Led by strong defense, Maryland basketball looks to continue its winning ways against Northwestern
Photograph Courtesy of Maryland Athletics.
Defense has been Maryland men's basketball'southward (14-4, iv-three B1G) calling carte du jour all season-long, with its length and athleticism posing issues for opposing teams. The Terps proved as such with a commanding defensive performance confronting Purdue, belongings the Boilermakers to 50 points and 36% from the field. Similar tight defence will exist needed confronting Northwestern (6-11, 1-6 B1G) on Tuesday, for the Terps to pick up their first true road win of the season.
Northwestern is entering Tuesday'due south matchup struggling, losing seven of their terminal 8 games. For the Wildcats, everything starts with forward Miller Kopp who is the team's leading scorer. Kopp is a lethal shooter from backside the arc, canning 40% of his iii-indicate attempts. That marker is the third highest in the briefing, making him a clear threat for the Terps.
Maryland's defensive communication and rotations volition need to exist stiff against the Wildcats, especially to continue rails of Kopp. Guards Aaron Wiggins and Darryl Morsell volition be tasked with battling Kopp'due south perimeter jumpers and moving him off his spot.
While Kopp is the Wildcats principal threat on the perimeter, freshman forward Robbie Beran has emerged as a consequent pick down low. Beran has started the last v games for the Wildcats averaging x.six points and six rebounds since seeing his function expand. Center Jalen Smith, the Terps depression-mail defensive anchor, will be tasked with preventing Beran from finding a rhythm. He has been outstanding defensively all flavour-long, averaging 2.2 blocks per game. Still, in a conference stacked with big men, Smith volition have another tough challenge.
While leading on defense, Jalen Smith has also been extremely efficient offensively of tardily. Running loftier screen and rolls efficiently with guard Anthony Cowan Jr., Jalen Smith has displayed his exterior shooting prowess. Since conference play began, he's leading the Big Ten by shooting 58% from backside the arc.
With Jalen Smith emerging as an outside shooting threat and freshman Donta Scott finding his groove offensively, the Terps have found a formidable front court duo. Scott is coming off a career-loftier 13-point operation against the Boilermakers, also displaying his outside shooting touch. Both players finding their range makes the Terps' offense more than versatile and much more than difficult to slow down for the Wildcats.
Stiff perimeter shooting and stifling depression-mail defense force will be pivotal for the Terps to selection upwardly their first conference road win of the flavor. The game is scheduled to tip-off at vii p.m. and volition air on FS1.
Source: http://wmucsports.net/led-by-strong-defense-maryland-basketball-looks-to-continue-its-winning-ways-against-northwestern/
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