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Ohio State (72 NCAA Net Rankings) takes on Maryland (82 NCAA Net Rankings) in a battle of disappointing Big 10 teams on Saturday from Value City at 4pmET. Maryland (13-10 SU, 9-14 ATS, 5-7 B10) is on the outside looking in after a loss to Rutgers at home on Tuesday, while the Buckeyes (13-10 SU, 9-14 ATS, 3-9 B10) have better metrics, but they aren't making the NCAA's with a terrible conference record.
Last season, these teams met twice with the Buckeyes winning 73-62 at home as a 1-point favorite. The Terps won the battle at home 80-73 on Jan. 8 as a 2-point favorite.
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Maryland has lost two straight games at the wrong time. They faced Michigan State twice in the last two weeks and lost both games, including a 63-54 road loss on Feb. 3. They faced Rutgers at home as a 7.5-point favorite on Feb. 6 and fell 56-53. They've scored 107 points combined in their last two games and 64 or less points in six of their last 10 conference games. In the Rutgers loss, Maryland shot just 31% from the field and an abysmal 2-of-18 (11%) from long range. Julian Reese led the way with 19 points and 12 rebounds, while guard Jahmir Young added 16 points and 12 boards, but both players combined for 10 of the team's 15 turnovers. The Scarlet Knights were one of the worst offensive teams in the nation and managed to shoot just 39% from the field and 23% (3-of-13) from beyond the arc.
“I’ve got to figure out a little better way to travel,” head coach Kevin Willard said after Tuesd ay night’s 56-53 loss to visiting Rutgers to The Baltimore Sun. “I don’t know if it’s spending the night or leaving later. … I didn’t think we’d be that tired. But I think some of the travel has kind of worn us out a little bit.”
According to KenPom, the Terps are ranked 59th overall and 191st in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency. The fact that they are wasting one of the nation's best defenses (6th in Adj. Def. Efficiency) is unfortunate. Young leads the team with 20.6 points per game and 4.0 assists, but is shooting just 41.7% from the field (35.2% 3pt). Reese adds 13.3 points and 9.8 rebounds, but after Donta Scott (11ppg), there is very little offensive production.
In the basic numbers, Maryland averages 68.8 points per game on 40.9% shooting(330th) and 28.7% from long range (348th). On defense, they are allowing 63 points per game (10th) on 40.5% shooting and 33.5% from long ra nge.