Game Day Essentials: Game #24 at Maryland

Maryland Info

Head Coach: Mark Turgeon
Location: College Park, MD
Conference: B1G 10
Nickname: Terrapins, Terps
Mascots: Testudo

KenPom rank: 8

Point Spread: Maryland by 17.5

Depth: 6+

Offensive Style: Love the 3

Defensive Style: Force a bad shot

Key Injuries for Nebraska 

• Dachon Burke- out
• Haanif Cheatham - questionable with a calf injury

Hoiberg Presser

Hoiberg recaps the Iowa game. Fielded a question about layups and then talked about how they do practice layups, which was in no way depressing.

Players to watch:  Jalen "Sticks" Smith

The lanky Sophomore Center is a formidable rim protector and is shooting lights out not only at the rim but currently shooting 47.7% from 3 in conference play. The future NBA stretch 4 is a double-double waiting to happen

Players to watch:   Anthony Cowan

Cowan is the key to the Maryland offense. The senior PG leads the team in points, assists, and steals and rarely comes off the court.

Roster points

Turgeon basically plays 6 guys major minutes with 3-4 more guys playing spot minutes as needed

• Wiggins is probably the 3rd option on offense and is more like to slash to the rim. Doesn't have the 3pt accuracy he did last year
• Morsell is one of Maryland's best defenders and a 'glue guy'
• Ayala is capable of handling the ball. Has really struggled with his outside shot. Look for his man to sag off him to double in the post at times
• Freshman Scott has struggled with his outside shot as well.
• SG Serrel Smith is a defensive whiz, offensive liability
• PF Ricky Lindo has been squeezed from the rotation but is a formidable rebounder and efficient 5th option scorer
• Jr Center Joshua Tomaic is post depth
• 7'2" Chol Marial is a giant athletic freak but is raw and hasn't played much

The Skinny:

A shorthanded Nebraska team rolls into #9 Maryland on Tuesday just 3 days after being taken apart by Iowa.  Dachon Burke didn't make the trip due to the flu and it's questionable whether or not Haanif Cheatham will be able to play thanks to a calf injury suffered in that Iowa loss.  Given Burke has started every game this season we'll see Nebraska's 6th different starting lineup tonight.

Maryland possesses  one of the best defenses in the country as they've held several conference opponents to under 60 points at home. Their length and ability to guard without fouling essentially means most teams will have to beat them from 3. When you have a team like Nebraska who has trouble converting layups when no one is guarding them, expect that to be the game plan. With Burke out this might be a game where you let Jervay Green rip and and see what happens.

Offensively, the Terrapins tend to make up for their average shooting by forcing their way to the free throw line.  Nebraska is generally a team that defends well without fouling but this will be paramount tonight given we're possibly down to 8 available players. Zone might be on the menu tonight and hopefully that won't result in too many back-breaking offensive rebounds.

Maryland just beat Illinois on the road and travel to play Michigan St on Saturday.  How much energy are they bringing tonight vs this reeling Nebraska team?

Prediction: Maryland 84 - Nebraska 64