BASKETBALL

Scouting Notes: Maryland

Published

2 months ago

March 3, 2024

Indiana basketball vs Maryland basketball

A deep dive into Maryland and some of the challenges it could give the Indiana basketball program in Sunday's matchup. (Maryland Athletics)

Indiana basketball is on the road at Maryland on Sunday as it starts a two-game road stand before finishing up at home.

Maryland is 15-14 overall and 7-11 in Big Ten play entering Sunday afternoon. The Terrapins are just an average team offensively with an efficiency rating of 107.2 which is 163rd in the country. Defensively, however, Maryland is terrific. It ranks 5th with a rating of 92.5. Overall, it ranks 50th in KenPom’s ratings.

Here is a deep dive into some of the challenges Maryland could give the Indiana basketball program.

Game Preview: Indiana basketball vs Maryland – key storylines, injury report, how to watch

Key Players

Maryland is led by Jahmir Young. The talented guard is a very aggressive scorer who can do so at all three levels. He has a quick first step that allows him to get into the middle of a defense and can either finish in the mid range, at the rim or use his playmaking skills to find an open teammate. Young’s offense starts at the rim and moves out. He uses his slashing ability to open things up for his perimeter play. He’s shooting 34.4 percent from three this season on 1.9 made 3s per game. He has struggled in the last five games, shooting just 23.8 percent from three (5-of-21). Young has a shiftiness about him that allows him to create numerous scoring opportunities wherever he is on the floor. It also allows him to have tremendous finishing ability at the rim. While Young isn’t an extremely strong guard, he seeks out contact. Young attempts 7.2 free throws per game and shoots 90.5 percent from the line. While he does have the ability to create for his teammates, most of his passes are forced — trying to create opportunities for his teammates instead of making the ‘easy’ pass. He leads the Big Ten in turnovers and is averaging 2.8 per game. Indiana needs to be physical with him, both on the perimeter and on drives.

In the front court is Julian Reese. Reese is having a career-year in terms of numbers but not efficiency. While Reese’s offense has come along in a nice way, he has seen his shooting percentage fall nearly 10 percent from last year, to just 54 percent this year. He’s best on the defensive end of the floor as a rim protector. Reese is averaging two blocks a game. In ball screen action, Reese has the ability to switch on smaller and perimeter-oriented players. Offensively, Reese is going to be used exclusively at the high-post and in. He hasn’t attempted a single three in the last two years. Reese has great length and athleticism to finish over just about any defender at the rim. While he has an ability to play with his back to the basket, he likes to utilize his athletic ability with more face up opportunities. Because of the effectiveness that Young has off of high ball screens, Reese will be used as the screener at the top of the key and roll hard to the basket to start a lot of possessions. If he’s not a focal point on a possession, Reese typically cleans up most misses on the glass, averaging 3.1 offensive rebounds — a 10.9 percent rate. Reese lives at the free throw line as well, attempting 7.2 free throws per game and ranking 9th nationally in free throw rate. In the last seven games, Reese is averaging 16.6 points per game while shooting 60.8 percent from the floor.

Playing alongside Reese as a hybrid forward is Donta Scott. Scott is who he is at this point — 158 games into his career — and that is a big shooting forward. 51.6 percent of his attempts are from three this year with 44.2 percent of his total shot attempts in his career coming from the perimeter. He’s shooting his best percentage (33.3) since his sophomore year, however. Scott is typically a floor spacer to allow more room for Jahmir Young and other guards to penetrate. He has 16 games with at least two made 3s, but also 13 games with one or less 3s. Despite his desire to play on the perimeter, Scott is best attacking off of the dribble. He has good size at 6-foot-7 and 225 pounds to force the issue with defenders. He is very effective once he gets inside of 15 feet, it’s just a matter of if he wants to get there. If Scott is getting to the line frequently, the defense is doing something wrong. He’s attempted just 2.2 free throws per game for his entire career.

Deshawn Harris-Smith has been a much-needed piece to the puzzle for Maryland this season, despite some of his struggles. The 6-foot-5 freshman guard has allowed Young to play more off of the ball if need be and provides an another versatile playmaker in the backcourt. Harris-Smith is best attacking the basket. He’s an extremely physical player who loves to draw contact. While he’s struggled with his shot this season, (36.9/16.9/60.8), he’s not shy about taking them. Harris-Smith has a terrific motor on both ends and is a great defensive player. But, sometimes he can be over aggressive and cause some collapses at the top of the key. Indiana needs to force him into being a perimeter player and a jump shooter. In the last five games, Harris-Smith is averaging 10.8 points per game on 45.8 percent from the floor.

Another versatile forward and newcomer for the Terps is Jordan Geronimo. Geronimo played three seasons with Indiana but has found a home with Maryland this year. He’s playing that small-ball four that he was best at during his IU tenure. Geronimo is obviously best known for his athleticism and length. He’s using that to his advantage on the defensive end, landing in the top-5 in the Big Ten in defensive rating. He’s used his length to get out in passing lanes and start easy fast break opportunities. In half court settings, Geronimo is still best as a screener and someone who can finish at the rim. But, he’s not sticking to that. Geronimo has taken a career high 43 3s this season but is shooting just 16.3 percent. He’s averaging about two offensive rebounds per game and has eight games with at least three offensive rebounds. He is once again using his above the rim talent to finish in the paint. His passing ability is better, as well. He’s been used in the middle of zones numerous times and been extremely effective finding backdoor cutters on the wings.

Two guards off of the bench are Jamie Kaiser and Jahari Long. Kaiser is 6-foot-6 wing is strictly a three-point shooter at this stage. The freshman has struggled though, shooting just 24.2 percent on 3.4 attempted 3s per game. He is just 4-of-21 in his last eight games after shooting 33 percent in the previous eight games. He’s a streaky shooter and typically makes more than one once he sees his first shot go in. Long is a 6-foot-5 guard who is another perimeter-oriented player. 55.6 percent of his shot attempts are from three — but shooting just 32.7 percent on the season.

Key Tendencies

Maryland is a team that is going to live and die with the ball in the hands of Jahmir Young and his ability to get in the paint and create for the rest of the team. Maryland has an effective field goal rate of just 46.5 percent, ranked 327th in the country. And, it doesn’t get any better from there. Maryland ranks 353th in the country in 3s, shooting just 28.2percent and making just 5.9 3s per game, ranked 315th. What Maryland does well, however, is clean up those misses and get to the foul line. They are averaging 12.1 offensive rebounds per game and rebounding 33.2 percent of the misses — rated 54th in the country. The Terps are also shooting 23.9 free throws a game (12th) and while they are getting 24.8 percent of their total points from the line — 6th most nationally. They are shooting just 40.5 percent from the floor as a team in the last 11 games.

Defensively, Maryland is one of the toughest teams in the country. They are a versatile group that can switch off numerous positions and have a lot of quickness and athleticism at all five spots on the floor. The Terps are a team that force you inside, allowing just 16.1 attempted 3s per game — ranked 4th in the nation. Teams are turned into a very one-dimensional team when playing the Terps, which due to Indiana’s style could benefit the Hoosiers — ranked 6th in total points coming from 2s. Opponents have made more than six 3s just once in the last 10 games, with teams averaging just 4.3 3s a game over that span. Maryland is forcing opponents to nearly 13 turnovers per game.

Overall, despite the struggles from Maryland on the perimeter, Indiana can’t help off of the wings on Jahmir Young drives. Maryland has streaky shooters, so if they see one go in early, it could spark the confidence needed to continue to hit shots. If IU stays home on those shooters, Maryland will struggle to score in the paint. The manner in which these teams play are all too similar at times and it will likely come down to two things; who can win the toughness battle and who can hit one extra shot from the perimeter.

Projected Starters

G- Jahmir Young (Senior; 6-2, 185)

Stats: 20.9 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 4.2 apg, 34.4% 3pt

G- Deshawn Harris-Smith (Freshman; 6-5, 215)

Stats: 7.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.1 apg

F- Donta Scott (Senior; 6-7, 225)

Stats: 11.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 33.3% 3pt

F- Jordan Geronimo (Senior; 6-6, 220)

Stats: 5.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg

F-Julian Reese (Junior; 6-9, 230)

Stats: 13.9 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 1.9 bpg

Key Notes

Maryland is holding its opponents to 27.1 percent from three in second halves this season, second best among major conference teams

Jahmir Young ranks second nationally in ‘clutch’ points – points scored in the last five minutes of regulation and overtime when the score is within six points
Julian Reese is one of four Division I players with at least 400 points, 250 rebounds and 50 blocks this season
The Hoosiers have won five of the last six matchups