Proper now, the Maryland males’s basketball group sits in the course of the convention slate and enjoys six days off between video games towards Nebraska and Michigan State.
As February heats up in faculty basketball, there are not any secrets and techniques. Most groups are midway by means of their convention schedule, which is now 20 video games throughout the Massive East, Massive Ten and ACC and about two-thirds of the best way by means of the common season.
So even should you attempt, you’ll be able to’t idiot groups watching tape till this time of yr. And the pattern measurement is massive sufficient that you probably have a weak point in your rotation or your roster, everybody is aware of it. Conversely, in case your group has an id and does issues nicely, that can’t escape anybody’s consideration.
Proper now, Maryland (13-Eight, 5-5 Massive Ten) is midway by means of its convention slate and enjoys six days off between video games towards Nebraska and Michigan State — fellow mid-majors within the convention — whereas additionally being talked about within the hunt for NCAA Match berths (ESPN’s Bracketology has the Spartans a No. 9 seed in his newest rankings, whereas the Cornhuskers are one of many final 4 groups to make the sphere).
Blame a flurry of November losses to Davidson, UAB and Villanova, throughout which the Terps shot 16-72 from three (22%) for conserving their prolonged successful streak away from the bubble . However whereas their three-point capturing points (at the moment 333rd in Division I) had been simple to identify, so was this group’s skill to defend.
Nobody within the convention options higher opponents than coach Kevin Willard’s group.
“We are the primary defensive group within the Massive Ten — and it isn’t even shut proper now. I believe it is three full factors on the KenPom (score system),” Willard mentioned after the Terps beat the Cornhuskers 73-51. “As dangerous as we had been offensively, for these guys to come back out and play the protection that we did, it simply tells you one thing concerning the character of those children.”
The training curve has been steep for the 2 freshmen who’ve seen main minutes, however Jamie Kaiser Jr. feels he and the group are beginning to flip the nook.
“As a group that is actually been our factor as a result of we have struggled to attain the ball early so we have hung our hat on protection all yr and now with the offense approaching we’re actually beginning to see how good we may be be”, Kaiser. mentioned. “Personally, it took me some time to get used to the protection. My teammates know that, however I’ve actually received used to it and now the sport is getting a bit simpler for me.”
Seven of the Terps’ remaining 10 regular-season video games shall be towards groups they’ve already confronted, no assure in a university basketball world the place the 14-school Massive Ten does not provide a real round-robin just like the Massive East with 11 colleges. .
However it appears like progress is being made and the Maryland group that takes the ground Saturday in East Lansing shall be a lot better than the one which confronted the Spartans almost two weeks in the past.
“I’ve mentioned all alongside that this group goes to get higher and higher because the season goes on. What we noticed in November wasn’t even near what we will (do), and I nonetheless assume we will get higher,” Willard mentioned. “Offensively we will get higher, and if we preserve enjoying protection the best way we’re enjoying, I am going to play towards anyone.”
5 begin
Up, up: UConn is once more #1 on my poll and total, adopted by Purdue and North Carolina. My largest swings this week have No. 15 Texas Tech at No. 7, No. 23 No. 13 Oklahoma and No. 9 Marquette at No. 16. Hardest omissions: Alabama, TCU, South Carolina and San Diego State . Small college shoutouts: Dayton, FAU, New Mexico, Indiana State and Richmond.
Getting inside: George Washington (14-7, Three-5 Atlantic 10) dropped 4 in a row and caught the highest two groups within the convention (Richmond and No. 21 Dayton) every week aside. The frequent thread: GW allowed over 80 factors in every of these losses.
How does it change issues?
“I believe the problem is what number of good quarterbacks are on the ground,” coach Chris Caputo mentioned after the group’s loss to La Salle. “As a result of finally you are going to should make individuals miss you. It is not a scheme, it is nothing, it is like, there’s guys that when their fingers get near the ball on leap photographs, that participant misses.”
The slope stays fairly slippery in February as they will not have a recreation towards a college with a shedding convention document till they go to Saint Louis on February 24th.
“It is not for lack of making an attempt, however you already know what?” Caputo mentioned. “Do a superb job provided that what you are making an attempt works. So we’ll preserve engaged on it.”
Perimeter recreation: If there’s one group GW can take a defensive lesson or two from, it is this one Virginia (16-5, 7-Three ACC). The Cavaliers are permitting a career-low 57.four factors per recreation (7.9 fewer than Notre Dame) and have allowed three foes in January (Virginia Tech, NC State, Louisville) to attain 15 factors or fewer within the first half, in whereas constructing what’s now a five-game successful streak.
Whereas Reece Beekman leads this group in scoring, assists and steals, he will get loads of assist from 6-foot-Eight guard Ryan Dunn (three double-doubles in convention play) and Isaac McKneely (20 factors vs. Georgia Tech in January . 20).
Wednesday’s win towards Notre Dame places U.Va. in sole possession of third place within the convention, and the Cavaliers lucked out by going through No. Three North Carolina and No. 7 Duke. On Saturday, the Hoos go to a Clemson group that could be beneath .500 within the ACC however was as soon as ranked 13th.
Who’s open: Top-of-the-line native rivalries is renewed on Saturday at 6 p.m Richmond (16-5, Eight-Zero Atlantic 10) VISITS VCU (13-Eight, 5-Three). The Spiders had been the shock of the A-10 after being picked 11th within the preseason, whereas the Rams had been the second-best group within the convention earlier than blowing a 20-point lead at St. Bonaventure Tuesday night time.
Count on a defensive duel as UR ranks second within the convention in scoring protection and turnover margin, whereas coach Ryan Odom’s squad defends the three higher (29%) than anybody else within the convention. For these curious, Chris Mooney’s Spiders is in second place.
Each groups performed nicely on the switch entrance, with Rams main scorer Max Shulga (15 ppg) trailing Utah State’s Odom and former East Tennessee State participant Jordan King (19 ppg ) main everybody within the A-10. after 21 video games.
Final likelihood: Georgetown (Eight-12, 1-Eight Massive East) meets No. 9 Marquette (16-5, 7-Three) on Saturday at 2 p.m. in a rematch of a December blowout (81-51) by which the Golden Eagles scored 28 of 19 restorations from Hoya. Coach Shaka Good’s group has received 5 straight and leads the convention in turnover margin.
The Hoya’s precedence is discovering a option to include Tyler Kolek (14 factors per recreation plus a conference-best seven assists per contest) whereas discovering a approach for Jayden Epps to get his shot (19 factors per recreation sophomore leads the Massive East, however shot 5-17 and 1-Eight from three towards Marquette in December).
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