NCAA Basketball: Takeaways from Maryland’s dominant Hall of Fame Tip Off title

Miami Hurricanes (2nd Place) – Norchad Omier can produce at the ACC level

Omier was the Sun Belt Player of the Year at Arkansas State and averaged around 18 and 12 last season. Next to Njiel Pack, was the big transfer pickup of the offseason. But at just 6’7 and unable to spread the floor, there was a question as to whether he’d be effective against bigger power conference competition.

In these two games against Providence and Maryland, you have to say that he passed. He went for 19 points and 12 rebounds against the Friars and had 14 and 6 versus the Terrapins on Sunday. Omier doesn’t have to put up lofty numbers on a nightly basis, he just has to be a double-double candidate. And forward Jordan Miller being solid as well certainly doesn’t hurt.

Maryland Terrapins (1st Place) – More than ready to compete in Big Ten

When Kevin Willard was hired as the head coach of the Terrapins, the program was expected to take time to get back into Big Ten contention. This year was supposed to be a bit of a rebuilding effort and lots of pressure was on Charlotte transfer Jahmir Young to run the offense.

But the biggest story so far has been the breakout campaigns of Hakin Hart and Donta Scott. The two returning starters averaged 15 and 24.5 ppg respectively for Maryland, with Scott looking like an All-Big Ten player so far. The starting lineup collectively has been great and the offensive explosion has been a pleasant surprise. The Big Ten was viewed as somewhat wide-open in the preseason and it looks like the Terps should be part of that group.