Maryland basketball’s Jared Nickens finally started hitting from deep against Michigan

Jared Nickens has been in Mark Turgeon’s doghouse for much of this season. He was 11-of-42 from three-point range coming into Maryland basketball’s win over Michigan on Saturday, good for only 26 percent.

As a junior fighting for minutes with new additions Justin Jackson and Kevin Huerter, Nickens got off to a poor shooting start. His season hit a low point when he only played one minute in the Terps’ win over Oklahoma State.

Against Michigan, he hit two deep threes at a crucial period in the first half while the rest of the offense, minus perhaps just Damonte Dodd, was stalling.

“It felt really good,” Nickens told reporters after the game. “I was in a good rhythm. My teammates did a good job of finding me.”

He also hit two more three-pointers in the second half to finish 4-for-4 in the game. This season, he’d only made multiple threes in a game one time. He’d also had his share of defensive lapses. Against Michigan, he improved on both.

“Jared’s been shooting like this in practice for a while,” Turgeon said. “What I’m really proud of Jared? He was really dialed into the defensive game plan. He was talking, communicating. He’s been doing that in practice.”

Obviously, a better-shooting Nickens would be a big lift for this team. You already knew this. Anyway:

In other news

Maryland women’s basketball wiped the floor with Northwestern thanks to a hot start.

Maryland wrestling dropped both parts of its dual match on Sunday.

Maryland football assistant Mike London will officially be introduced as Howard’s new head coach today.

Terps goal-scorer Gordon Wild missed out on the MAC Hermann trophy (it’s like the Heisman but for soccer).

Maryland wasn’t particularly effective on special teams in 2016, but DJ Durkin’s coaching background means the Terps should get better.