NCAA Basketball Preview and Prediction: Indiana Hoosiers at Maryland Terrapins

Neither of these teams has found any consistency yet and that makes this a very intriguing game that is a lot closer on paper than a lot of people think. Let’s take a look at the two teams and where they stand headed into this matchup.

Maryland Terrapins

The Terps needed a last-second shot by Anthony Cowan to beat an up and down Illinois teams at home (59-58) on Dec. 7; lost at Penn State by seven on Dec. 10; and looked lifeless in a loss against a decimated Seton Hall team (52-48) on Dec. 19. Throw in the transfer of the Mitchell twins and all of a sudden a lot of questions exist about the Terps moving forward.

Anthony Cowan leads the Terps so far this season with 16.7 points per game on 40.4% shooting (37% 3pt). Center Jalen Smith adds 13.1 points and 10.1 rebounds on 49.1% shooting (28% 3pt). The Terps as a whole though have managed to shoot barely over 40 percent as a team.

Maryland fans had been waiting for 7-2 freshman Chol Marial to finally see the floor after a leg injury. He finally showed up on Dec. 29 in an 84-70 home win over Bryant. Marial, who has an 8-foot wingspan, had six points, five rebounds and a block in just 14 minutes of action. He is a physical presence, but is he ready to become a big part of this team so early on in his career?

Indiana Hoosiers 

Consistency has not happened yet in the short, almost three-year span that Archie Miller has been in charge of the Hoosiers program. They blow out a good Florida State team and then come back and get manhandled by an average Wisconsin team. If Coach Miller could get Devonte Green on board with being more of a team-first player this Hoosiers team could be in the top half of the big ten.

Jackson-Davis (6-9, 245) averages 15.4 points and 8.7 rebounds to lead IU, and has been more productive than even the most optimistic Hoosiers fan could have ever hoped for. Joey Brunk has played well over the last few games and the Hoosiers overall have shot the ball and rebounded well this season. The Hoosiers are coming off a tough loss at home against Arkansas and will be looking to redeem themselves in this one.

Prediction: I like the Hoosiers in the upset here! Maryland has too many unknowns, plus they don’t shoot the ball well and I think the Hoosiers will win the rebounding battle.

Hoosiers 72 Terps 70