USC's Eric Musselman the latest in a string of opposing coaches pouring accolades on "phenomenal" Maryland
Count Eric Musselman as the latest Big Ten basketball coach to pour accolades on Maryland after watching the Terps torch his team. Musselman, like those before him during this extended hot streak, could only tip his hat after an 88-71 Maryland win on Thursday night at Xfinity Center.
Count Eric Musselman as the latest Big Ten basketball coach to pour accolades on Maryland after watching the Terps torch his team. Musselman, like those before him during this extended hot streak, could only tip his hat after an 88-71 Maryland win on Thursday night at Xfinity Center."You're talking about playing the 20th-best team in the country and their starting lineups as good as any starting lineup in the country," Musselman said after Maryland's starters combined for 85 points.
Maryland's students took some heat for a lackluster showing last time out against Iowa, but Xfinity was rocking on Thursday night.
"What a great crowd they had, student section was rocking. That's why they've only lost one home game here this year. We're not the only team that they do this to. I think they're 15-1 coming into the game, so now 16-1 in this building," Musselman said.
Maryland (21-6 overall, 11-5 Big Ten) continued to advance its case as the nation's best starting lineup. Rodney Rice (22 points), Ja'Kobi Gillespie (20), Julian Reese (19 points and 10 rebounds), Derik Queen (13 points, 17 rebounds) and Selton Miguel (11) outscored the USC starters by 38 points.
"Their roster management's put together phenomenal. They got a great point guard; they got two wings with great size in Rice and Miguel. And Gillespie's a hard point guard to play against. So, you got two 6-10 guys that are ultra-skilled, so they got a great roster, and we did not come out, as you mentioned, in either half very well. I mean, we got blitzed to start the game and blitzed to start the second half," he said.
USC (14-12, 6-9) took a flurry to open the game. The Trojans avoided an immediate knockout punch but never threatened to win.
"I mean, they're really good," he said. "We told our team if you look at the starts that they get off to in games at home, that is not abnormal for them at all. We showed tape, we slowed the tape down and showed them the scores of games early. And, you know, they do a great job being really focused coming out. And in this league, too, the travel eventually is going to catch up to you a little bit. And we looked like it did tonight.
"We didn't make shots. I thought we took some ill-advised shots but, I mean, we lost to a team that like I said is 15-1 at home. And we're not ready right now to beat them at their place and that was evident tonight."
