Indiana Basketball vs Maryland: Know your opponent, preview, prediction
By Alec Lasley
The Indiana basketball program goes on the road as it looks to get a huge Big Ten win against the Maryland Terrapins.
It has once again been a long layoff for the Indiana basketball program between games and this also happens to be the start of one of the toughest schedules in the country.
Big Ten opponents are now the only thing in front of the Hoosiers as they try to make a case for the NCAA Tournament and keep bolstering their resume.
After a disappointing loss to Arkansas last week to end their non-conference slate, Indiana will look to turn the tide and get a signature win against No. 15 Maryland.
For the Terrapins, their season has been a bit shaky despite their 11-2 record. Starting off the year 10-0, they lost two in a row to both Penn State and Seton Hall before getting back in the win column against Bryant. Now, the Terrapins look to stay on the winning path against the Hoosiers.
On both sides of the ball it starts with Anthony Cowan. The senior point guard has had a fantastic career and is averaging 16.7 points per game this season. Despite scoring 20+ points four times this year, Cowan is shooting just 40.4 percent from the field.
Shooting one of the worst parentages of his career, his scoring ability has been inconsistent at best. Scoring 15+ points in seven of the first eight games of the season, he has surpassed that total just once in the Terrapins last five outings.
For his backcourt mates, it is a duo of Eric Ayala and Darryl Morsell that support Cowan with 18.5 points per game combined between the two of them. Both big guards, at 6-foot-5, Morsell is a terrific rebounding guard with 5.7 rebounds a game, while Ayala is more of a combo guard who helps allow Cowan play off of the ball.
Jalen Smith and Aaron Wiggins are the two names that make huge impacts on the wing and front court. For Smith, while he is still rounding out his offensive game, his defensive ability is through the roof. Averaging 10.1 rebounds a game and 2.4 blocks per game, Smith has eight double-digit rebound games and has at least two blocks in 11 of the 13 games this year.
With Wiggins, his athletic ability is what makes him such a difficult guard for opponents. At 6-foot-6, he is able to play and guard multiple positions. His matchup with Justin Smith on the perimeter could be an extremely fun one to watch.
Although Maryland just got Chol Marial back in the rotation after missing the first 12 games of the season, they are also dealing with the news that the Mitchell twins will be transferring out of the program, leaving a hole in the Terrapins front court.
Overall, Maryland shoots just 41.9 percent from the field, last in the Big Ten, while the Hoosiers rank second in the conference at 47.9 percent. Because of the huge differential in percentages, if the Hoosiers can keep Maryland off of the offensive glass, it could go a long way in coming away with a win.
Key Storylines
Indiana
Can the Hoosiers bounce back from a disappointing loss on Sunday with a big win against the Terrapins? It will be a battle of the boards as both teams average at least 40 rebounds a game. Once again, it is a talented backcourt that the Hoosiers will be up against, can they play up to their full potential? Will Archie Miller feed Trayce Jackson-Davis all throughout the game, something he has gone away from at times this year. Can IU put together a full 40 minutes of basketball?
Maryland
After losing two-of-three games, can the Terrapins get a much-needed win to get back on track? Anthony Cowan has shot above 40 percent just once in his past five games, will he be able to find his shot against a lackluster defensive backcourt from IU? With the Mitchell twins transferring, how will Maryland’s front court be able to hold up against the depth of Indiana?
Key players
Indiana
Trayce Jackson-Davis (15.4 ppg, 8.7 rpg), Devonte Green (12.5 ppg, 2.6 apg), Justin Smith (12.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg), Al Durham (11.4 ppg, 2.9 apg)
Maryland
Anthony Cowan jr (16.7 ppg, 4.2 apg), Jalen Smith (13.1 ppg, 10.1 rpg), Aaron Wiggins (11.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg), Eric Ayala (10.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg)
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