Maryland Basketball: Keys for Terps upset bid against No. 17 Minnesota
By Sean Cole
Avoid a slow start
If you are a Maryland fan, a true and diehard Maryland, then what I am about to say, will come as a shock. Ok, ready…..Here it goes!. The Terp’s need to have a fast start and need to jump on the Gophers right from the tip-off to the end of the game. One of Maryland’s biggest Achilles heel over the last few years is a slow start to every game.
As a Maryland fan, it frustrates me to no end, to see the tip-off, and then before you know it, Maryland is down 10-15 points in the blink of an eye and you sit in wonderment and say to your self. What the hell just happened.
Case in point. This past game against Michigan in Ann Arbor. In the first six minutes of the game, the Terp’s managed to score just three points and committed four turnovers. You’re on the road facing a top 5 team in Big 10 conference play and you are down 17-3 after six minutes. This is something that is very difficult to overcome as Maryland found out. Sure, Maryland put forth an effort and at times, looked to be on one the famous Maryland runs, but each time Michigan just swatted that notion away, with big shots.
Take a look at the big road wins at Wisconsin and at Illinois earlier in the season. In the upset win at Wisconsin, the Terp’s trailed the Badgers at halftime 28-24. Now the Illinois game, the Terp’s were down two 34-32 at the half. In both of those games, the Terp’s kept close and gave themselves a chance to win. This past game at Michigan, Maryland was down 42-25 at the half.
So, we need to see which Maryland team shows up against the Golden Gophers. Minnesota is 11-0 at home this season, so if Maryland gets down early, it could be a long day for the Terps. If the Terp’s can keep it close, they should steal another big win on the road.