Bigger things than a 5-seed were expected from Maryland when the season began. But the young Terps stumbled down the stretch, losing five of their final eight games. Except for a meltdown at Minnesota, none of the losses look bad, but there’s no doubt that this team is not playing its best basketball entering the NCAA Tournament.
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South Dakota St. Jackrabbits +10
Maryland Terrapins -10
Over/Under: 143
HOW THE SOUTH DAKOTA STATE JACKRABBITS CAN COVER THE SPREAD
The Jackrabbits are no stranger to the NCAA Tournament as they earned their third appearance in the past five years by once again winning the Summit League, knocking off arch-rival North Dakota State for the automatic bid.
South Dakota State has a solid team from top to bottom, enough so that it brings its best player, freshman forward Mike Daum, off the bench.
At 6-9 and 245 pounds, Daum is a load and the Jackrabbits’ top offensive threat. He scores 15.2 points per game on an extremely efficient 56 percent shooting and grabs 6.1 boards in just over 20 minutes a night. So effective was Daum, he earned the league’s Sixth Man of the Year and took Freshman of the Year honors as well.
Senior guards George Marshall and Deondre Parks can both provide some scoring punch as well. Parks is a tough, speedy guard who just might be able to keep up with Maryland’s Melo Trimble.
HOW THE MARYLAND TERRAPINS CAN COVER THE SPREAD
At times this season it looked like Maryland might end up on a top line come Tournament time, but the Terps floundered down the stretch going 3-5 with a Big Ten tournament loss to Michigan State the last time out. Three of their last four losses came by five or fewer points, so it’s not like they’re getting blown away.
The Terps were 15-1 before running the gauntlet of a tough conference schedule, but remain one of the most talented teams in the country behind guard Melo Trimble.
Rasheed Sulaimon helps to form a dangerous backcourt duo, but the team struggles have coincided with his own. Sulaimon averages 11.1 points per game but failed to reach double figures in five of the last six contests.
Maryland used balanced scoring from its top-flight starting five during that impressive 16-game start. It hasn’t been there recently and the team struggled. The front line of Carter, Diamond Stone and Jake Layman combined for 36 points against the Spartans and should have a bigger edge over the Jackrabbits.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
Without a doubt Daum is the key for the Jackrabbits. Though not quick, he’s incredibly skilled from all over the court. When he’s on the floor the Jackrabbits tend to stick to an inside-out game plan. Throughout the Summit League championship, North Dakota State had no answer for him while switching coverages. Daum shoots two-point field goals at a 58.8 percent clip and is able to bully his way against mid-major level talent. He has excellent vision and keeps the ball moving when encountered with double-teams.
Daum is also consistent in two areas the Terps struggle to defend against: offensive boards and three-point line. Daum will be a challenge for Robert Carter Jr. and Damonte Dodd, and to stop the Jackrabbits, the Terps will have to keep him in check. That shouldn’t be a problem, though, with Maryland’s bigs appearing much bigger and stronger.
Maryland 74, South Dakota State 68
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