Maryland vs. Wisconsin: 2019-20 key storylines for Big Ten clash

MADISON, WISCONSIN - FEBRUARY 01: Anthony Cowan Jr. #1 of the Maryland Terrapins attempts a shot while being guarded by D'Mitrik Trice #0 of the Wisconsin Badgers in the second half at the Kohl Center on February 01, 2019 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

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SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 22: The Wisconsin Badgers mascot in the first half during the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at SAP Center on March 22, 2019 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images) /

Will Maryland be able to get their first road win in hostile territory?

Can anyone in the Big Ten win on the road? Maryland themselves have yet to win a true road game yet this year, but their struggles have been shared by most of their Big Ten companions. So far this year a total of 37 Big Ten conference games have been played. The road team has only won 5 games, for a winning percentage of 0.135. The Miami Dolphins won as many games this year as Big Ten teams have on the road. The Big Ten is unbelievably talented this year, with 12 teams in the top 50 of the NCAA NET rankings currently. Any road win within the conference will be an absolute battle, except maybe against Northwestern (sorry Wildcats).

Maryland has not been immune to the Big Ten road struggles. They lost both of their two conference road games thus far, at Penn State and Iowa, and lost at Seton Hall earlier this year. While none of these is a bad loss, all of the teams mentioned have been ranked at one point or another this season, the Terps will eventually need to win on the road. Getting a big win in Madison would be crucial for this older, but still quite young Terrapins team.

Historically, the Badgers have won their last three matchups at home versus the Terrapins. However, Wisconsin did suffer one of the five home losses in the Big Ten conference this year, with their recent defeat to Illinois. In that game, the Badgers gave up 30 points in the paint, and failed to hold onto the lead that they held most of the second half. The Badgers will need to take advantage of Maryland’s likely slow start and hold on throughout the game to get back on track at home. At this point in the season, not losing at home is arguably more important than winning on the road in the Big Ten.

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