Some quick thoughts following the Terps’ 79-65 win over Butler.
How the Terps won: The Terps got out to a bit of a slow start but quickly battled back to take command of the game using suffocating defense while also pushing tempo offensively and hitting some timely shots.
Justin Jackson and Darryl Morsell both had the assignment of defending Butler forward Kelan Martin and did an excellent job forcing him to work for everything he got. Martin finished the game with just 12 points, eight below his season average coming in.
The Terps dominated on the defensive end of the floor, holding Butler to just 34 percent shooting from the field and outrebounding the Bulldogs 40-27. Maryland added seven blocks for good measure.
Dion Wiley scored 11 points and knocked down three triples in his first start since his freshman season.
The big picture: Beating Butler early in the season, and by double digits no less, could end up being huge for the Terps come Selection Sunday.
The Terps will only have one or two more opportunities for quality possible end-of-season top 50 wins during the non-conference slate in Syracuse and maybe TCU. A win over a likely NCAA Tournament team in Butler gives the Terps a little bit of breathing room when they travel to Florida and Syracuse.
Star watch: Sophomore point guard Anthony Cowan had the biggest game of his young career, going off for a career-high 25 points to go along with 10 rebounds and five assists. It was Cowan’s first career double-double.
Cowan hit several timely shots, including a couple of three-pointers with the shot clock expiring. He also helped get the Terps out in transition, in one sequence finding Darryl Morsell for the alley oop and on the very next possession driving the lane and finishing through contact, drawing the foul.
And-1: Is College Park set to become the new Lob City? The Terps completed four alley oops versus Butler with Bruno Fernando and Darryl Morsell each slamming one home while Michal Cekovsky flushed two. This year’s Terps team should be exciting to watch as the season goes on.
