Maryland Terrapins can sweep Michigan State Spartans with win
The Maryland Terrapins have a series ending matchup at the Xfinity Center with the Michigan State Spartans tomorrow at 4 pm. They beat Michigan State away from home in double overtime 68-66, a game in which Melo Trimble and Dezmine Wells in his second game back from injury made clutch plays when they were needed. Now they look to close out the series against the Spartans with a win at home. Behind a raucous and loud crowd, it could be possible for the Terps to win; they are 11-1 at home and 5-1 on the road.
The Terps are first in the Big Ten with a 4-1 record and are playing the fifth-ranked Big Ten team in Michigan State, who are third in the nation in assists with 18.3 assists per game. The Spartans are led by senior guard Travis Trice (14.3 points per game, 3.2 rebounds per game, 6.1 assists per game) and junior guard Denzel Valentine (14.2 points per game, 5.9 rebounds per game, 4.2 assists per game).
In the last matchup between these two teams, Trice had 26 points, six assists and four steals.
Valentine, on the other hand, was kept in check by the Terps, as he only had four points, four assists, eight rebounds and two steals.
Their counterparts, Dez Wells and Melo Trimble, each had double figure point totals in that game. As a team they out-rebounded Michigan State 52-36 and made more free throws (26-32, 81 percent for Maryland); Michigan State shot at only 67 percent from the line, going 19-of-28.
What will be interesting to see is if Jared Nickens will be in the starting lineup once again after performing so well against Rutgers Wednesday. With Nickens in the lineup the Terps played really well, and he helped them stay in that game.
The first key for the Terps is being able to shoot well from the three-point line. It’s clear they can drive the lane, score or draw fouls, as they get to the free throw line more than 10 times each game. That allows them to put teams in foul trouble and earn bonus situations leading to more free throws.
The Terps have all the talent they need to beat Michigan State at home. but the Spartans and head coach Tom Izzo are looking for revenge. The formula that’s worked for the Terps is a mix of the inside/outside. They score doing both really well, and there’s no reason to think they can’t beat Michigan State at home.