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BREAKING: IMG 7-footer Braden Pierce commits while on official visit

IMG post-grad 7-footer Braden Pierce has committed to Maryland while on his official visit and just hours before the Terps' game this afternoon versus Nebraska. He's been a hot name this winter, picking up a number of recent offers. His other official visit was to NC State and he pretty much decided on the Terps during his unofficial visit for the Michigan game, planning an official visit to Maryland without any others planned. This is a big pickup as Willard had a huge need in the front court. He's new to the spot having played baseball but is really progressing and should give the Terps minutes next season.

STORY

I've put in a FutureCast for this weekend's hoops visitor

I put in a FutureCast this morning for IMG 7-foot big man Braden Pierce, who is officially visiting Maryland starting today. He unofficially visited a couple of weeks back for the Michigan game and while he's been talking to some other P5 schools, he hasn't set up any other visits. He did previously visit NC State, but given Maryland's need for bigs, his previous visit earlier in the month and the fact he has chosen not to set up any other visits, I expect he'll be a Terrapin very soon.

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How to Watch: Maryland vs. Nebraska

Maryland (12-7) vs. Nebraska (10-11)

When:
Saturday, Jan. 28 | 4:30 p.m. ET
Where: Xfinity Center (College Park, Md.)
Television: BTN (Streaming on FoxSports) - Watch Live
Broadcasters: Jason Ross (play-by-play), Robbie Hummel (color)
Radio: Maryland Sports Radio Network | Listen Online

Line: Terps -11.5
Over/Under: 131.5

Series history: Maryland leads the all-time series 10-3, with the Terps winning the most recent meeting 90-74 on Feb. 18, 2022 in Lincoln.

Projected Starting Lineups

Nebraska

Sam Griesel (6-foot-7, Senior, G) - Averaging 11.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and a team-high 4.1 assists per game.
Keisei Tominaga (6-foot-2, Junior, G) - Averaging 10.6 points and 1.3 rebounds per game.
Jamarques Lawrence (6-foot-3, Fr., G) - Scored career-high 12 points while adding 2 rebounds and 3 assists in first career start vs. Northwestern last game out.
Denim Dawson (6-foot-6, RFr., G/F) - Has started the past four games. Averaging 1.8 points and 1.9 rebounds per game.
Derrick Walker (6-foot-9, Senior, C) - Averaging a team-high 13.6 points and a team-high 7.5 rebounds per game.

Maryland
Jahmir Young (6-foot-1, Senior, PG) - Averaging a team-high 15.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and a team-high 3.1 assists per game.
Don Carey (6-foot-5, Senior, SG) - Averaging 6.9 points and 2.4 rebounds per game.
Hakim Hart (6-foot-8, Senior, G/F) - Averaging 11.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.
Donta Scott (6-foot-8, Senior, F) - Averaging 11.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.
Julian Reese (6-foot-9, Soph., F/C) - Averaging 10.5 points and a team-high 6.5 rebounds per game.

The Terps enter Saturday afternoon's game having won 10 of 11 at home this season, including a perfect 4-0 in Big Ten play. They'll face a Nebraska team that has lost 4 out of 5 overall and 4 out of 5 on the road in league play.

Simply put, one of the Huskers' biggest issues this season has been their inability to score. They enter Saturday's game averaging just 66 points per game, ranking 317th nationally. They are one of the worst three-point shooting (30.2%) teams in the country, ranking 326th nationally and are even worse from the free-throw line, shooting just 63% from the charity stripe and ranking 348th nationally in that category.

The Terps, meanwhile, have clamped down defensively in their last three games, allowing opponents to score just 59 points during that stretch. They have been led offensively by senior guard Jahmir Young, who now ranks 7th in scoring (18.6 ppg) in league play and sophomore big man Julian Reese, who has scored in double-figures in 4 of Maryland's last 5 games.

Nebraska will likely be starting freshman guard Jamarques Lawrence for just the second time in his career Saturday. He is coming off of a career-high 12-point performance in the Huskers' last outing, a loss to Northwestern. Redshirt freshman forward Denim Dawson is another newcomer to the starting lineup for Nebraska, as he will likely make is 5th career start Saturday afternoon for the Huskers.

Given Nebraska's struggles this season on the road, their lack of experience and Maryland's recent play at home, this is a game the Terps should win. A Maryland win would mark the Terps' first back-to-back conference wins this season, with a chance to perhaps string together a couple more wins with a home game versus Indiana up next followed by a road contest at conference cellar dweller Minnesota.

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This is interesting...

Happened to see this on social media this morning, but guess who was in Portland yesterday? Kevin Plank.

Probably just a coincidence, but very interesting that he happens to be out in the Pacific Northwest the day before Nyck Harbor is set to start his official visit to Oregon. I'll reiterate, I'm sticking with the Terps until I'm given a reason not to. Obviously this weekend is big for this recruitment and could potentially shake things up, but as of now I like where the Terps sit with a decision just a few days away.

Seven Terps invited to NFL Combine

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – University of Maryland will send seven players to the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, which will run March 2-5 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Defensive backs Jakorian Bennett and Deonte Banks, wide receivers Jacob Copeland, Dontay Demus Jr. and Rakim Jarrett, left tackle Jaelyn Dunan and kicker Chad Ryland have been invited to represent the Terps in Indy. This marks the most Terps invited to the NFL Combine since at least 1987. Maryland’s previous high was six invitees in 2009. Since the NFL Draft moved to seven rounds in 1994, the most Terps that have been selected in one draft is five (2004, 2009). Tentative 2023 NFL Scouting Combine On-Field Workout Schedule:

· Thursday, March 2 – Defensive Linemen, Linebackers

· Friday, March 3 – Defensive Backs, Kickers, Special Teamers

· Saturday, March 4 – Tight Ends, Quarterbacks, Wide Receivers

· Sunday, March 5 – Offensive Linemen, Running Backs

Banks registered nine pass break-ups and an interception, while not allowing a reception of over 30 yards when targeted during his junior season. According to Pro Football Focus, Banks allowed only a 43.3-percent completion percentage when targeted this year by opposing offenses (26-for-60), the 18th-best mark in the nation and second-best in the Big Ten. Bennett had a stellar senior season for the Terps, ranking tied for third in the Big Ten in pass break-ups (11) and tied for fifth in passes defensed (13). A Reese's Senior Bowl invitee, Bennett leads all FBS players in passes defended since the beginning of the 2021 season with 29. Copeland spent one year with the Terps after transferring from Florida. He led the team by averaging 14.5 yards per reception. Copeland had 26 receptions on the year for 376 yards and hauled in a pair of touchdowns. Demus ends his stellar Maryland career ranking second in program history in career 100-yard receiving games (7), fifth in career touchdowns (14), seventh in career yards (2,008) and ninth in career receptions (128). Demus was a three-time Honorable Mention All-Big Ten selection and was on the Biletnikoff Award Watch List in 2021. Duncan, a three-time Honorable Mention All-Big Ten selection, had 39 career starts in a Terrapin uniform. He blocked for a Maryland passing offense that ranked third in the Big Ten in 2022 by averaging 259.8 yards per game in the air. Duncan is set to participate in the Reese's Senior Bowl on Feb 4.
Jarrett ranked second on the team with 40 receptions and third in receiving yards with 471 during his junior campaign. His 42.8 yards receiving per game tied for the team lead and his three touchdown receptions tied for the second best mark on the squad. The wide receiver ended his Maryland career catching a pass in 25 consecutive games.

Ryland excelled during his only season with the Terrapins, ending the year making 19 of his 23 field goal attempts (82.6%). He connected on 16 of his 17 field goal attempts inside 50 yards, while also ranking first in the Big Ten and third nationally with three field goal makes of 50 or more yards.
The NFL Network and NFL.com will have coverage of the entire combine. The 2023 NFL Draft is set for April 27-29 in Kansas City.
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Michigan interviewing...

Just thought I'd mention a few things here since I named Tee Martin a few days ago as someone I could see Locks looking at to replace Enos. There has been talk about him possibly being an in-house candidate for the Ravens OC job, but from what I'm hearing, they have interviewed several in-house candidates already and he was not one of them.

It is also worth noting that Martin was supposed to do an initial interview with Jim Harbaugh yesterday for the Michigan QB coaching vacancy along with the current Stanford QB coach, who played and coached under Harbaugh. I haven't actually confirmed if that happened or not.

Speaking of Stanford, the reason their QB coach is looking around is because he was basically demoted to QB coach by the new head coach who plans on calling his own plays. I've heard some rumblings that Locks has contemplated the possibility of calling his own plays. I would be surprised if that happened, but it sounds like Locks is exhausting all options. If that were the case, I still believe Martin would be a top candidate for the job and clearly he's open to going back to the college ranks since he's talking to Michigan.

I guess the point of this post is, I still haven't heard his name linked to Maryland (Locks continues to do a good job of keeping things quiet in these searches) but he's looking around and I continue to believe he's someone Locks would likely reach out to.

WBB: No. 10 Terps beat No. 13 Michigan, 72-64

COLLEGE PARK, MD – It was a Maryland party-y-y-y-y-y-y for the 10th time in 11 games as the No. 10 Terps left No. 13 Michigan speechless on Queen B Night - a Beyonce-themed game – at XFINITY Center, winning 72-64. It was lift off for Diamond Miller on the big stage as she scored a game-high 23 points to go along with five steals for the Terps (17-4, 8-2 Big Ten).

The Terps weren't sorry for beating their fourth ranked opponent this season with wins over No. 6 UConn, at No. 7 Notre Dame and at No. 17 Baylor.

Maryland's defenders were divas in hustlin' to hold Michigan to 64 points, 13 below their season average of 77.3 points per game. The Wolverines committed 24 turnovers, which resulted in 25 Terp points.

Lavender Briggs was nearly flawless knocking down 5-of-7 from the floor for 14 points, making both of her three-point attempts.

Reigning Big Ten Player of the Week Shyanne Sellers continued her speechless play of late with 13 points and five rebounds.

Abby Meyers wouldn't bow down as she scored 12 points and grabbed a career-high tying 11 rebounds for her second double-double of the season.

Maryland took control of the game dancin' to a 13-2 run to end the first quarter and led for the remainder of the game and by as many as 16 in the third quarter.

The Wolverines (16-5, 6-4) lost for the fourth time in six games. They were led by Leigha Brown, who had 16 points, five rebounds and four assists.

From Maryland's Queen B
"Just a tremendous win and a solid 40 minute effort against a really, really good team. And you know, I thought the thing that right now is really separating us is defensively I thought we set the tone and been able to impact them in the first quarter but then when when you look at forcing them into 24 turnovers, there's so many great players on that team. I thought our defense was won this game tonight and sharing the basketball. I thought that was huge.

"I thought our X Factors were Diamond and Abby. Do you know what they're able to do? And they consistently show that every single night but the X factor was last year with just big moments, big shots, having the confidence to step up and just a really tremendous team win and in return." - Head Coach Brenda Frese

Breaking Down The Action
  • After a back-and-forth first quarter, Maryland scored the final seven points of the period to close out a 13-2 run to take a 22-15 lead after one. Miller led all scorers with nine of the Terps' 22 points. Maryland shot 53 percent from the floor and played great defense forcing Michigan into seven turnovers.
  • The Terps used an 8-0 run midway in the quarter book-ended by three-pointers by Meyers and Faith Masonius to build a 34-22 lead with five minutes left in the first half. Sellers netted seven points in the stanza as Maryland outscored Michigan, 17-14. Maryland led 39-29 at intermission.
  • Maryland took a 16-point lead at 50-34 on a Meyers layup with 4:38 left in the third quarter. The Terps led 56-44 after the third quarter.
  • After Michigan got within seven points at 62-55 with 4:45 left in the fourth, Briggs' triple returned the Terps to a double-figure lead. The Wolverines got to within six at 67-61 with a minute left, but Sellers' free throws pushed Maryland's lead back to three possessions to seal the win.
Frese's 89th Win Over A Ranked Foe
  • Since Brenda Frese took over in 2002-03, Maryland has now has 89 wins over Associated Press top 25 teams, including 11 in the 2014-15 season, which set a new school record.
  • This season, the Terps are now 4-2 vs. ranked teams with wins over No. 6 UConn, No. 7 Notre Dame and No. 17 Baylor.
  • The Terrapins are 89-72 against ranked teams over the last 20 years, all under Frese. Twenty-six of those wins were on the road and 21 were at neutral sites.
  • Miller moved into the Top 20 all-time in career scoring at 20th with 1,412. She passed All-Americans Jasmina Perazic (1,396 from 1980-83 and Laura Harper (1,407 from 2005-08).
  • Meyers now has 1,226 points in her career with 947 in her three seasons of action at Princeton before joining the Terps this season.
  • Briggs, who surpassed the 1,000-point mark in Maryland's game against Notre Dame, now has 1,101 overall. She netted 961 at Florida.
  • Brinae Alexander, who crossed the 1,000-point threshold against Rutgers, now has 1,030 career points, with 841 coming at Vanderbilt
  • Elisa Pinzan is also chasing 1,000 points as she has 992 after not scoring. For her career. She had 916 points at South Florida.
Double-Figures Update
  • With 23 points, Miller reached double-figures for the 19th time in 20 games played this season. She's recorded 10 points or more 74 times in her career of 103 games. She has scored 15 or more points in 11 consecutive games now and scored 20-plus points for the seventh time this season.
  • Briggs notched 14 points, marking her fifth time in double-figures this season and 57th overall.
  • Sellers' 13-point-performance was the 18th time in 21 games that she has reached double-digit scoring this season. She has done that 30 times overall in her career.
  • Meyers hit double-digit scoring for the 16th time this season and 68th in her career, notching 12 points.
Home Sweet Home
  • Maryland has been a dominant home team, especially over the last decade. The Terps are 588-139 (.809) all-time in College Park, dating back to the inaugural 1971-72 season.
  • Maryland is 295-44 (.871) at home under Brenda Frese, whose first season in College Park was the inaugural season of XFINITY Center. That is among the top 10 toughest places to play in the country.
B1G Time
  • The Terps are now 191-52 (.786) all-time against their Big Ten opponents.
  • Since joining the Big Ten in 2014-15, the Terrapins are 149-22 (.871) vs. their conference opponents, including their 19-3 record in the Big Ten Tournament.
  • In the 21 years under Frese, the Terps are 160-26 (.860) against their Big Ten opponents.
  • Frese is 173-31 (.848) all-time vs. Big Ten opponents, which includes her time at Minnesota and at Ball State.
  • The Terrapins are also 130-8 (.942) when they score 70 points or more in Big Ten games since 2014-15.
  • Since their first year in the Big Ten, the Terps are 114-4 (.967) when holding their league opponents to 70 points or less.
Series History
  • This was the 14th all-time matchup between Maryland and Michigan. The Terps own the series at 11-3.
  • The Wolverines took both meetings last year - 69-49 in College Park on Jan. 16 and 71-59 in Ann Arbor on Feb. 20
Up Next
  • The Terps continue home stand by hosting Penn State on Monday, Jan. 30 at 6 p.m. That game will air on the Big Ten Network.

***Wisconsin Game Thread***

We're about 20 minutes from tipoff of Round 2 between the Terps and Badgers. The Badgers are without starting 2 guard Max Klesmit for the second game in a row. In his place, freshman Connor Essegian will start and he's one of the best three-point shooters in the country, shooting 43.7% from beyond the arc. Tonight is the first game of a three-game home stand for the Terps as they look to make a move in the Big Ten standing.

Tonight's game is also the first that students will be back in the building since last semester and is a blackout.

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Points per possession vs. Wisconsin last night...

The Terps scored 1.327 points per possession last night. Exactly how efficient were they offensively versus other games this season? The only games they have been more efficient offensively this season were versus St. Louis and Miami. To play the way they did last night was impressive and the numbers seem to show they are playing their best basketball since Nov. right now.

From last night, three takeaways from the Terps' win over Wisconsin.

STORY

Right now, I'd say...

As of right now, I'd say Zach Edey, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Kris Murray, Hunter Dickinson, Jalen Pickett, Jahmir Young and Brice Sensabaugh are the 7 guys in contention to be named first-team All-B1G.

Jahmir Young is currently ranked 7th in scoring, 22nd in rebounding, 14th in FG%, 10th in FT%, 18th in assists and 11th in steals during Big Ten play. And his numbers have been trending up over the past 5 games. If he keeps this up and can, say, outplay Pickett head-to-head, I think there's a very real chance he makes the first team.

More on Nyck Harbor....

So with regards to Nyck Harbor and NIL, here is what's really going on...

Harbor has signed an NIL deal with some company called Prospex to create trading cards and NFTs with his likeness. The reason Oregon is suddenly getting so much traction is this: Prospex was started by Oregon alums and essentially has folks on the Nike payroll all over the country helping them add elite prospects to their roster for their 'games,' which On3 is going to help them promote. In theory, this is about having the fans ante up money to show their love for a recruit so a fanbase can say, 'hey, look at us! we bought the most NFTs for five-star John Smith!' A kid doesn't have to decide on a school based on who buys the most trading cards and I believe fans even get most of their money back if a kid doesn't pick their school. But make no mistake about it, once players sign with Prospex, these Oregon alums are using the relationships they are creating to push kids to Oregon with massive (sometimes six figure) NIL deals. My source on this is impeccable and is the reason how I knew Kwame Evans was signing with Oregon before they were even mentioned as being in the mix.

I don't expect anything to change in this recruitment until after he's visited the Pacific Northwest this weekend. As I've been telling you guys throughout, I've liked where Maryland sat for a long time and have gone on record that I believed they were the leaders. But based on some things I've heard over the past 48 hours, things could potentially change after his visit to Oregon. But I can promise you this, Maryland isn't going to go down without a fight and just might have a few tricks left up their sleeve. We'll see where things stand after the weekend.
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