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Maryland vs UConn: 2021 NCAA Tournament game preview, predictions, odds

By Anthony Brown

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 12: Eric Ayala #5 of the Maryland Terrapins brings the ball up the court in the game against the Michigan Wolverines during the first half in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten men's basketball tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 12, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 12: Eric Ayala #5 of the Maryland Terrapins brings the ball up the court in the game against the Michigan Wolverines during the first half in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten men's basketball tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 12, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
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No. 10 Maryland basketball and the No. 7 UConn Huskies face one another in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The two teams have a history that dates back to the Terps’ national title season in 2002.

TV Schedule: Saturday, March 20, 7:10 p.m. ET, CBS

Where: Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, IN

Odds: UConn (-2) per Odds Shark

Maryland basketball is looking for an upset Saturday night and their first win in Mackey Arena this season. The Terps are 3-3 all-time against the Huskies, and their last win came in December 2015.

Maryland’s defense was the reason for their rise into the NCAA Tournament field, and it will be tested against an offense led by James Bouknight, a dynamic scorer averaging 19 points per game.

The good news for the Huskies is R.J. Cole was cleared to practice Thursday after suffering a mild concussion in the Big East Tournament. He could be ready to go for Saturday night, which would be a good sign for Connecticut. Cole is the facilitator in the Huskies offense and the leading assist guy with four per game.

He is an excellent scorer as well. He has the handles to drive on his defender and drain a mid-range jumper in his defender’s face. Recently he scored 14 points against DePaul and Seton Hall and scored 21 points against Marquette back in late February.

Maryland has to be sound defensively and get quality minutes from the big four: Eric Ayala, Darryl Morsell, Aaron Wiggins, and Donta Scott. If we know anything, Morsell is going to cover Bouknight without a doubt.  He is the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year for a reason, and the stage calls for him to cover the Huskies best player.

Wiggins has been phenomenal for the Terps down the stretch. If Maryland basketball is going to win this game, Wiggins has to be the guy to lead them. Ayala is going to do his thing, but Wiggins is the X-factor.

The Huskies had the best scoring defense in the Big East this season, giving up 64.6  points per game, and they protect the rim well with a league-leading 5.3 blocks per game. The Terps need to attack the paint early and often to draw fouls and put the Huskies in a bind.

They are at their best when they can frequently get points in the paint and knock down free throws. The key is they have to get there. When they pass the ball around the perimeter hoping to get dribble penetration but can’t, that’s how they waste possessions and are forced to hoist up a three-point shot.

If you want to take a stroll down memory lane, the Huskies and Terps had an intense battle in the East Regional Final in 2002. That game had a lot of firepower on the court, Caron Butler was one of college basketball’s best at the time and scored 32 points for the Huskies in the losing effort. Lonnie Baxter and Juan Dixon were the high volume scorers for the Terps with 29 and 27 points, respectively.

This matchup has some intrigue because Mark Turgeon and Dan Hurley got into it toward the end of the Cancun Challenge Championship matchup between the Terps and Rhode Island Rams in 2015. That was an easy win for the Terps 86-63.

After a Jake Layman three-pointer hit the bottom of the net, pushing the Terps lead to 81-57 under two minutes to go, Hurley stared at the Terps huddle during the timeout. Both coaches started shouting at each other and had to be restrained.

Turgeon is coming off a heated exchange with Michigan Wolverines Head Coach Juwan Howard in the Big Ten Tournament. That exchange led to Howard’s ejection and a Michigan victory.

No one is expecting the Terps to win this game except for ESPN’s Jay Bilas. The Terps have to make those media members eat their words. They’ll do that by taking care of the basketball, being physical in the paint, and on the boards. They have to bring the intensity necessary on the defensive end.

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Whichever team starts strong in the first five minutes of the game and closes, in the same way, will win this game. There may be nerves for both teams, but it’s important that both of them avoid early turnovers. Maryland basketball squeezes this one out but not by much.

Prediction: Maryland 65 – Connecticut  59

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