Can Maryland basketball make a 4-game sprint toward the top of the Big Ten standings (and a B1G double-bye)?
The Terps are off this weekend, but there are still conference games with implications in the standings.
The Maryland men's basketball team extended its winning streak to four Thursday night, picking up an 88-71 home win over USC.The 20th-ranked Terps (21-6, 11-5 Big Ten) are as hot as anyone in the country, having won eight of their last nine games and 10 of their last 12 games. They have done it with one of the country's best starting five: Ja'Kobi Gillespie, Rodney Rice, Selton Miguel, Julian Reese and Derik Queen. All five scored in double figures for the third straight game in the win over USC; it was the sixth time the group accomplished the feat this season, the most in the country.
Maryland now has a six-day break following the win before welcoming No. 14 Michigan State to College Park for its premier home game of the season. The Terps are fighting for a top four spot in the Big Ten and a double-bye in the Big Ten Tournament. They are also still alive in the regular-season title race. With the Terps off this weekend, here's a look at the teams over .500 in the current Big Ten standings.
Michigan 12-2
Michigan State 12-3 (0.5 GB)
Wisconsin 11-4 (1.5 GB)
Purdue 11-5 (2 GB)
Maryland 11-5 (2 GB)
UCLA 10-6 (3 GB)
Illinois 9-8 (4.5 GB)
On Friday night, Michigan will host Michigan State. The Wolverines are 2.5-point favorites and can further separate themselves from the pack with a victory. A Spartans road win would put Maryland within striking distance of first place, only two games behind in the loss column with matchups against both the Spartans and Wolverines remaining.
Wisconsin is in action Saturday afternoon, welcoming Oregon to Madison. The Badgers are projected as nine-point favorites against the Ducks, per KenPom. Wisconsin's most difficult game remaining is a road contest against Michigan State on March 2. If the Terps and Wisconsin found themselves in a two-way tie, Maryland would own the head-to-head tiebreaker.
On Sunday, Purdue visits Indiana. The Boilermakers have lost three straight games and will be in desperation mode heading into Assembly Hall. Purdue is a four-point favorite, per KenPom, but it is not unfathomable that they could lose a road game to their biggest rival. Purdue owns the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Terps.
UCLA, a game behind Maryland, hosts Ohio State on Sunday. The Bruins are a five-point favorite over the Buckeyes, per KenPom. Maryland owns the head-to-head tiebreaker over UCLA. Illinois, three games behind Maryland in the loss column, plays Duke at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, a game that will have no bearing on their spot in the Big Ten standings.
The games will be played, and the puzzle pieces will fall into place. The Terps have four games remaining and are favored to win three of them. Here's a look-ahead at how Maryland finishes out the regular season.
Michigan State on Wednesday, 6:30 p.m.
KenPom rank: No. 15
NET rank: No. 18
KenPom spread: Maryland -4
The Spartans have had Maryland's number over the past few years, winning six straight against the Terps. The XFINITY Center should be nothing short of electric next week for Maryland's biggest home game in quite some time. The Spartans started 9-0 in Big Ten play and have won three of their last six games heading into Friday night's battle in Ann Arbor. If Maryland wins this game, the already-building national buzz may take off.
at Penn State on Saturday, March 1, noon
KenPom rank: No. 71
NET rank: No. 74
KenPom spread: Maryland -6
The Bryce Jordan Center has been a house of horrors for Maryland, which has lost seven straight at Penn State; the Terps have not won at the BJC since Feb. 14, 2015. This year needs to be different. Maryland has snapped its road woes this season with wins at Illinois, Indiana and Nebraska. Penn State is coming off an 89-72 win over Nebraska to snap an eight-game losing streak. Ace Baldwin vs. Gillespie is a great point guard matchup, but Maryland is the far better team. It needs to prove that in a place it has historically struggled.
at Michigan on Wednesday, March 5, 6:30 p.m.
KenPom rank: No. 19
NET rank: No. 17
KenPom spread: Michigan -2
Arguably the most difficult game on its schedule, this is the lone game remaining where Maryland is an underdog. The stakes will certainly be high. Michigan has four games remaining before it plays Maryland, then it will finish the regular season at Michigan State. It may be difficult to find three more losses among the Wolverines' six remaining games, but Maryland has a chance to play into that. The frontcourt matchup of Reese and Queen against Danny Wolf and Vladislav Goldin should be exceptional.
Northwestern on Saturday, March 8, 3 p.m.
KenPom rank: No. 52
NET rank: No. 55
KenPom spread: Maryland -10
Maryland will finish the regular season looking to avenge one of its most painful losses, a 76-74 overtime loss at Northwestern where Nick Martinelli drilled a buzzer-beating jumper. Jalen Leach and Brooks Barnhizer have since suffered season-ending injuries. Chris Collins has his team playing inspired despite being shorthanded, indicated by Thursday's 70-49 home win over Ohio State, but this is a game that Maryland should expect to win.
