24 replies to this topic

[BSLChrisStoner]

The Terps (13-7 overall) face the Hurricanes in Miami tonight. Both teams are 3-3 in the ACC (Miami is 12-7 overall).

Since the Hurricanes joined the league, MD has gone 0 for 5 in their 5 previous trips to Miami. Does that matter tonight? I do not think it does. Obviously both rosters are comprised of different players. Beyond that the HC's have changed for both teams. Their arena is not an overly hostile environment, if anything it is sterile with plenty of empty seats always seemingly available.

One of the consistent things I think we have seen from Miami historically though, is a team with decent/good athleticism, that typically has played more physically than the Terps. Will be interesting to see if those historical traits hold true tonight.

This is the type of game MD needs to win, if they want to find their way to the dance. Could the Terps pull the upset Saturday against Carolina at home? Possibly, but you can't expect that. Even if MD loses Saturday, the Terps will be .500 in the first 1/2 of league play if they can get the W in Coral Gables.

Miami is coming off road wins at both Georgia Tech, and Boston College.

The Hurricanes have lost to Mississippi, Purdue, Memphis, West VA, UVA, UNC, and NCST.
Among their wins are Rutgers, UMass, @Charlotte, and Clemson.

Miami enters the game:

110th overall in PPG: 71.2
235th overall in Rebounds: 33.7
246th overall in Assists: 12.1
139th overall in FG%: .444

The Terps are:

166th in PPG: 68.6
98th in Rebounds: 36.3
316th overall in Assists: 10.7
177th overall in FG%: .434

Miami has 4 players scoring in double-figures, and 9 players averaging over 5.5 ppg. 10 players average over 15.6 minutes per.

Sr. Guard Malcolm Grant is averaging 13.2 ppg, and 35% from 3 on 6.9 attempts per game.
Jr. Guard Durand Scott is averaging 12.6 ppg, He took a season high 15 shots Sunday against BC.
Jr. F/C Kenny Kadji (6'11, 250lbs) is averaging 12.5 ppg, on 55% shooting from the floor. He also averages 5.7 boards, and 1.8 blocks per.
Jr. C Reggie Johnson (6'10, 284lbs) is averaging 10.1 ppg, and 6.7 boards.

Some of Miami's low rebounding totals, can probably be attributed to the fact that Johnson has only played in 10 of Miami's 19 games.

The Hurricanes are shooting 74% from the line, and 37% from 3 point land.

Coach Turgeon has talked this week about simplifying things for Len, and that Len appears to be more comfortable coming off the bench. I'm hopeful tonight is the game we see his confidence begin to reappear.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Faust starting over Howard for MD, Kadji not playing for Miami.

[Mackus]

Faust touching the ball on offense constantly leads to bad news for the Terrapins.

He's just inept offensively. Even when he does the one thing he does well on offense - slashing to the basket (ok, he's also decent on the offensive glass)- he usually misses the short shot. Turgeon's probably right that that shouldn't have been a charge, but still, Faust simply shouldn't be playing as much as he does, IMO.

[Mackus]

Crazy 6 point possession makes this a ballgame again with 5 to go!

[Mackus]

Stoglin just not feeling it tonight. He's getting some looks that he typically makes, and just coming up short. I still think he's the guy we should be looking to get shots for, because even on an off night he's orders of magnitude better offensively than anyone else, but if he can't drain a couple of these down the stretch, we won't be able to get back in it.

Nice offensive board and putback off the missed FT by Faust.

[Mackus]

Not finishing these possessions on defense really hurts. They've done a nice job on the glass most of the night, but the foul on Len and then offensive rebound (with a forced, tough 3 by Pe in between) really may put this one out of reach.

Gotta force another turnover or two with the press and get some good looks from Stoglin.

[Mackus]

Gah! Another charge by Faust. Still, I liked him taking that to the basket, just need to be a bit more under control.

[Mackus]

Stoglin with a huge, tough 3 to tie it! Gonna have the last shot with a chance to win!

[Mackus]

Going to overtime!

Would've liked a better shot, but they got the ball to Stoglin one-on-one at center court with 8 seconds to go, which is what we would've wanted. Terrell just couldn't beat the man and get a real good look.

Well, 0.7 seconds left. Maybe a half-court catch-and-shoot can get the Terps a regulation win here.

[Mackus]

Wait it's Miami ball? Dammit! Still, should get to overtime barring a miracle.

[BSLChrisStoner]

What a crazy game. Maryland really needs to take advantage of Johnson being out here in OT.

[Mackus]

Two huge plays by Len!

Tied with 90 seconds to go.

[Mackus]

Good look, just didn't go down.

Down 2 with a minute to go...

[Mackus]

2 FTs coming up for Pe'Shon. Gotta make them, then gotta play D. Scott just fouled out, so they don't have much offense left, aside from the guy who threw one in from beyond the Jimmer line earlier.

[Mackus]

Definitely a missed goaltending call on the first possession of 2OT.

[Mackus]

Guh.... not looking good here. Big shot from Stoglin to cut it to 4 after the PG got hurt. Need some stops. Or maybe bring back the pressure defense. Something. Get the ball back!

[Mackus]

God dammit Mosley. Awful. Faust would've handled that better.

[Mackus]

I wish Mosley would go back to being transparent rather than aggressively harming the Terps chances here.

[Mackus]

It's shocking how often Stoglin gets fouled on 3-pointers. Gotta make all of these then hope Miami misses one.

[Mackus]

Dammit!

Amazing job getting it to extra time, but they should have won the game during both of the overtimes. No moral victories. Mosley really killed the team in the second overtime with that charge on the fast break and then a bad foul after not boxing out.