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Maryland Basketball: Rutgers or Nebraska the better second round matchup for Terps?

By Anthony Brown

COLLEGE PARK, MD - MARCH 03: Head coach Mark Turgeon of the Maryland Terrapins signals to his players in the 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: Head coach Mark Turgeon of the Maryland Terrapins signals to his players in the 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) /
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NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 25: Cowan
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 25: Cowan /

When it comes to Maryland Basketball in the upcoming Big Ten Basketball Tournament, they’ll face either Rutgers or Nebraska in the second round. Which is the tougher opponent?

The Big Ten Tournament is upon us! Maryland basketball will play the winner of the Rutgers and Nebraska matchup that airs Wednesday at 6:30 pm ET on the Big Ten Network. The Terps completed the sweep of the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Friday. It wasn’t as easy as the first time around. The Terps were held scoreless in the final three minutes of the game which allowed for the Golden Gophers to finish down nine points.

The Terps senior night celebrating Andrew Terrell and Ivan Bender came complete with a win and a successful marriage proposal by Bender to his long-time girlfriend. Anthony Cowan Jr. finished with 21 points, five assists, and two steals. Jalen Smith recorded his fifth double-double of the season with 19 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks. Amir Coffey finished with 23 points and six assists while Jordan Murphy finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds in the loss.

Maryland basketball had key wins this season against Nebraska basketball twice, Indiana, Purdue, and  Wisconsin. Two of their key losses came early against Seton Hall and Virginia. Their late-season key losses came against Michigan, Michigan State, Illinois, and Penn State. They held their own against a Virginia Cavaliers team that has had an outstanding year but the Terps should not have lost to Seton Hall.

The losses against Michigan and Michigan State I expected because those programs are coached by two of college basketball’s best in John Beilein and Tom Izzo. The loss to Illinois was a result of poor ball control and the Terps got hit in the mouth against Penn State the second time around.

Maryland basketball has proven that youth has nothing to do with a team’s ability to play good, quality basketball. This team laden with freshmen secured the fifth seed in the Big Ten tournament. Before the season started, the Terps were projected to finish outside the top five in the conference by Sports Illustrated and SB Nation. ESPN had them right where they finished. Fifth.

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