Maryland will aim to stay hot on its home court when it tips off against Minnesota on Monday night in College Park, Md.
The Terrapins (12-4, 2-3) have dropped road games against then-No. 8 Purdue, Washington and then-No. 9 Oregon this season. They have won both of their conference games at home: a 24-point win over Ohio State and Friday’s 79-61 victory over No. 22 UCLA.
Maryland coach Kevin Willard said defense helped determine the outcomes. He will look for his players to try to lock down Minnesota in front of another friendly crowd.
“We’ve had three-minute stretches of defense that’s killed us in all three road games,” Willard said. “Sometimes, you’ve just got to re-emphasize it.
“We’re one of the best teams in the country in how long it takes to get a shot off. We’re not one of the best teams in the country at finishing those possessions. I thought we did a much better job (against UCLA). I thought we took a step in the right direction.”
Ja’Kobi Gillespie poured in a season-high 27 points against UCLA, including 9-for-9 shooting from the foul line.
Minnesota (8-8, 0-5) is the last team in the Big Ten without a conference win. The Golden Gophers have dropped three in a row, including an 80-59 loss at Wisconsin on Friday.
The blowout loss led to a closed-door meeting led by Minnesota players after the game.
“We just all have to come to the realization that this is our livelihood,” Minnesota forward Dawson Garcia said. “This is how we’re going to pay our families. Everybody, really. The coaches and the players. It’s got to be taken to that level.”
Garcia leads the Golden Gophers with 18.4 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. Mike Mitchell Jr. is next with 11.9 points per game, and Lu’Cye Patterson ranks third with 10.4 points per game.
Maryland has five players who are averaging in double digits. Derik Queen leads the group with 15.5 points to go with 7.8 rebounds per night.
The Terrapins also rely upon Gillespie (13.9 ppg), Julian Reese (13.2 ppg, 8.8 rebounds per game), Selton Miguel (11.8 ppg) and Rodney Rice (11.7 ppg).
This is the 20th all-time meeting between the programs. Maryland leads the series 16-3.
–Field Level Media
