The Terps take on the Cornhuskers for the second time in less than a month.
No. 25 Maryland men’s basketball faces one of its worst nightmares Thursday night against Nebraska: a road game.
The Terps travel to Lincoln, Nebraska, for their second matchup with the Cornhuskers in less than a month. The first one — which took place at Xfinity Center — was a slugfest that saw Maryland nearly let a late lead slip away.
Thursday’s rematch will tip off at 8:30 p.m. EST and air on Big Ten Network.
What happened last time
The Terps played the Cornhuskers Jan. 19, desperately needing a win after a demoralizing loss on the road at Northwestern. They got that win, but it didn’t come in a satisfying manner.
Maryland went multiple long stretches of the first half without a made field goal. The only reasons it led at halftime were Nebraska doing much of the same offensively — it had nine turnovers in the first half — and the Terps being the benefactor 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting from Ja’Kobi Gillespie in the opening 20 minutes.
Julian Reese and Derik Queen combined for just 11 points on the afternoon. All three of Maryland’s starting guards — Gillespie, Rodney Rice and Selton Miguel — eclipsed that figure by themselves. Gillespie was the real hero, though, finishing with a game-high 22 points including a game-sealing highlight-reel layup with 40 seconds left.
The Terps led by nine points with just five minutes left before a late Nebraska surge tied the game with under a minute remaining. Maryland won the game, but the late collapse was emblematic of a recurring issue for head coach Kevin Willard’s squad — and one it can’t afford to let happen again on the road in Lincoln.
What’s happened since
Nebraska’s loss to Maryland in January lengthened what ended up being its worst stretch of the season thus far. It was the fourth of six consecutive losses, including two by over 25 points. But the Cornhuskers have done a full 180 in the past two weeks, saving their season in the process.
The Cornhuskers enter Thursday riding a four-game win streak that includes a feat the Terps were unable to pull off: winning in the Pacific Northwest. Nebraska went undefeated against Oregon and Washington on their respective home courts, including a 14-point win over the Huskies.
Like the Terps, Nebraska has been a force to be reckoned with at home, boasting a 10-2 record at Pinnacle Bank Arena this season. But that still only gets them to 16-8 on the season, including a 6-7 Big Ten record. ESPN’s most recent March Madness projections placed the Cornhuskers as a No. 10 seed.
The Cornhuskers’ leading scorer, 6-foot-7 guard Brice Williams, was held to just 14 points in the last contest with Maryland. But he enters Thursday having scored at least 23 in each of his last four games, including a double-double Sunday against Ohio State.
Three things to watch
1. Road struggles. Facing an unranked opponent on the road shouldn’t be a daunting task for a top-25 team. But not every top-25 team is Maryland. A 73-70 loss to Ohio State in Columbus on Feb. 6 wiped away any momentum built up by the Terps’ first two road wins of the season, which came back-to-back against Illinois and Indiana. A win Thursday — especially given Nebraska’s domination at home — can ease some of those pains. But evidently, that’s easier said than done.
2. Chance for first season sweep. The Cornhuskers are the Terps’ second repeat opponent of the season. The first, Ohio State, won one and lost one. Showing the ability to beat a Big Ten opponent twice — especially one currently expected to go dancing in March — would be a significant accomplishment for a team that’s struggled with consistency throughout Willard’s tenure.
3. Bench production? Maryland’s bench hasn’t totaled double-digit points in a game since Jan. 16 against Northwestern. In the midst of a 10-day stretch with four games, that may not be sustainable. A standout game from anyone off the bench would be warmly welcomed by the Terps.
Jordan Geronimo has been in and out of the rotation depending on matchup, and Nebraska was an opponent he saw extended time against in the first contest. Expect him to be a contributor.