College Basketball
College Hoops Preview: Wisconsin vs Maryland
- Matchup: Wisconsin Badgers (11-5, 3-2) @ Maryland Terrapins (14-3, 5-1)
- Date: Jan. 14, 2019
- Time: 8:30 p.m. (est)
- Network: FS1
- Location: College Park, MD
- Venue: XFINITY Center
- Seating Capacity: 17,950
Don't think about it as Monday… It's GAMEDAY!
?: #Terps vs. Wisconsin
⏰ : 8:30pm
? : FS1 #FearTheTurtle | #Terps100 pic.twitter.com/5knVvVLE7w— Maryland Basketball (@TerrapinHoops) January 14, 2019
The Maryland Terps will be aiming to maintain their good run when Wisconsin visit the XFINITY Center on Monday. The Terrapins are carrying a five-game streak after their last defeat against Seton Hall in late December. Meanwhile, the Badgers are coming to College Park after being defeated by Purdue 84-80 in an overtime thriller and losing three of four.
Trap Game For Maryland?
The Terps defeated #22 Indiana at home on Friday and jumped into the Top 25 Poll once again. However, the Badgers remain ranked as the third best team in the BIG Ten conference. The Terps are 3-3 against Wisconsin since joining the BIG Ten. Furthermore, Wisconsin has won three of the last four meetings. This includes a second round of the 2018 BIG Ten Tournament win over Maryland.
In any case, if Bruno Fernando and fellow Terps can insert themselves into potential challengers to the Spartans and Wolverines if they can stand their streak to six.
The Starters
University of Wisconsin
Guard – #0 D’Mitrik Trice
Guard – #34 Brad Davidson
Center – #22 Ethan Happ
Forward – #21 Khalil Iverson
Forward – #35 Nate Reuvers
The Badgers are 8-3 in their last 11 games against BIG Ten opponents. The Badgers are led by center Ethan Happ, scoring 20.0 points per game, 10.5 rebounds per game and 4.8 assists per game. However, Happ has gotten better with the coming of three-point threats like Trice and Davidson. The guards are shooting 47.3 and 44.8 percent from deep respectively. Nevertheless, with the exception of Happ and Iverson, all members of Wisconsin’s rotation are shooting 30 percent from beyond the arc. This is perhaps the Badgers biggest threat against the Terps.
Wisconsin’s Keys
Wisconsin’s efficiency beyond the arc has been its success this season. In addition, this mark ranks the Badgers 16th in the nation. In their last five appearances, Wisconsin is hitting a 38 percent from deep. However, they have struggled from the free-throw line, hitting 66.5 percent of its foul shots.
Maryland’s Keys
Playmakers Anthony Cowan Jr., Fernando and Jalen Smith will need to be at their best against the Badgers. The three have been averaging double-figures this season. Fernando will be Happ’s mark in this game. However, the biggest key for the Terps is avoiding another slow start. Though the Terps erased early deficits against Indiana and others, but was unable to get back on the lead against Seton Hall.
Prediction
Wisconsin will keep the game close but Maryland’s trio will over-last their efforts. This game will mark a resurgence of this young Terps team to the top of the conference and on the AP Polls.
Wisconsin: 74
Maryland: 79
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