Bob Haynie: OSU Clobbers Maryland
For the second time in three games, the Maryland Terrapins were dominated on the road by a conference opponent. Last week, the Indiana Hoosiers worked the Terps by the score 89-70. On Thursday night, it was the Ohio State Buckeyes who had their way with Head Coach Mark Turgeon's crew.
Sophomore forward Marc Loving pumped in 19 points and freshman sensation D'Angelo Russell added 18 as OSU blew out Maryland 80-56. The loss drops the 16th-ranked Terps to 18-4 overall and 6-3 in the Big Ten. With the win, the Buckeyes improved to 17-5 and 6-3 in the league.
Dez Wells (12) and Jake Layman (10) were the only Maryland players to score in double figures on a night in which they shot 30.5% from the field. Surprisingly, the Buckeyes also crushed the Terps on the boards at Value City Arena. OSU, who came into the game as one of the worst rebounding teams in the conference, out rebounded Maryland 51-32.
Thursday night's game was a brutal one for Maryland freshman star Melo Trimble. The team's leading scorer (15.7 ppg), Trimble was 0 for 8 from the field and scored three points.
As a team , Ohio State was 10 for 17 in 3-pointers. This stat shines some light on what has become a growing concern for Turgeon's club.
What was once a strength, Maryland's now ineffective perimeter defense is getting exploited.
Over the last three contests, Indiana, Northwestern and OSU have shot a combined 33 for 59 (56%) from beyond the arc. I understand that players get hot and sometimes just can't miss (like a young me), but you don't have to be John Wooden to know that 56% is unacceptable.
Obviously, the Terps really need to step up the effort in this area.
Up next for Maryland is Penn State this coming Wednesday night at the XFINITY Center. For the record, PSU shoots 33% as a team from deep.
The PSU game starts a stretch were five of Maryland's next seven games are at home.
It would behoove them to take advantage of their schedule.
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