Maryland Basketball vs. Minnesota: Terps Return Home After Tough Loss

After a heartbreaking loss at Michigan, Maryland basketball looks to get back on track as they welcome Minnesota basketball to XFINITY Center.

Maryland basketball wasted three chances to add at least one quality win on their NCAA Tournament resume.

Maryland nearly took home a win against the Michigan Wolverines, but a last-second foul and free throws sealed it for the Wolverines 68-67 on Martin Luther King day.

This game was a win the Terps needed after a blowout loss to Ohio State on the road. They lost this matchup with Michigan due to a high inbounds pass and Muhammad Ali Abdur-Rahkman’s ability to draw a foul and drain a pair of free throws.

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Both teams fought hard the entire of the game. In the second half, Michigan had their second lead of the game, 45-41 with 12:32 left in the game after several threes came by way of Michigan Guard Jordan Poole.

Michigan’s lead grew to 10 points, 59-49, with 5:50 left in the game and from there the Terps showed their resiliency. Kevin Huerter led the way in Maryland’s efforts to come back.

His accuracy from behind the three-point line had always brought the Terps back when they were down. I’m sure many thought the game was in Maryland’s hands after this happened.

Or so we thought. That, unfortunately, was not the game-winning shot and the Terps were handed their sixth loss of the season. Now, they are coming back home to play the Minnesota Golden Gophers (14-6, 3-4 Big Ten) who beat Penn State the same night as Maryland’s loss.

Terps fans can see the game on Fox Sports One (FS1) Thursday night at 8:30.

Last season, these two teams played each other twice in the regular season (Jan. 28 and Feb. 22) with the Terps splitting both meetings with the Golden Gophers.The Maryland Terrapins will be facing a Minnesota basketball team with Junior Forward Jordan Murphy averaging 18 points and 12 rebounds per game.

The Golden Gophers also rank eighth in the NCAA in rebounds with 41.5.
Maryland Basketball can’t allow the Golden Gophers to stifle them offensively as Michigan did. That’s how Michigan won the game.

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Maryland has to be able to keep their offense in a rhythm using ball movement in the half court and pushing the ball up the floor in transition efficiently. The latter will keep Minnesota on their toes.