within the second half, resulting in a demolition.

Let’s get to some takeaways.

Julian Reese was out of the lineup, which led to a rebounding nightmare.

Beginning middle Julian Reese suffered a shoulder damage within the first half of the workforce’s recreation in opposition to UCLA eight days in the past, forcing him to sit down the second half. After the sport, Willard stated he did not imagine it to be too critical, however he sat for precautionary causes.

Nevertheless, when Willard spoke to reporters on Wednesday he stated Reese was “day-by-day” and he was taking it “actual gradual” with him. Whereas the severity of the damage is unknown, it shouldn’t come as a shock that Reese didn’t go well with up on Thursday, as sources instructed Testudo Instances he has not practiced with the workforce for the reason that UCLA recreation. That, mixed with the actual fact St. Peter’s is a weaker opponent, gave Willard good purpose to present his massive man extended relaxation.

It stays to be seen when Reese will start practising with the workforce and the way way more rehab he should do to get his shoulder to 100%. It would not be shocking if he additionally sat out in opposition to UMBC on Dec. 29 to make sure he is able to go for Maryland’s powerful Massive Ten gauntlet, starting at Michigan on Jan. 1.

Maryland is extremely skinny in its frontcourt with Reese as the one true massive within the rotation. Even with Reese, Maryland is a small workforce. With out him, they don’t have any alternative however to play solely small-ball lineups. Emilien changed Reese within the beginning lineup in opposition to St. Peter’s and had a noteworthy efficiency; He had a season-high 10 factors.

Though Maryland cruised to a victory, Reese’s absence was evident within the rebounding battle. St Peter’s dominated Maryland on the glass to start out the sport and ended up out-rebounding the Terps 38-30.

St. Peter’s has some measurement and one in every of its strengths is rebounding, however the Peacocks are nothing in comparison with a number of the groups the Terps will face within the Massive Ten. One factor was clear from Thursday’s recreation: If Reese has to overlook any time in opposition to convention opponents, Maryland is in deep trouble.

Kevin Willard tinkered with the beginning lineup for the primary time this season.

It’s no secret to everybody that Georgetown switch guard Don Carey has struggled taking pictures the ball this season. Carey got here to School Park as a sharpshooter, connecting on 39% of his 3-pointers final season. Nevertheless, he’s in a critical hunch proper now, taking pictures slightly below 12% from three at dwelling.

After Maryland’s loss to Tennessee earlier this month, Willard proclaimed his workforce goes to need to outshoot groups from 3-point land to beat them. If Carey is ice chilly, he has little worth within the lineup. Carey’s chilly taking pictures compelled Willard to take away him from the beginning lineup in favor of Ian Martinez on Thursday, who has been stable off the bench all season.

Martinez had his greatest taking pictures evening in opposition to UCLA final week, ending with a season excessive 16 factors on 4-for-5 taking pictures from deep, albeit a lot of these factors got here in rubbish time in a blowout loss.

Martinez instantly made an impression in opposition to St. Peter’s, scoring 4 of Maryland’s first six factors. Martinez’s growth from final season to this one has been exceptional. Martinez is assured, decisive, taking pictures the ball nicely and enjoying high-quality perimeter protection. Whereas he handled some accidents final season, Martinez was a turnover-prone, poor decision-maker who was not a respectable menace as a scorer.

“I feel he is a bit more disciplined on the basketball court docket,” Willard stated earlier this week. “He understands what his position with us is and the most important factor for me is he’s simply getting extra comfy in what he can do on the court docket, not solely offensively, however defensively.”

It is not uncommon for shooters who’re struggling to maneuver to the second unit in an try to seek out their rhythm off the bench. However that wasn’t the case for Carey in his first recreation off the bench. He completed with 5 factors on 1-for-6 taking pictures from deep. Regardless of the chilly taking pictures, Carey led the workforce in rebounding and dished out 4 assists.

Willard has a tricky choice to make shifting ahead as to who might be beginning on the two-guard place. If Carey can’t flip his chilly streak right into a sizzling spell, it is likely to be exhausting for Willard to maneuver him again into the beginning lineup.

Maryland’s development of fine protection and a poor taking pictures begin continued.

Kevin Willard’s first workforce as Maryland’s head coach is starting to determine an identification with 12 video games down and 19 to go. Akin to Willard’s workforce’s at Seton Corridor, this iteration of Maryland basketball performs with great depth on protection, making it troublesome for opponents to persistently rating.

Maryland followers have seen that each one season — aside from the UCLA recreation. Whereas the Terps’ offense was higher earlier within the 12 months, their protection carried them to most of their wins and even gave them an opportunity to beat Wisconsin and Tennessee.

In opposition to St. Peter’s, Maryland’s protection regarded sharp as soon as once more. It acquired again to its urgent methods whereas staying aggressive in opposition to opposing guards. Maryland compelled 17 turnovers that led to 24 factors off turnovers. When Maryland is at its greatest, its protection is its sturdy go well with.

Nevertheless, a special development continued for Maryland on Thursday, one the Terps want they might snap. As soon as once more, Maryland struggled to shoot the ball from the surface to start out the sport. The Terps shot 25% from deep within the first half.

In its final 4 video games, Maryland has averaged 23.5% taking pictures from lengthy vary within the first half. These chilly begins in its earlier three video games led to lopsided deficits too massive to beat. In opposition to a nasty St. Peter’s workforce, it was straightforward to beat. Actually, the Terps have been scorching sizzling from three within the second half, connecting on 56% of their makes an attempt.

Whereas that proves the Terps have succesful shooters and must be a viable 3-point menace, it’s an enormous concern how chilly Maryland has been to start out video games. As the brand new 12 months approaches, Maryland should discover a resolution to its poor taking pictures begins earlier than it’s persistently digging itself out of a gap in opposition to Massive Ten groups.