Meet the Opponent: Maryland Hosts Indiana in Matchup of Disappointing Big Ten Teams

Indiana travels to Maryland looking to sweep the season series on Sunday at 2 p.m ET.

The Hoosiers opened Big Ten play on Dec. 1 with a 65-53 win over the Terrapins, led by Kel'el Ware's 18-point, 14-rebound double-double. Jahmir Young scored 20 points, but Maryland shot just 35.7% from the field. 

Since then, Maryland and Indiana have been two of the Big Ten's most disappointing teams after being picked third and sixth, respectively, in the preseason poll. At risk of finishing below .500, both teams would need to win the Big Ten Tournament to reach the NCAA Tournament.

Here's a full breakdown of the Maryland Terrapins.

Key returners

(2023-24 stats)

• G Jahmir Young: 20.9 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 4.2 apg, 34.4 3-pt FG%
• F Julian Reese: 13.9 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 1.9 bpg, 54.0 FG%
• F Donta Scott: 11.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 33.3 3-pt FG%
• G Jahari Long: 4.4 ppg, 1.4 apg, 32.7 3-pt FG%

Key departures

(2022-23 stats)

• G Hakim Hart (Villanova): 11.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.1 apg
• G Don Carey (graduated): 7.4 ppg, 1.9 rpg
• G Ian Martinez (Utah State): 5.7 ppg, 2.5 rpg
• F Patrick Emilien (graduated): 2.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg

Key newcomers

(2023-24 stats)

• G DeShawn Harris-Smith (No. 32 freshman): 7.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 16.9 3-pt FG%
• F Jordan Geronimo (Indiana): 5.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg
• F Jamie Kaiser (No. 65 freshman): 3.9 ppg, 24.2 3-pt FG%

Schedule (15-14, 7-11)

• W, 68-53 vs. Mount St. Mary's
• L, 64-61 vs. Davidson (neutral site)
• L, 66-63 vs. UAB (neutral site)
• L, 57-40 vs. Villanova (neutral site)
• W, 92-68 vs. UMBC
• W, 68-55 vs. South Alabama
• W, 103-76 vs. Rider
• L, 65-53 at Indiana
• W, 81-75 (OT) vs. Penn State
• W, 105-65 vs. Alcorn State
• W, 73-67 vs. Nicholls State
• W, 69-60 at UCLA
• W, 75-53 vs. Coppin State
• L, 67-53 vs. Purdue
• L, 65-62 at Minnesota
• W, 64-57 vs. Michigan
• W, 76-67 at Illinois
• L, 72-69 at Northwestern
• L, 61-59 vs. Michigan State
• W, 69-67 at Iowa
• W, 73-51 vs. Nebraska
• L, 63-54 at Michigan State
• L, 56-53 vs. Rutgers
• L, 79-75 (2OT) at Ohio State
• W, 78-66 vs. Iowa
• L, 85-80 vs. Illinois
• L, 74-70 at Wisconsin
• W, 63-46 at Rutgers
• L, 68-61 vs. Northwestern

Mike Woodson's history against Maryland

• W, 65-53 on Dec. 1, 2023, at Assembly Hall
• W, 70-60 on March 10, 2023, at the United Center
• L, 66-55 on Jan. 31, 2023, at the Xfinity Center
• W, 74-64 on Feb. 24, 2022 at Assembly Hall
• W, 68-55 on Jan. 29, 2022 at the Xfinity Center

Strengths

Maryland has one of the best point guards in the Big Ten in fifth-year senior Jahmir Young. Now in his second year with the Terrapins after transferring from Charlotte, he's averaging a career-high 20.9 points, third-most in the Big Ten and 15th nationally. Young has a quick first step and strength to finish at the rim. His 34.4% 3-point shooting is the second-highest in his career on a career-high 5.5 attempts per game. Junior center Julian Reese is averaging career-highs with 13.9 points and 9.7 points per game, though his field goal percentage has dropped about 9% from last season.

Maryland gets to the line often (12th nationally) and is a good offensive rebounding team (57th), but it's team strength is on the defensive end. Despite its 15-14 record, Maryland ranks fifth in the nation in adjusted defensive efficiency, according to KenPom. Teams have shot 31.3% from 3-point range and 45.2% on 2-point attempts, both top-50 numbers. In addition to those low percentages, Maryland allows the 11th-fewest 3-point attempts per game.

Weaknesses

It's been difficult for opponents to stop Young from scoring, but Maryland's offense as a whole has really struggled this year. The Terrapins rank 162nd in adjusted offensive efficiency, according to KenPom, placing them 13th among Big Ten teams. Maryland ranks 354th out of 362 teams in 3-point shooting at 28.2% and 235th in 2-point percentage, 49.0%. The Terrapins play a slow pace, 310th in adjusted tempo. Coach Kevin Willard landed top-30 freshman DeShawn Harris-Smith, but he's shooting  36.9% from the field and 16.9% on 3-point attempts. Fellow freshman Jamie Kaiser is also shooting just 24.4% from the field, and Maryland has had unreliable bench production all season. 

Season outlook

It's been a disappointing year two for Willard and Maryland, which was picked third in the preseason Big Ten poll. Entering Sunday's game against Indiana, Maryland is tied for 13th in the Big Ten at 7-11 with losses in six of its last eight games. Young is a first-team All-Big Ten talent and Reese is a double-double machine, but the surrounding pieces have been inconsistent. After making the NCAA Tournament in Willard's first season, year two has been a big step in the wrong direction.