Maryland Basketball: 4 must-win Big Ten games for the Terrapins for 2018-19
2. No. 15 Wisconsin Badgers (10-2, 2-0 Big Ten)
Game Date/Time: Monday, Jan.14/8:30 p.m. ET (FS1)
For the Wisconsin Badgers, Ethan Happ (19.2 PPG, 10.6 RPG, five APG) is the driving force of that team. He has a running mate in D’Mitrik Trice (15.9 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 50 percent shooting from the field) who has a deep shooting range, driving ability to score and draw fouls and pass the ball as well.
The Badgers do a good job of creating shot opportunities when they push the ball inside the paint and players come free off of the ball. Defensively, they have the size and length inside to stop opponents but there were times I noticed they struggled in their man-to-man defense when players drove to the basket.
Where the Terps can hurt Wisconsin is driving the basket offensively and attacking the size and length the Badgers and defensively, they have to cut off passing lanes and not allow Wisconsin’s shooters to come off screens and hurt the Terps from beyond the arc and midrange.
3. No. 13 Ohio State Buckeyes (11-2, 2-0 Big Ten)
Game Date/Time: Friday, Jan.18/6:30 p.m. ET (FS1)
The Ohio State Buckeyes can shoot the ball and shoot the ball really well. Fans could tell that was the case in the Cincinnati game to start the season and their hot shooting hasn’t slowed down. Kaleb Wesson is the Buckeye’s leading scorer and rebounder (16.4 PPG, 7.1 RPG). He is a big body inside that has proven he can score with ease under the basket.
With Ohio State, Maryland’s biggest problem isn’t going to be Wesson, it’s going to be trying to stop the Buckeye’s ability to make perimeter shots because if Ohio State gets hot from out there, the Terps could get behind and turn one-dimensional trying to keep up.
Hopefully, The Terps won’t be behind in the win column in playing Big Ten ranked opponents by the time they play this team. They will need all three of these wins but if they lose this on a consecutive losing streak, it could be bad news for their playoff hopes.