Maryland basketball (4-2) couldn’t stop the bleeding against the No. 19 Rutgers Scarlet Knights (5-0) and lost their second game in a row.
This loss was a tale of two halves for Maryland basketball. For the second game in a row, the Terps offense sputtered and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights capitalized on every opportunity missed by them. Rutgers left the Xfinity Center with their first win in a Big Ten opener after losing their previous six. They are going to be a dark horse in the conference this season.
Ron Harper Jr. was the Player of the Game by far and away. With every shot that went down for him, the Terps confidence was stunted. He finished with 27 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two blocks. Harper Jr. is a problem and he’s going to continue to be a problem as Rutgers going forward.
Coming into this matchup, Geo Baker was a game-time decision with an ankle injury. He wasn’t 100 percent but played like he was. He finished the game with 15 points, three rebounds, and three assists. Paul Mulcahy started in his place and did a solid job. His numbers weren’t spectacular, but he did manage to get the ball moving for the Scarlet Knights early.
For the Terps, Donta Scott is the best player on the team. Yet again, he carried them offensively putting up a career-high 20 points and eight rebounds. The only other significant scoring presence was Eric Ayala with 12 points. Darryl Morsell didn’t come out with the usual fire and dog in him that we’re accustomed to seeing.
According to Washington Times reporter Andy Kostka, he’s playing through a shoulder injury. That combined with Aaron Wiggins struggles due to an elbow injury do not bode well for success.
Rutgers beat the Terps 74-60 as a result of perimeter shooting (47 percent), the bench coming up big with 25 points and the Scarlet Knights moved and rebounded the ball better.
Bottom line, Mark Turgeon and the staff need to have some lengthy discussions, the players need to have a players-only meeting, or this is going to be a long season. They don’t have an identity. We’re finding out that it left with Anthony Cowan Jr. and Jalen Smith. They’re not coming in the locker room. Whatever Maryland basketball needs to do to find a new one, they need to make it happen.
Maryland basketball combo of man/zone defense paid dividends for a short time
After struggling to stop Rutgers big men Clifford Omoruyi and Myles Johnson from imposing their will offensively, the Terps combined man and zone defense to end the first half on a 15-6 run. They had a 28-27 lead at halftime and the way they finished the half, one would’ve thought Turgeon would’ve applied more pressure to trap ballhandlers and lockdown passing lanes to prevent the onslaught they faced in the second half.
Rutgers came out in the second half on a mission
Harper Jr. scored 19 of his 27 points in the second half. Maryland basketball had no answer for him, or the Scarlet Knights shot selection. They shot above 60 percent from the field and the perimeter. It wasn’t hard for them to find their spots in the half-court because they moved the ball so well.
Their play is a credit to Head Coach Steve Pikiell and the job he has done the last two seasons. Last year, we only caught a glimpse of what Rutgers is capable of and now we’re seeing it. I know it’s still early and Maryland basketball isn’t a ranked team, but Rutgers isn’t a team to be overlooked.
Harper Jr. and Baker were difference makers but they’re not the only ones
Harper Jr. and Baker are the players that make this team go. They are going to be an integral part of the success that Rutgers hopes to gain. Had COVID-19 not shut the college basketball season down earlier this year, Rutgers would have been an NCAA Tournament team. No matter what the Terps tried to do defensively, these two were too much for them.
Jacob Young is going to be someone to watch also as an X-factor. He made several plays in Monday’s game and will provide the Scarlet Knights with a spark off the bench because he can slash to the rim effectively and score, shoot the ball efficiently and he has a nice vision to spot open teammates. The frontcourt pairing of Johnson and Omoruyi gives the Scarlet Knights a myriad of ways they can hurt teams.
Maryland basketball stays home to close non-conference play with a game against the Lasalle Explorers (2-3) on Dec. 22 at 7 p.m. ET on the Big Ten Network. Rutgers will take on No. 13 Illinois Fighting Illini (4-2) on Dec. 20 at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN2.