Terps come together, dispatch Minnesota in Big Ten tournament

A win would have allowed Maryland to bypass Thursday’s second spherical at United Middle. As a substitute, the Terrapins needed to play Minnesota, however they rebounded in opposition to the bottom-seeded Golden Gophers, 70-54, regardless of early struggles from standout level guard Jahmir Younger and important foul hassle for the group’s large males.

Maryland superior to Friday’s quarterfinals to face No. 3 seed Indiana, a group the Terps beat at dwelling earlier this season. Regardless that this second-round win got here in opposition to the group that completed Large Ten play in final place, the victory begins Kevin Willard’s first postseason as Maryland’s coach on a optimistic observe — simply after his first common season in Faculty Park ended with frustration.

“Their coronary heart was into it. They needed it. They knew what was at stake,” Willard stated of the locker room scene after the loss at Penn State. “When you may have that a lot buy-in and youngsters care that a lot, that’s factor.”

The Terps entered the postseason off back-to-back highway losses, however Willard stated he appears on the “large image.” Each these opponents, Ohio State and Penn State, have performed effectively currently and superior to the quarterfinals of the convention match.

“We got here out with an awesome mind-set,” Willard stated.

Since becoming a member of the Large Ten earlier than the 2014-15 season, the Terps haven’t gained multiple sport within the convention match or superior to the championship, compiling a file of simply 3-7. The win over Minnesota is a small step towards reversing that development.

“Within the match, the primary sport’s all the time the toughest sport to interrupt by means of,” stated Don Carey, who gained the 2021 Large East match when he performed at Georgetown.

Donta Scott, a four-year starter for the Terps, powered Maryland (21-11) with a 16-point burst and 4 three-pointers within the first half. He completed with 20 factors, however his early sharpshooting helped the Terps construct a lead.

Scott had struggled on offense currently, scoring fewer than 10 factors in 5 of Maryland’s earlier seven video games. Willard stated the senior has been “somewhat worn out.” Scott logged 32 minutes in opposition to the Gophers, however Willard stated his defensive project wasn’t as troublesome and that stored him contemporary.

Maryland had a double-digit benefit for a lot of the second half, however Minnesota (9-22) trimmed the deficit to 9 with a pair of three-pointers from freshman Braeden Carrington with about six minutes remaining. The Terps responded, with Younger delivering eight factors within the last 5 minutes to assist the Terps keep away from an upset. Earlier than the Terps’ victory, decrease seeds had been 5-0 within the match.

Minnesota tried simply 13 photographs from past the arc (making 5). The Gophers as a substitute leaned on their manufacturing within the paint (28 factors), and freshman ahead Pharrel Payne scored a team-high 17 factors off the bench. Minnesota depends on a seven-man rotation, and beginning ahead Jaden Henley fouled out with 7:17 to go, shifting much more of the load onto his teammates enjoying for a second straight day.

Maryland swept Minnesota throughout the common season, posting its solely convention highway win of the season in Minneapolis. In Large Ten play, Maryland had an abysmal away file (1-9) to go along with its 10-0 mark at dwelling. For the remainder of the season, the Terps will play on impartial courts. Regardless of the losses to finish the common season, Willard stated his group had enjoyable in follow this week and he desires them to remain unfastened throughout the postseason.

“I can deal with the stress,” Willard stated. “I need them to take pleasure in this second. Now we have 4 or 5 guys which are by no means going to play faculty basketball once more. I need them to have the ability to sit again and notice this can be a lot of enjoyable.”

Right here’s what else to learn about Maryland’s win:

When Maryland added Carey to its roster within the offseason, he had a historical past of being a prolific three-point shooter. However with the Terps, he has struggled to search out consistency. Willard remained dedicated to Carey, who’s in his sixth season of faculty basketball, and the veteran has begun to reward that confidence.

With 11 factors within the win over Minnesota, Carey reached double figures for the fifth straight sport. Earlier than this sturdy stretch, he had solely twice delivered back-to-back outings with at the very least 10 factors. Towards the Gophers, he made 3 of seven photographs from three-point vary; he has shot 48.1 p.c from past the arc throughout this five-game spurt.

Carey’s manufacturing helped make up for Younger’s quiet begin. Younger, the Terps’ greatest participant and main scorer, missed his first seven makes an attempt, together with a number of layups, earlier than he broke by means of with a basket with 11:45 remaining. Younger’s late burst helped him end with 15 factors on 3-for-13 capturing.

Maryland’s large males handled severe foul hassle. Patrick Emilien, who rotates as the first backup at energy ahead and heart, picked up his third foul with greater than six minutes remaining within the first half. By then, beginning ahead Julian Reese already had two. Willard had little selection however to play Caelum Swanton-Rodger, a hardly ever used freshman heart, however then he dedicated three fouls in simply three minutes earlier than halftime.

Reese obtained referred to as for his third foul lower than a minute into the second half, and Emilien dedicated his fourth a couple of minutes later. Reese logged 18 minutes within the second half and stored his poise, scoring eight of his 10 factors after the break.

“He’s a really good basketball participant,” Willard stated of Reese. “He understands how to not foul at occasions. … I feel I play guys with two fouls extra than simply about anyone as a result of I’ve a variety of confidence in these guys, particularly Julian.”