Big Ten: Maryland Emerges As A Contender

Feb 24, 2015; College Park, MD, USA; Maryland Terrapins guard Dez Wells (44) celebrates after beating the Wisconsin Badgers 59-53 at Xfinity Center. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 24, 2015; College Park, MD, USA; Maryland Terrapins guard Dez Wells (44) celebrates after beating the Wisconsin Badgers 59-53 at Xfinity Center. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

I’d be remiss if I did not start this off with an apology. I’m sorry, Maryland. I have doubted you for far too long. Like a complex Alt-J or Beck album, it took several listens for me to truly appreciate you the way you deserve.

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Though I have consistently ranked the Terps towards the top of my Big Ten power rankings, I continued to lump you in with the mediocre middle of the conference. You’re clearly better than that.

At different points in the season I have anointed Indiana, Michigan State, and Ohio State as Wisconsin’s primary challenger, but the real contender was Maryland. I have been swayed by Dez Wells’ bulldozing drives to the basket (and game-winning shots), Melo Trimble’ silky smooth pull-up jumpers, and Jake Layman’s perfectly coifed locks of gold.

I’m sorry Maryland, Maryland fans, and most of all to ESPN personality Scott Van Pelt, who is by far the most distinguished Maryland alum. Good, now that’s all behind us. I’m buying stock in the Terrapins!

Maryland shocked the world Tuesday night by knocking off fifth ranked Wisconsin 59-53. Senior Dez Wells led the way with 26 points, four assists, and seven rebounds. Trimble added 16 points, and the Maryland defense held Wisconsin to 38.5 percent shooting and 6-for-22 from outside.

It was a statement victory, and a victory that asserted Maryland as a team to be reckoned with.

Now, some teams follow up a big upset victory by laying an egg in the following contest. Take NC State for example. The Wolfpack followed up last week’s resume boosting win over North Carolina by dropping a game by double digits to ACC cellar dweller Boston College. Maryland would not let that happen.

They welcomed a struggling Michigan squad to town on an emotional senior day, and defeated the Wolverines 66-56. After tearing up during the opening ceremony, Wells scored 13 points during his final home game as a Terp, after a tumultuous college career.

The win was Maryland’s fifth in a row, and gives them a 24-5 (12-4) record on the season. They are currently ranked 14th in the country, yet somehow seem to be staying below the radar.

Mark Turgeon’s team won’t wow you on either end of the court, statistically speaking. Their offensive rating is 93rd in the nation (106.4), while their defensive rating is only 80th (96.7). Only three of their twelve Big Ten wins have come by double digits, so they aren’t exactly dominating every night, but somehow they always find a way to win. At the end of the day all that matters is that your team goes home with a win.

As cliché as that sounds, it’s true. When Wells is being aggressive, Trimble’s shot is falling, Layman is stretching the floor at power forward, and their role players buy in, Maryland is tough to beat.

When it comes to the NCAA Tournament they have a fairly impressive resume. Their RPI is the 9th best in the country, their strength of schedule is 22nd, and they have six wins against teams ranked in the top 50 of the RPI. Wins over Wisconsin, Iowa State, Oklahoma State, and a tight loss to second ranked Virginia shows that they can compete with any team in college basketball.

ESPN’s Joe Lunardi has the Terps as a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament, but that could get better if they win out in the regular season and make a run that ends with them winning the Big Ten Tournament. They could sneak onto the No. 2 seed line. That would likely involve another upset of Wisconsin, which Maryland has proven they are capable of doing.

Maryland would not be anyone’s first pick as a team that makes a surprise run to the Final Four, but they have the talent to do so. Two recent National Championship wins by UCONN have proven that you don’t have to be the best team in the country to win on that special Monday night in April.

Maryland’s last, and only, National Championship came in 2002, led by Gary Williams, a dominant point guard in Juan Dixon, and an assortment of talented role players. This year’s version is not quite to the level of that team, but they have similar pieces built around Trimble and Wells.

I don’t think they are going to win a national title, but I also did not think they could beat Wisconsin.

Can they shock the college basketball world again?

Next: Big Ten Player of the Year Power Rankings

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