Maryland men’s basketball takes on UCONN in Round of 64 NCAA Tournament matchup
(Photo Courtesy of Maryland Athletics.)
For the offset time in 728 days, No. ten seed Maryland (16-xiii, 9-eleven B1G) volition have the floor in the NCAA Tournament confronting No. 7 seed UCONN (fifteen-7, eleven-6 B1G) at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Indiana.
Several of Maryland's starters including Eric Ayala, Aaron Wiggins and Darryl Morsell were members of the NCAA tournament team two seasons agone. Afterwards last season's premature catastrophe, the Terps are eager for an opportunity to compete with this year's group in the bubble surroundings in Indianapolis.
Information technology's been a flavour of trials and tribulations for Maryland starting the season iv-9 in the league, with a grueling conference slate. 10 of the Terps' first 13 conference games were confronting ranked opponents at the time. Despite the early flavor struggles, Maryland establish its identity towards the ladder part of the flavour orchestrating a v-game win streak.
"Everybody just could've been pissed off, merely they weren't," head coach Marker Turgeon said. "They just competed and fought and that's really what I'm most proud of."
During that span, the Terps showed their propensity to play suffocating defense complemented by efficient offense. That defensive success displayed splendid communication and perfectly timed rotations, necessary for the constant switching manner defense force that Maryland often employs.
Offensively, Wiggins and Ayala spearheaded the set on finding success for themselves, only also creating opportunities for teammates taking what the defence force gave them. Ayala has displayed the ability to drive downhill and consistently describe contact, while Wiggins has shown his perimeter shooting prowess accompanied past crafty drives to the basket.
That trend will need to continue for Maryland's criminal offense to find success against UCONN. As evidenced in the Big Ten Tournament, teams are starting to fly out to contest Wiggins on the iii-signal line.
Equally a issue, the junior baby-sit has made a more concerted effort to drive and rip it towards the basket to either draw contact or discover open teammates. Similar to Ayala, Wiggins volition demand to play with renewed aggressiveness using his size and craftiness inside to draw contact attacking the basket.
"Just to try to exist efficient," Ayala said of the offensive approach. "Definitely want to play our pace, the pace that benefits the both of us and the rest of our squad. As the game goes on, we try to observe sure spots and areas where we can attack. I trust Aaron, I know Aaron trusts me and the rest of our team counts on us."
UCONN presents another claiming defensively, surrendering 64.6 points per game, the lowest average in the Big East. The Huskies' rank second in the tournament in non-transition constructive field goal pct defense at 42.1%, limiting their opponent's success in the halfcourt offense.
At times this flavor, the Terps have become increasingly reliant on the three-signal shot. That's a byproduct of Maryland'south five-out starting lineup where all five guys on the floor tin can shoot the three and space the floor, lacking a traditional mail service presence.
However, a pivotal matchup in this contest will be the rebounding boxing, limiting the Huskies' 2nd-chance opportunities. Throughout this season UCONN has thrived on the offensive glass, posting an offensive rebound charge per unit of 36.ix%, the quaternary highest rate in the tournament field.
Conversely, Maryland has struggled on the offensive glass this season with a twenty.9% offensive rebound rating, the everyman in the tournament field, an expanse where the team's lack of size is evident. Therefore, battle out collectively every bit a unit in an try to minimize second-chance opportunities will be critical.
UCONN's offense runs through sophomore baby-sit James Bouknight who averaged 19 points per game and tin score at all three levels on the floor. Bouknight has been one of the near dynamic guards in the land when healthy, headlined by a 40-point affair against Creighton earlier this season.
Darryl Morsell, the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year will be Bouknight'due south primary defender on almost possessions, using his length and physicality to bother the sophomore guard. Morsell is no stranger to matching up with the opponent'due south all-time player equally his unmatched competitiveness and unrelenting toughness has come up to define his career in College Park.
"Yeah he's excited about it," Turgeon said of the matchup. "Bouknight is terrific, he looks like an NBA player to me when I picket him play."
The game volition air on CBS with tip off at 7:ten p.one thousand. Sat.
"Only looking forward to the challenge of going upward there and competing at the highest level," Ayala said. "Every bit a kid you dream of playing in March Madness when the lights are on. I think the guys will step up."
Source: http://wmucsports.net/maryland-mens-basketball-takes-on-uconn-in-round-of-64-ncaa-tournament-matchup/
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