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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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EAST LANSING, MI – FEBRUARY 20: Xavier Tilman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans and AAron Henry #11 of the Michigan State Spartans battle for a loose ball against Myles Johnson #15 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the first half at Breslin Center on February 20, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – FEBRUARY 20: Xavier Tilman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans and AAron Henry #11 of the Michigan State Spartans battle for a loose ball against Myles Johnson #15 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the first half at Breslin Center on February 20, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

Maryland vs. Rutgers

Maryland basketball beat Rutgers basketball 77-63 back in early January. That was their third of seven straight wins in the month of January. In that game, Smith led the way in scoring with 16 points and six rebounds, Cowan Jr. scored 15 points, pulled down three rebounds, and was credited with three assists. The Scarlet Knight’s bench was responsible for 31 of the teams points that night in the loss.

The Terps were able to use their post play as a means to get going from beyond the arc. The Scarlet Knights defense struggled against the likes of Bruno Fernando and Smith. When the Terps drove the lane, they looked for opportunities to kick the ball out to an open shooter and they converted on those opportunities. Eugene Omoruyi and Montez Mathis combined for 23 points and 10 rebounds in the loss. They were the Scarlet Knights leading scorers this season and in order for them to upset the Terps, those two along with Geo Baker are going to have to play much better.

Rutgers basketball had key wins against Miami, Ohio State, Nebraska, Penn State, Indiana, and Iowa. Their key losses came against Michigan State, Wisconsin, Maryland, Northwestern, Iowa, and Illinois.

For Rutgers to upset the Terps, they have to catch them off guard somehow. Maybe with setting the tempo of the game forcing the Terps to play their brand of basketball. They outscored the Terps in bench points 31-21 in their only meeting. That’s all well and good but again, the starters have to play better.

The way I see it, Rutgers would be the ideal matchup for Maryland basketball Thursday. I don’t feel like the Scarlet Knights have the same attack early and often mentality that Penn State did when the Terps faced them again just last month. If the Scarlet Knights do advance, the only way they win the game is if they play solid defense, force 10 or more turnovers and hurt the Terps on the fast break.

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