Differing outlooks will collide when Maryland hosts Ohio State on Wednesday evening in their Big Ten Conference opener in College Park, Md.
The Terrapins (7-1) enter with confidence following an easy 96-58 victory over winless Alcorn State on Sunday for their fifth win by 30 or more points.
Four Maryland players are averaging at least 12 points per game, but what excites coach Kevin Willard is their unselfishness, as evidenced by 25 assists on 32 makes from the field against Alcorn State.
“It helps when you have guys make shots,” Willard said. “We shot almost 50 percent (47.8) from three, so your ball movement looks a lot better when you’re popping the ball and you have guys that make shots. That was one of our issues last year. We were seventh in the country in open shots. We were 340th in making them.”
The Buckeyes (5-2) also are talking about making shots, but their point of reference is free throws. Specifically, a lack of success from the line that keyed a meltdown in a 91-90 overtime loss to Pitt on Friday.
Ohio State led by as many as 12 points in the second half, by five with 1:37 left in regulation, and by five with 1:04 remaining in overtime, yet couldn’t put the game away.
They made 19 of 29 free throws (65.6) percent for the game, including four misses in the final 64 seconds in OT.
“We make one or two free throws, it’s just an entirely different complexion and outcome of the game,” Ohio State coach Jake Diebler said.
He knows the Buckeyes must improve from the line and cut down on turnovers heading into the game Wednesday and also Saturday against Rutgers before resuming non-conference play until January.
“The parity and the depth of the Big Ten, I think, is second to none across the country,” Diebler said. “Back even when I was growing up, or even maybe five to 10 years ago, you used to look at your schedule and say maybe there would be a chance for you to catch your breath in conference play. That doesn’t exist.”
–Field Level Media
