Takeaways from Maryland men’s basketball’s win over Penn State

Maryland males’s basketball took care of enterprise on its house courtroom towards a determined Penn State squad. Regardless of a second-half push from the Nittany Lions, Maryland held robust, defeating them, 74-68.

Hakim Hart had a profession day and Jahmir Younger took over within the second half to propel the Terps to a win. Maryland moved to 8-6 within the convention with simply six video games to go.

Let’s get to some takeaways.

Maryland continues to feed off its house courtroom benefit.

Maryland is just about unstoppable at house. Maryland is undefeated in convention house video games, the one crew within the convention that has but to lose a convention recreation on its house ground. The Terps have additionally gained 10 straight Massive Ten house video games, their longest streak since they joined the convention.

Maryland introduced Saturday’s recreation was a sellout, the primary sellout since March 2020. The introduced attendance was 17,950, which led to an amazing Saturday afternoon environment on the XFINITY Middle.

“This constructing rocks, man. It’s actually, actually helped us,” Terps head coach Kevin Willard mentioned.

Maryland fed off of the group’s power all recreation, together with happening a string of runs within the second half that allowed it to drag away from a feisty Penn State crew.

“The followers are mainly our sixth man,” Hart mentioned.

Maryland has six video games left, three of that are at house. The toughest check Maryland has on its house ground is coming this Thursday when No. 1 Purdue is on the town. Maryland misplaced by three the primary time these groups met in West Lafayette. It’s certain to be an unbelievable atmosphere Thursday evening.

Maryland’s success depends on Jahmir Younger, however Hakim Hart led the way in which on Saturday.

The Terps will go the place Jahmir Younger takes them. If Younger is struggling, so is Maryland’s offense. Younger had simply 5 factors within the first half towards Penn State and continued to battle within the early minutes of the second half, resulting in a run from Penn State that led to the Nittany Lions capturing their first lead of the sport.

Nonetheless, it was Younger who was on the heart of a 9-0 run that propelled the Terps again in entrance. The correlation between Younger enjoying effectively and Maryland enjoying effectively is as clear as day. He’s Maryland’s engine and if he’s not operating, the Terps have a troublesome time transferring very far.

In a latest article in The Athletic, an nameless Massive Ten coach informed Seth Davis that “A nasty evening from him [Young] is tough to beat” for Maryland. That evaluation is spot on. Fortunately for Maryland, it wasn’t a foul recreation from Younger, only a unhealthy half. Younger carried the Terps within the second half to the tune of 13 factors. He completed with 18 for the sport.

Whereas Younger is the catalyst for the Maryland offense, he cannot carry the load himself. Hakim Hart had his greatest convention recreation this season towards Penn State. Hart dropped 23 factors — essentially the most he is scored in a Massive Ten recreation — on 8-for-10 capturing from the sector. Hart’s threes have been off in Massive Ten play this season, and though he made two on Saturday, he discovered methods to attain with out counting on the lengthy ball. Hart constantly backed down his defender and received to his spots, resulting in a plethora of factors within the paint.

Willard mentioned he felt that Younger was expending a ton of power on protection, so he needed to take the ball out of Younger’s palms and into Hart’s. Hart has performed level guard at occasions all through his school profession and has proved to be a strong facilitator. He completed with 5 rebounds and 4 assists to spherical out his profession day.

“This crew simply means rather a lot to me as a result of I have been right here for 4 years and I simply need to do nice issues and win championships,” Hart mentioned.

Maryland’s protection is its spine.

It’s no secret to anybody who’s watched Maryland in motion this season that the depth the Terps’ protection performs with is exceptional. The communication, quick rotations and difficult close-outs make it tough for any crew to attain on Maryland.

That was the case for a reeling Penn State group that was befuddled by Maryland’s energetic palms within the early going. Penn State scored simply six factors within the opening 12 minutes of the sport. Maryland received into its efficient full-court press to begin the sport and by no means relented, pressuring the Nittany Lions after made baskets.

Penn State dedicated 13 turnovers that led to 17 Maryland factors. Whereas Maryland struggled to attain itself for stretches of the primary half, its protection tempered Penn State.

The Nittany Lions are the most effective 3-point capturing crew within the Massive Ten and so they confirmed why Saturday. Penn State knocked down 12 threes on 46% capturing. Penn State’s sizzling capturing allowed it to stay round within the second half, however Maryland locked in defensively when it wanted too.

It wasn’t the cleanest defensive efficiency, however Willard mentioned the plan was to drive Penn State to shoot twos. Penn State shot 53 pictures, 26 of which had been threes.

Permitting 68 factors to Penn State just isn’t notably noteworthy for Maryland, but it surely’s the defensive stretches the place Maryland restricted the Nittany Lions that led it to victory. Maryland wins video games due to its protection and if the Terps are going to make a postseason run, the important thing would be the defensive facet of the ball.