Maryland Basketball: Takeaways from Terrapins loss against Virginia Tech

Give Qudus Wahab the ball more

It has been a common theme so far this season. The Terp’s finally get the big man they have been so desperately waiting for. A big man that can score down low, rebound, and be a defensive force. This is exactly why Qudus Wahab was brought to College Park, he is what had been lacking for the Terps. There is major excitement and buzz about Wahab before he stepped on the court.

After the first eight games of this season, it is clear that in order for Maryland to be successful, they are going to have Wahab involved heavily in the offense and they are going to have to establish him down in the paint on the offensive side of the ball.

In three of Maryland wins so far this season Wahab has been a dominant force when feeding him the ball down low and letting him be the traditional center that he is.

Quinnipiac 17 points

GW 18 points

Richmond 13 points

All wins where he was involved in the offense.

Here are two losses where he was not involved:

George Mason 8 points

Richmond 7 points.

And now we get to the Virginia Tech game.

Against the Hokies, Wahab had 18 points, which tied his season-high, 14 of those 18 points were in the first half when the Terp’s were getting the ball inside and in the paint where there was no question that the Hokies had no answer for him.

In the first half, the Terp’s went to Wahab and in the second half Wahab was basically invisible and in crunch time at the end of the game, he was nowhere to be found.

The Terp’s better solve that problem before Big 10 conference play begins, because if not, it will be a long season.