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March Madness 2019: Syracuse, Maryland and Iowa State among Final Four sleepers

By Jason Kinander

Photo by Lance King/Getty Images
Photo by Lance King/Getty Images /
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COLLEGE PARK, MD – MARCH 03: Bruno Fernando #23 of the Maryland Terrapins dunks the ball in first half during a college basketball game against the Michigan Wolverines at the XFinity Center on March 3, 2019 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MD – MARCH 03: Bruno Fernando #23 of the Maryland Terrapins dunks the ball in first half during a college basketball game against the Michigan Wolverines at the XFinity Center on March 3, 2019 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

Maryland Terrapins

Maryland might’ve missed out on the NCAA tournament due to injuries and a disappointing  season last time around, but this time, the Terrapins are in, and they’re looking pretty good.

Despite their inability to match up well against higher competition, Maryland’s intriguing roster that flaunts a great combination of defense and offense has what it takes to pull off a big run come March.

Why they can make it to the Final Four

Forward play is typically overlooked, especially in todays guard-heavy game, but the strength of a pair of Maryland forwards will carry them to the Final Four.

Bruno Fernando and Jalen Smith have emerged as two of the best forwards in the Big 10 this season.

Fernando, the bigger of the pair, is averaging 14 points and ten rebounds per game. Fernando pulled out of the NBA draft at the last minute over the Summer, and that decision has paid off, as Fernando’s Terps are March Madness bound.

Smith, a freshman, has emerged as one of the better players on his Maryland squad in just months. Averaging 11 points per game, Smith has performed well above expectations in his freshman season.

The combination of Smith and Fernando is a deadly one on both offense and defense for Maryland, and they’ll have the chance to shine under the brightest lights in just two weeks.

Sleeper Player to Watch

Eric Ayala has provided a major offensive boost to Maryland in his freshman season, and has the type of sneaky scoring ability to come up big in the tournament.

Averaging just nine points per game, Ayala is a three-point shooting wing. Off the bench, Ayala has proved that he has the ability to provide big scoring runs in little time, and that ability is what will lift Maryland in the tournament.

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