Maryland men’s basketball heads to Bloomington for a new defensive challenge
(Photo Courtesy of Maryland Athletics.)
After ii impressive offensive showings confronting ranked opponents, the essence of Maryland basketball will be tested early in 2021. With Darryl Morsell's facial injury against Michigan on Dec. 31 and a slew of ranked opponents alee, whether or not the Terps will remain even-keeled is unclear.
But what is clear is Maryland'southward ability to bounce back from tough losses. Maryland (6-iv, ane-3 B1G) wasn't exactly fit to win confronting the undefeated Wolverines on New Year's Eve. However, Indiana (6-4, ane-2 B1G), brings a more than manageable level of basketball game.
The Hoosiers, along with Maryland, are i of the half-dozen unranked teams in the Large Ten and the two sides boast a similar tape. Both teams besides accept been struggling for consistency in their corresponding Big Ten slates. For Indiana, its offense has seemingly been carried by the likes of forrard Trayce Jackson-Davis and baby-sit Armaan Franklin. The two sophomores combine for 33 points per contest forth with 12 boards.
Jackson-Davis accounts for 20 points per game and has quietly been dominating in an uber-competitive Big Ten. His frontcourt supremacy is mainly special because of his traditional approach. The sophomore forward is the only 20-betoken scorer in the league who doesn't shoot threes.
Jackson-Davis, some other name on a long list of ascendant Big Ten bigs, will be a huge test for Maryland's poor frontcourt defense. Afterward (literally) falling curt in the low post battle against Michigan'south Hunter Dickinson, Maryland will surely be looking to mitigate their defensive frontcourt shortcomings against Indiana'due south potent back to the basket scorer.
"Defensively, nosotros only got to get meliorate in our zones, we got to become better on our post defense," head motorcoach Mark Turgeon said. "We got to get ameliorate in our ball pressure. We got to get meliorate in our rotations."
Jackson-Davis' reluctance to stretch the floor may be part of the reason the Hoosiers are one of the easier teams to guard in the Big Ten, merely his offensive style of play coupled with his stout defense has kept the Hoosiers over .500.
With the absenteeism of Morsell, it's besides possible Indiana's otherwise forgettable backcourt could bring some serious problems for Maryland. Franklin has been the heavy hitter for the Hoosiers backcourt law-breaking as of late, averaging xiii points per game.
But veteran guards like Al Durham and Rob Phinisee are proven offensive threats capable of scoring inside and out. The leadership and defensive presence of Morsell volition exist missed. And so it'll be in Maryland's all-time interest to recapture the energy that Morsell brings on defense force in order to really contain Indiana's criminal offence.
"[Darryl Morsell is telling us] simply to play hard each possession, every possession, that's how we're gonna win games," sophomore guard Hakim Hart said. "If we're going with his mindset nosotros'll exist fine."
When the crime is performing at a high level, Maryland is a force to exist reckoned with — just enquire Michigan. But to fifty-fifty hold a candle against the all-time teams in the league, the Terps defense needs to perform well too. Indiana is a good place to commencement.
"We're non that far off," Turgeon said. "We but gotta proceed plugging and go along trying to get amend."
Tip off is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. and the game will air on BTN.
Source: http://wmucsports.net/maryland-mens-basketball-heads-to-bloomingotn-for-a-new-defensive-challenge/
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