No. 13 Maryland men’s basketball (8-0, 1-0 Big Ten) looks to keep its unbeaten start alive, continuing Big Ten play on the road against Wisconsin (6-2, 0-0 Big Ten) on Tuesday.
The Terps have gotten a lot of national attention lately. After starting the season unranked, they’ve won their first eight games, and most recently defeated No. 17 Illinois on Friday.
Maryland played great perimeter defense against Illinois, limiting the Illini to a 25% clip from three. Maryland held on for the win despite getting out scored in the paint 44-28, thanks to its hot shooting from beyond the arc. The Terps shot 39% from three, and senior guard Hakim Hart led the way as he connected on five of six looks from deep.
“Just because we’re not an overly big team, we need to defend the three and shoot the three at a high level,” coach Kevin Willard said. “One of our keys to defense is really trying to defend the three as best as possible.”
Graduate student guard Jahmir Young had his highest scoring game as a Terps, putting up 24 points and the clutch three to seal the game in the final ten seconds. He’s gotten off to a great start after transferring from Charlotte, currently averaging 15.1 points per game — second-most of any Terp. Additionally, Young is averaging 4.8 rebounds per game and 3.3 assists per game.
Senior Donta Scott leads Maryland in scoring, averaging 15.4 points per game. Against Illinois, the forward notched 12 points, three rebounds and three assists, one of the three players who scored in double digits against the Illini.
Coach Greg Gard is at the helm for the Badgers, who have come just four points away from an undefeated start through eight games. Wisconsin lost to No. 6 Kansas by one and Wake Forest by three.
Wisconsin has been able to stay in and win games with its efficiency from three. The Badgers shoot 37.4 % from three, second-best in the Big Ten. Like Maryland, Wisconsin has defended the three-point shot very well this season, only allowing opponents to shoot 27.4% from beyond the arc thus far.
Wisconsin is led by senior forward Tyler Wahl, who has been having a career season so far. Wahl is averaging a team-high in points and rebounds for the Badgers, scoring 14.5 points per game and averaging 7.1 rebounds per game. Wahl is often used in the post, setting up the one-on-one matchup with Maryland sophomore forward Julian Reese.
“His motor is off the charts, he does it on both ends,” Willard said. “I just think they do everything really consistent[ly], they do what they do and they don’t go outside their lane, and they do it really well.”
The only other players that average in double-digits scoring for the Badgers both are lethal from beyond the arc. Sophomore guard Chucky Hepburn is averaging 12.5 points per game on 47.5% shooting from three, and freshman guard Connor Essegian is averaging 10.3 points per game on 50% shooting from three.
Seven-foot tall junior forward Steven Crowl is a presence inside the paint for the Badgers, but is also a threat as a passer. Crowl leads Wisconsin averaging three assists per game.
Maryland has had some battles with Wisconsin in recent years, most notably when the Terps went into Madison on Dec. 28, 2020. As an unranked team, the Terps upset No. 6 Wisconsin 70-64.
Wisconsin won the last matchup between the schools, 70-69 in College Park last season.
The game will start at 9 p.m. and will take place at the Kohl Center in Madison.
