Game Day Essentials: Game #24 vs Maryland

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Nebraska Cornhuskers (13-9) vs #24 Maryland Terrapins (17-6)

 

Date: Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019
Time: 6:00 p.m. 
Arena: PBA

Broadcast:  BTN

 

Courtesy of @HuskerHoops

Maryland Info

Head Coach: Mark Turgeon
Location: College Park, MD
Conference: B1G 10
Nickname: Terrapins, Terps
Mascots: Testudo
Last time out: Beat Minnesota

Conference Record: 13-7
Typical Rotation Depth: 7+
Line: Maryland by 6
Offense: "Maryland Motion", turnover prone

Player to watch: Bruno Fernando

The 6'10" 240# sophomore averages almost a double-double and put up 18 points vs Nebraska in January.  Considering Nebraska's commitment to taking away the 3pt shot and not fouling, it's a matter of mitigating the damage that Fernando will inflict on the scoreboard. 

 

Player to watch: Anthony Cowan

The junior PG is leading the team in scoring and went off for 19 points against the Huskers in January.  Cowan is having an off year from 3 this year but is a threat to shoot from all over the court.

 

 

KenPom Helps explain the Roster

 

PG	SG	SF	PF	C	Pct
1	1 Anthony Cowan 6-0  170  Jr	5 Eric Ayala 6-5  205  Fr	2 Aaron Wiggins 6-6  200  Fr	25 Jalen Smith 6-10  215  Fr	23 Bruno Fernando 6-10  240  So	17.5

 

Maryland has one of the youngest rosters in Div 1 but doesn't have the glut of one and done players like Kentucky/Duke

• 5 star Frosh Jalen Smith is the 3rd leading scorer and 2nd leading rebounder. Smtih doesn't have much of an outside shot
• Wiggins along with Cowan takes the most 3 though is shooting 42% on the year
• Ayala is shooting 47% from 3 but isn't aggressive with his shot
• 6'5" Soph Darryl Morsell is a slasher who has found some 3pt success in conference play
• Fr 170# Guard Serrel Smith is the rotation and has the green light to shoot 3s but has only made 29% this year; turnover prone
• Sr PF Ivan Bender is an effective inside scorer but simply depth at this point
• 6'8" Fr Ricky Lindo has played minimal minutes but had a nice line filling in for a sick Jalen Smith vs Radford

 

Scouting Maryland: Our deep dive on Maryland

 

Miles Presser

WE NEED A SPARK

 

The Skinny: It's fitting that Maryland comes in here ranked 24th as that is where the Huskers sat when they rolled into Maryland and couldn't close the deal against a young Terrapin team. Since that time Maryland has positioned themselves into the top 5 in the conference whereas Penn St is currently the only thing keeping Nebraska out of the basement.

 

In conference play Maryland has seen more of their scoring coming from the 3 and the FT line, no doubt with teams doubling down on Fernando. Jalen Smith, the X factor in our last game, has the potential to make hay when either Tanner or Roby has to come out and the 6'10" talent is guarded by Brady or whomever we throw out on the court.  How well can Tanner defend Fernando without fouling out or without constantly requiring a double team?

 

Offensively, the Huskers simply need to hit some shots and everything will start to open up.  They've certainly had success against Maryland in the past. 

 

I keep telling myself I'm going to pick against the Huskers and yet every game seem like *THIS* is the one where Nebraska wakes up from this 5 game nightmare. Why not tonight?

 

Prediction: Nebraska 70 - Maryland 66

 

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