WHO: #8 Maryland Terrapins (18-4 overall, 9-2 Big Ten)
WHEN: Thursday, February 2 at 7:30 PM CT
WHERE: Carver-Hawkeye Arena (Iowa City, Iowa)
TV: ESPN
ONLINE: www.espn.com/watch
MOBILE: www.espn.com/app
RADIO: Hawkeye Radio Network | Sirus/XM 109 or 196
Maryland will be Iowa’s sixth opponent this season ranked #15 or higher at the time. That number matches the six games Iowa played against Top 15 teams in last year’s regular season. But Iowa still has plenty of big games left on the horizon this season, too. The Hawks still have to play at Maryland, and also have games home and away remaining against #4 Indiana.
Part of Iowa’s tougher schedule this year is a more difficult non-conference slate. But another piece has been the strength of the Big Ten has been this year. There are four great teams, two very good teams, and others like Michigan State or Nebraska that can pull an upset on the right night.
For comparison, current AP #3 LSU is undefeated, but has not played a team currently ranked in the AP Poll. Even worse, the only ranked team the Tigers are likely to play in the entire regular season is #1 South Carolina. By Selection Sunday it’s entirely possible that Iowa will have played 10 or more Top 15 matchups, while LSU will have played two (or even just one if the Tigers don’t face South Carolina again in the SEC Tournament).
I have no idea how the selection committee will account for such a vast discrepancy in strength of schedule, but I do know which team should be more prepared for elite competition in the NCAA Tournament.
If teams beat the press, though, Maryland is vulnerable. The Terps rank 168th in opposing points per 100 possessions. The biggest reason for that is Maryland’s three-point defense. Maryland opponents are shooting 34.3% from three, which is well above average. The Terps don’t rank quite so poorly at two-point shooting percentage, though they don’t rank great there either.
Offensively, Maryland plays a 5-out offense which allows maximum space for its wings to drive or opportunities for its shooters to shoot. Iowa has seen plenty of 5-out offenses throughout the season. The Hawkeyes did well in stopping Ohio State in a similar offense, though they struggled much earlier in the season when Kansas State did the same.
MORE HERE: https://iowa.rivals.com/news/preview-iowa-wbb-vs-no-8-maryland
WHEN: Thursday, February 2 at 7:30 PM CT
WHERE: Carver-Hawkeye Arena (Iowa City, Iowa)
TV: ESPN
ONLINE: www.espn.com/watch
MOBILE: www.espn.com/app
RADIO: Hawkeye Radio Network | Sirus/XM 109 or 196
Maryland will be Iowa’s sixth opponent this season ranked #15 or higher at the time. That number matches the six games Iowa played against Top 15 teams in last year’s regular season. But Iowa still has plenty of big games left on the horizon this season, too. The Hawks still have to play at Maryland, and also have games home and away remaining against #4 Indiana.
Part of Iowa’s tougher schedule this year is a more difficult non-conference slate. But another piece has been the strength of the Big Ten has been this year. There are four great teams, two very good teams, and others like Michigan State or Nebraska that can pull an upset on the right night.
For comparison, current AP #3 LSU is undefeated, but has not played a team currently ranked in the AP Poll. Even worse, the only ranked team the Tigers are likely to play in the entire regular season is #1 South Carolina. By Selection Sunday it’s entirely possible that Iowa will have played 10 or more Top 15 matchups, while LSU will have played two (or even just one if the Tigers don’t face South Carolina again in the SEC Tournament).
I have no idea how the selection committee will account for such a vast discrepancy in strength of schedule, but I do know which team should be more prepared for elite competition in the NCAA Tournament.
SCOUTING MARYLAND
This Maryland team looks fairly similar to Ohio State. Defensively, the Terrapins use a press that tries to turn the other team over and create chaos. Maryland has a fairly good steal rate at 11.3%, which ranks 48th nationally.If teams beat the press, though, Maryland is vulnerable. The Terps rank 168th in opposing points per 100 possessions. The biggest reason for that is Maryland’s three-point defense. Maryland opponents are shooting 34.3% from three, which is well above average. The Terps don’t rank quite so poorly at two-point shooting percentage, though they don’t rank great there either.
Offensively, Maryland plays a 5-out offense which allows maximum space for its wings to drive or opportunities for its shooters to shoot. Iowa has seen plenty of 5-out offenses throughout the season. The Hawkeyes did well in stopping Ohio State in a similar offense, though they struggled much earlier in the season when Kansas State did the same.
MORE HERE: https://iowa.rivals.com/news/preview-iowa-wbb-vs-no-8-maryland
