DBK NEWS: While most students were back home over break, winter sports were in full swing. It wasn’t always to the Terps’ benefit, as Maryland men’s and women’s basketball both face uncertain postseason outlooks.
Maryland men’s basketball finally wins a close game
Maryland men’s basketball fell to 0-5 in one-possession games after narrow losses to Minnesota, Northwestern and Michigan State by a combined eight points earlier this month. But the Terps finally triumphed in a close game at Iowa on Wednesday.
Jahmir Young provided the late heroics that have become common during his short time in College Park, making a game-winning layup with less than two seconds left to lift the Terps to a two-point win.
Men’s basketball reporter Eli Cohen had the game story, while I dissected Young’s importance to the Terps during one of the best individual scoring seasons in recent Maryland history.
Maryland’s win over Iowa was its second quad one victory of the year after coach Kevin Willard’s squad knocked off then-No. 10 Illinois on Jan. 14.
The Terps notched their fourth win in six games on Saturday with a 73-51 blowout of Nebraska. I recapped one of Maryland’s most complete performances of the year.
Maryland women’s basketball loses its composure and star in back to back games
Maryland women’s basketball looked set to secure its second straight victory — its first win streak since mid-December — with a sizable advantage over Michigan in the second half on Wednesday.
But the Terps blew a 15-point halftime advantage and eventually fell to the Wolverines in overtime. Maryland then fell by 36 points to Penn State on Sunday and lost Shyanne Sellers, its leader in points, assists and rebounds, to injury.
Women’s basketball reporter Sam Jane recapped Maryland’s loss to Michigan, while Olivia Janik dove into another Terps collapse after halftime and Maryland’s first defeat to Penn State since 2003.
The Terps have qualified for 13 consecutive NCAA tournaments but can ill afford many more losses as they sit at a precarious 12-8 with a losing record in conference play. Maryland men’s and women’s basketball haven’t both missed the NCAA tournament since the 1986-87 season.
Maryland wrestling sees success, struggles in conference play
Maryland wrestling had to wait seven years after its first Big Ten win to secure its second — a narrow win over Purdue in February 2023.
The Terps didn’t have to wait as long for their third win in the conference. They prevailed in a more dominant fashion against Northwestern on Jan. 14 in a 29-15 victory. Wrestling reporter Michael Stamatos had the recap from a rare Big Ten triumph.
While Maryland was able to secure another conference win early in the season, it has still been dominated by the Big Ten’s best. The Terps have been blown out by Michigan, Ohio State and, most recently, No. 1 Penn State on Sunday.
Stat of the week
Maryland women’s basketball gave up 112 points to Penn State on Sunday — the second-most points an opponent has scored against the Terps in program history. South Carolina’s 114 points earlier this season broke the previous record of 111, which Virginia set in 1991.
Game of the week
Maryland women’s basketball will host No. 5 Iowa and reigning AP player of the year Caitlin Clark on Saturday night at 8 p.m in one of the Terps’ biggest games of the season.
