Maryland Basketball: 2019-20 keys to home victory over Michigan State

Production from Donta Scott is key

Coming into this season, Donta Scott was a name that was not talked about much throughout college basketball.

The 3-star recruit from Philadelphia was looked at as a role player who would get maybe 5-8 minutes a game.

With the sudden transfer of Makhi and Makhel Mitchell right before conference play, Maryland’s front court depth was looking very slim and not promising.

Luckily for them, they had found a diamond in the rough in the form of Scott.

Since entering the starting lineup at the power forward position, Scott has done everything that has been asked of him, and more.

Whether it’s crashing the glass on both ends, diving for loose balls, playing great perimeter or interior defense, or knocking down the occasional three, Scott has been very reliable for Mark Turgeon’s squad.

Over the past five games, he is averaging 10.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per game while serving as a stretch-4.

In the first matchup with Michigan State, Scott scored a 9 points to go along with 5 boards, but it was his versatility that helped him contribute.

After his three pointer extended Maryland’s lead in the first half, ESPN announcer Jay Bilas had this to say about Scott:

"“And you’re seeing how good of a player that Donta Scott not only is, but is going to be. Big body too. Big and strong.”"

In that game, Scott made the aforementioned three, an early post-hook, and a clutch driving layup to halt a Michigan State run in the second half.

Scott isn’t a guy who will take 10-15 shots in a game and try and force the action. He’s a grinder, and is under control and patient when on the floor.

Mark Turgeon won’t ask him to do much more than he is already doing, and it seems as though he has found some sort of a groove as we finish February and enter March.

Scoring in double figures in four of his last five games, Scott will need to duplicate those performances on Saturday if Maryland wants to pull out a victory.