Indiana Basketball vs Maryland: Game info, preview, prediction and more
By Alec Lasley
The Indiana Hoosiers look to bounce back in Big Ten play after suffering their first conference loss over the weekend.
Mark Turgeon and the Maryland Terrapins play host to the Hoosiers on Friday looking to continue their good play after winning at Minnesota on Tuesday.
Sitting at 13-3 (4-1) on the season, Maryland keeps tinkering in and out of the top 25 each week.
With one of Turgeon’s more talented teams in the last five years, they are led by a duo in the front court that many teams have yet to slow down.
Bruno Fernando, one of the most underrated players in the conference, anchors the paint on both ends, leading the Big Ten in field goal percentage (67.8) as well as blocks per game (2.4).
The sophomore averages 14.2 points per game to go along with 10.1 rebounds, and his versatile skillset shows with his almost two assists per game as well.
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On the season, Fernando has eight double-doubles, with four games above 13 rebounds.
Alongside Fernando, who is a projected second round draft pick, is another NBA prospect, Jalen Smith, that have scouts extremely excited about.
Smith, a 6-foot-10 freshman out of Baltimore, is averaging 13.1 points per game to go with 6.9 rebounds.
Currently ranked 49 on ESPN’s NBA Big Board, his stock has been rising with each performance as he has raised that average to 17.2 points in his last five games.
Smith’s versatility was on show lately as he hit the game-winner against Nebraska last week.
In the backcourt for the Terrapins is the heart and soul of the team, Anthony Cowan Jr.
The Junior averages 17.2 points per game which is good enough for ninth in the conference, and also chips in 4.4 assists per game.
Cowan shoulders a lot of the load offensively, whether it is scoring or setting up teammates, as his usage percentage is up to 30 percent on the season. For comparison, that is almost four percentage points higher than Romeo Langford.
Key to the game
Rebounding. Rebounding. Rebounding.
The Terrapins rank sixth in the country in rebound margin, being +11.2 on the glass per game, whereas Indiana ranks 100th in the country in the same stat at just +3.7 a game.
Due to the dominant frountcourt of Maryland, the Terrapins rank in the top 75 in the country in offensive rebounds per game, led by Bruno Fernando who ranks in the top 50 grabbing just over three per game.
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With the lack of size and depth up front for Indiana, and De’Ron Davis banged up and questionable for Friday’s game, the Hoosiers could be in trouble if they don’t keep the rebounding margin close.
Indiana’s guards need to play a crucial role on the glass to help absorb some of the blow given up inside.
What you need to know
What? Indiana 12-3 (3-1) at Maryland 13-3 (4-1)
When? Friday, January 11 – 7:00 pm EST
Where? XFINITY Center – College Park, Maryland
TV? FS1
Radio? IU Radio Network
All-Time series? Indiana leads series, 6-5
Prediction? Indiana 76, Maryland 72