Heading into Sunday with a 10-1 record, the Maryland Terrapins have yet another chance to add to what is already an impressive resume when they take on the Oklahoma State Cowboys. The Cowboys bring a 9-1 record into the contest, showing once again they will be a voice to be heard from deep into the college basketball season. Both teams are vying for recognition as two of the best in college basketball, with Maryland already having the honor of being a top-25 team. What can we expect to see when these two teams take the court on Sunday afternoon?
Jake Layman will go toe-to-toe with Le'Bryan Nash, and win.
This may be the most intriguing match-up of the entire game. Jake Layman has gotten significantly better at attacking the rim and playing off the dribble, while Nash is already well-known for his ability to get to the hoop. Nash is a freight train who gets what he wants on the court, so sealing him off will be important if the Terps want to slow his production. Coming into the game, Nash is averaging 17.7 points per game, the top scorer on their team. The one element Layman has over Nash is the ability to knock down the outside shot, which will be crucial for a Maryland victory.
In a battle of depth, the Terps will have their hands full.
Mark Turgeon has used his bench frequently, switching different lineups into the game to see what gives him the most production on any given day. Oklahoma State head coach Travis Ford has been doing the same thing this season for the Cowboys, using his depth to create match-up problems for the opposition. The two constants for the Cowboys will be Nash and Phil Forte, and as everyone remembers, Forte can nail it from outside in volume. In a game that could come down to depth, scoring from the bench will be an important facet for Maryland. Players such as Jared Nicken and Dion Wiley will be important for a strong Maryland performance.
Maryland grabs an important out of conference victory on the road.
This will be another tough test for Maryland and should give a solid sign of how far this young team has come. With Dez Wells, more people would be confident in the Terps' chances to go in and win the game, but this is another game to see how far the youth on the team has come. Can Melo Trimble lead the Terps over a fairly experienced team on the road? These are the types of wins out of conference the tournament committee is looking for. A strong out of conference can make all the difference come March, and the Terps have a chance to notch one in the win column Sunday. After a week to prepare, expect the Terps to be ready to go.