Bob Haynie: Indiana Rains (3s) On Maryland's Parade
The Indiana Hoosiers put on a shooting display Thursday night that was too much for the Maryland Terrapins to overcome. The 23rd-ranked Hoosiers were on their game as they dismantled the 13th-ranked Terps 89-70 at Assembly Hall in Bloomington.
Four Indiana players scored at least 15 points as the home team handed Maryland (17-3, 5-2 ) only their second Big Ten loss. Led by Yogi Ferrell's 24-point outburst, the Hoosiers shot 60% from the floor against Mark Turgeon's beleaguered crew.
Indiana was 15 of 22 from beyond the arc as they made an amazing 68.2% of their long-range shots. Their performance is even more impressive given the fact that Maryland has allowed opposing teams to shoot only 27.9% from deep on the season.
Maryland shot 50.9% from the floor themselves and were 10 for 20 shooting three-pointers. Uncharacteristically, however, Maryland got to the free-throw line only 12 times. The Terps are usually a very prolific foul-shooting team.
It was their defense--or lack thereof--that did them in. Of course, Tom Crean's Hoosiers deserve a ton of credit. They spread the floor and made Maryland pay.
Maryland is back at the XFINITY Center this Sunday night as they host Northwestern (10-9, 1-5 ). The Wildcats are perennial doormats in the Big Ten and I expect Turgeon and his team will get back on track.
Maryland and Indiana will renew acquaintances on February 11th in College Park.
Turgeon told me on Wednesday that his team would be challenged defensively against the Hoosiers.
He was right.
The rematch should be fun.
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