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Maryland Basketball: Highpoints of Terrapins 2019-20 regular season

By Anthony Brown

CHAMPAIGN, IL - FEBRUARY 07: Head coach Mark Sturgeon of the Maryland Terrapins reacts during the second half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at State Farm Center on February 7, 2020 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - FEBRUARY 07: Head coach Mark Sturgeon of the Maryland Terrapins reacts during the second half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at State Farm Center on February 7, 2020 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Maryland Basketball
COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND – MARCH 08: Jalen Smith #25 of the Maryland Terrapins celebrates after defeating the Michigan Wolverines 83-70 to clinch a share of the Big Ten regular season title (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

The 2019-20 version of the Maryland basketball team withstood ups and downs to earn a high seed in the NCAA Tournament and become one of the Big Ten’s best.

The success that Maryland basketball achieved in the regular season started with last year’s failure. The LSU loss in the Sweet Sixteen was a crushing defeat to a Terps team that had the makings of a final four contender. A loss on the final play of the game was a teaching moment for the program.

They finished that year 23-11 (13-7 Big Ten) with a 15-3 home and a 6-5 road record. That was an upgrade from their 2-8 road record in the 2017-18 season. After the season was over, many wondered who was going to stay and who was leaving for the NBA. Bruno Fernando was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks the next NBA season. The Terps benefited from Anthony Cowan Jr. and Jalen Smith staying for their senior and sophomore seasons. Those two coming back set Maryland basketball up for the success that it saw.

Coming into the season,  the roster was loaded in the frontcourt with Smith, Makhi and Mahkel Mitchell, Donta Scott, Chol Marial, Ricky Lindo Jr. and Joshua Tomaic. The Mitchell twins transferred and left the frontcourt thin, but it proved to be an addition by subtraction.

Scott emerged as a solid option starting in the four-spot as a freshman. He’s brought good energy to the frontcourt alongside Smith. His rebounding, inside scoring and three-point shooting have served the Terps well this season.

Maryland basketball finished the season 24-7 (14-6 Big Ten) ranked 19th in the NET with seven quad one wins. Whether it was a strong start in non-conference play, a series of comeback wins, or a faltering end to the regular season, the Terps handled all of it together.

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