Game #4: Maryland
Two short days later the Illini are home in Champaign for a tough game against an excellent Maryland Terrapins squad. This team scares me and I don’t see the Illini escaping this one with a victory.
Lindy’s had Maryland as a pre-season No. 31. They finished second in the Big Ten last year, and are slated to finish around sixth this year. I think that is the absolute worst this team will do. This is a fast, strong, tall, and athletic team built for aggressive play and tough defense.
Maryland has won decisively in four of its first five games (admittedly against weak opponents, other than the impressive win over Butler). The only close one was against Bucknell (Kenpom No. 83) where the Terps won by two at home.
One thing that really stands out to me – among many – is the Terps size. They are a top 40 team ranked by height. Long and athletic as they may be though, they are led by two young guards. Anthony Cowan (6-foot, 170 pounds) returns as a sophomore to lead Maryland this year. Out from under the shadow of Melo Trimble, it is Cowan’s turn to shine. And so far, that is a very bright light he’s wielding. He is averaging 18.3 PPG, and – wait for it – hauling in over 7 rebounds on average. He is joined by freshman Darryl Morsell, a four-star prospect from Baltimore. The 6-foot-4 guard is averaging almost 11 PPG and was just announced as the Big Ten Freshman Player of the Week for the second week in a row.
Add sophomore Kevin Huerter, freshman standout Bruno Fernando, and sophomore Justin Jackson (one of the scariest players on a team of scary players who is averaging over 10 RPG as of now), and a deep bench, the Terps make for a very formidable opponent and might contend for a Big Ten title this year. As young as they are, they will only continue to get better as the year progresses. I think they will finish in the Top 25 come March. Luckily for Illinois, this is the only meeting with Maryland this year.
This will be a great early season test for the Illini and far and away the best team they will have faced to date. It will likely be a humbling experience for Illinois, which will give Coach Underwood a multitude of teaching moments with his young team.