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Maryland Basketball Awaits Big Ten Tournament Opponent

By Joe Serpico

Feb 3, 2016; Lincoln, NE, USA; Maryland Terrapins head coach Mark Turgeon talks with guard Melo Trimble (2) and center Diamond Stone (33) during a break against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the second half at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Maryland defeated Nebraska 70-65. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 3, 2016; Lincoln, NE, USA; Maryland Terrapins head coach Mark Turgeon talks with guard Melo Trimble (2) and center Diamond Stone (33) during a break against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the second half at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Maryland defeated Nebraska 70-65. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /
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Maryland basketball will learn the opponent for their first game of the Big Ten Tournament when Nebraska takes on Wisconsin tonight.

The Maryland Terrapins are not in action, but they will have their eyes on the result of tonight’s matchup between Nebraska and Wisconsin to figure out who their opponent will be in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament.

Maryland defeated the Cornhuskers, 70-65, in their only matchup of the regular season. Diamond Stone was a force to be reckoned with, scoring 16 points and adding 10 rebounds and eight blocks in the contest. While Mark Turgeon and his squad got the win in the game, the trend of bad play down the stretch was on the horizon.

The Terps split the season series with Wisconsin with the road team winning each game. The Badgers handed the Terps their only home loss of the season and it was the first time that Maryland lost a Big Ten game at the Xfinity Center. Since that loss in College Park, Maryland has lost four of the last six. They have looked like a team lacking toughness to win it all this season.

They are a lock to make the Big Dance, and are projected as a 5th seed by ESPN’s Joe Lunardi. The Terps could get a higher seed depending on how the tournament plays out. If – and with how they have played lately, that is a big if – they win the Big Ten Tourney, they’ll likely earn a No. 3 seed.

Maryland would obviously prefer to play a weaker Nebraska team in their first game, but Wisconsin is trying to solidify their resume to get them into the NCAA Tournament. They are arguably the most improved team since the start of conference play, winning 11 of their last 13 games. Not the team that Turgeon and his bunch need to see right now.

Maryland basketball is in need of a quick regrouping. Melo Trimble has found his stroke again and will be the key to the Terps run. They have had roughly a week to work some things out before tournament play begins. They must value every possession and fix their rebounding and turnover woes to make some noise in March.

Next: Terps Lack Toughness to Win in March

The Terps will tipoff at roughly 9 p.m. Friday, depending on the outcome of the game before them. The game can be seen on ESPN2. Tonight’s game is also scheduled for the same time and channel.

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