Maryland Basketball: Terps still control Big Ten title destiny

Maryland basketball had a chance to put a stranglehold on the Big Ten title recently but was unable to do so. The Terps still control their destiny, though.

Maryland basketball is looking to regain the form that carried them to the top of the toughest conference in college basketball, but they’ll be doing so against two of the tougher outs right now in the Big 10. The next game – on the road against Rutgers – will be the first chance for the Terps to right the ship. The Scarlet Knights are currently 18-11 and looking for a big Quad 1 win to keep them securely on the right side of the NCAA Tournament bubble.

Following that contest, Maryland will be tasked with facing a healthy and dangerous Michigan Wolverines squad that is looking to create momentum going into postseason play. How the Terrapins bounce back from the disappointment of losing to Sparty in this crucial two-game stretch will set the tone for the remainder of this season.

Let’s take a look at a few scenarios that could come about with the results from these two games.

Best-Case Scenario

If the Terrapins win both games, they would secure an outright Big 10 regular-season championship. It’s that simple. The Terps are 5-5 in road games within the Big Ten this year but Rutgers’ Piscataway home (known as “The RAC”) was recognized as one of the Top 10 most difficult places to play by Andy Katz:

The RAC is indeed a difficult place to play and it’s not going to be any easier with it being Senior Night for the Rutgers program. Even for a Maryland squad that’s made coming back on the road an art form during the course of the Big Ten slate, it’s going to be important for them to AVOID the habitual slow starts that have plagued them the entire season.

A return to defensive form in defending the 3-point shot (Minnesota and Michigan State, shot 41 and 42 percent from the 3 point stripe, respectively) is going to be key in both games as well. Aaron Wiggins and Eric Ayala providing an additional scoring punch couldn’t hurt either.

Worst-Case Scenario

If we’re talking about the collective eyes of the Terrapin fanbase, the thought could very well be “outright title or bust”. After all, the Terps were up two full games on the closest contender before their ill-fated visit to Columbus. Losing out on a title outright – or even worse, missing out on the title altogether – wouldn’t bode well for the terps going into the postseason.

It will also have the effect of making Mark Turgeon’s fairly vocal critics even more critical of his tenure. This is arguably his best roster and Terrapin fans have long memories when it comes to talented teams that don’t live up to expectations.

Anthony Cowan Jr. is arguably one of the best point guards in recent program history and Jalen Smith is an NBA-level talent that’s made an indelible mark on the Terrapin program in two years. Not maximizing the contributions of those two with a regular-season championship and a deep postseason run wouldn’t look good in the eyes of the fans, or the eyes of larger administrative presences within Terrapin athletics.

Needless to say, the pressure is on in a big-time way for the next two games, and the stakes couldn’t be higher for the Terrapins’ prospects for the Big Ten Title and beyond. Can the Terps navigate this home stretch for the regular-season conference championship? Good question. From what we’ve seen of this team so far this season, they have the grit, toughness, and moxie to do just that.