Scouting Notes: Maryland

Indiana basketball heads back home looking to bounce back against Maryland on Sunday afternoon.

Maryland enters Sunday’s matchup at 15-5 overall and 5-4 in Big Ten play. The Terrapins rank 28th in offensive efficiency with a rating of 118. Defensively, they rank 18th overall with a 94.6 rating. Overall, the Terrapins rank 21st in KenPom’s ratings.

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

Key Players

Derik Queen is the lead for the Terrapins and despite being just a freshman, he has a very advanced skillset. Queen has great size and skill as a scorer and playmaker for his teammates, making him extremely difficult to defend in the paint. He won’t overwhelm teams with athleticism and leaping ability but he’s effective, smart and crafty with how he makes plays. He has soft hands and terrific foot work which allows him to exploit matchups. If the double team comes, his passing ability opens the floor up. While he’s tremendous offensively, his defense has taken another step up this year. Despite not being a dominant shot blocker, his size and frame and IQ make up the ground. He ranks 2nd in the Big Ten in defensive rating and 1st in defensive win shares. The only knock on Queen at times has been his motor, but when he brings a consistent motor, he’s as dominant as they come in the paint.

While Queen is the big name, Ja’Kobi Gillespie comes with just as much importance. The Belmont transfer point guard is one of the most balanced guards in the Big Ten with his ability to score and be a true playmaker for the Terps. Gillespie isn’t overly explosive but he plays with great pace and knows when and how to change speeds. He does a great job at probing defenses and getting into the heart of the defense, taking exactly what opponents give him. With over a 2-to-1 assist to turnover ratio, he does a terrific job at limiting mistakes and does so by not forcing the issue. He truly has yet to have an opponent really speed him up in his decision-making process. Scoring the ball, Gillespie can do so at the rim or on the perimeter. He’s shooting 42.3 percent from three on 2.4 made 3s a game. While nearly 50 percent of his made field goals are 3s, he is best in transition and getting into the paint — part of his game that then opens up his ability to connect off of the dribble or the catch from the wing. Gillespie is also a terrific defender both on and off the ball, but his quick hands and ability to get into passing lanes is extremely effective as a weak side or off ball defender — something Indiana will certainly have to be aware of on Sunday.

In the font court with Queen is one of the more steady bigs in the Big Ten in Julian Reese. Reese has great length and athletic ability that pairs perfectly alongside Queen. But, Reese is not a threat anywhere outside of five feet. He’s taken just one three in the past three years after 23 in year one. When he gets the ball on the block he uses good footwork and his length to finish around opponents. He has good elevation and a really good second-jump ability. He’s expanded his game a bit more over the last few years and is utilized in many high ball screens where he’ll roll and be able to finish around the free throw line with a soft floater. The lefty is tremendous on the glass, ranked 2nd in the Big Ten in offensive rebound percent and leading the league in overall offensive rebounds. Defensively, Reese is first in the Big Ten in defensive rating and top-10 in blocks, block percentage and defensive rebound rate. While Queen gets a lot of the pub, Reese is as efficient as they come and ranks 2nd in player efficiency rating.

Another tremendous addition in the backcourt is Rodney Rice, a transfer from Virginia Tech. He’s an athletic and strongly built guard who can play both on and off the ball. He’s quick and explosive, with his game starting with his ability to attack off of the bounce. Rice is a streaky shooter and when he gets going, it opens up his entire game. His three-point percentage his dipped from 35.1 percent in the first 13 games to just 31.4 percent in the last seven games. Despite his streakiness, he tries to rely on his three-point shot to get hot in a hurry. 58 percent of his shot attempts from three this season and he has just two games with less than four attempted 3s this year.

Selton Miguel is another wing transfer who has been a tremendous addition. He is a knockdown three-point shooter who can finish on and off the ball and has NBA range. He’s a high volume there-point shooter with 10 games of at least five three-point attempts. Miguel is either going to be looking for 3s or finish at the rim off of the ball, but he’s rarely going to be a factor attacking the basket off of the bench.

Tafara Gapare is off the bench in the front court and provides nice depth and length to pair with Reese and Queen. Unlike his front court counterparts, he has the versatility to step out on the perimeter, shooting 37.9 percent on 1.5 attempts a game. He’s extremely productive and effective in his minutes, with a per-40 minute average of 15 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.9 blocks a game.

In the backcourt is DeShawn Harris-Smith off the bench. After starting last year, Harris-Smith has seen his role decrease greatly. He’s only cored more than two points in one of the last five games.

Key Tendencies

This is not your typical Maryland team under Kevin Willard — in fact quite the opposite. It’s the most efficient Maryland team in five years and the highest scoring team since they won the National Championship in 2002. It starts with Maryland’s efficient big men that open up the rest of the floor. While both are dominant post players, it doesn’t limit space for the slashing guards around them because of the terrific passing ability of Queen and the terrific rebounding ability of Reese — limiting how defenses want to help on drives. Maryland likes to play fast and will utilize any of its typical three-guard lineups to push the pace. There is quickness and athleticism at all guard positions that allow the Terrapins to attack at numerous angles — ranked 19th in average possession length this year. They are one of the most efficient teams — both in transition and in the half court. The Terrapins get 54 percent of their points on 2s and shoot 48.8 percent overall from the floor — ranked 28th in the country. Maryland won’t draw a lot of fouls, a free throw rate ranked just 230th in the country, and that’s because the team is vastly improved shooting the ball. They shoot 36 percent from three as a team, but rank 250+ in three-point rate and percentage of points from three. Again, a team that will live and die at the rim and in the mid range.

Defensively, Maryland is as tough as it has always been and plays without fouling. Opponents rank 311th in percent of points from the line and Maryland ranks 30th in opponent free throw attempts a game. Despite a team with good size and a rebounder like Reese, there are still times that teams can take advantage of the Terrapins on the glass — something to watch with Indiana basketball and center Oumar Ballo. This will be the most difficult front court matchup for Indiana basketball this season on both ends, but certainly trying to score against this duo. Reese and Queen are 1st and 2nd in the Big Ten in defensive rating.

Overall, Maryland is still the same hard-nosed defensive team as before but now has an explosive offense to show for it, something it can lean on way more than in the past. There is versatility on the wing that has been a major concern for Indiana basketball in the past. The Terrapins rarely turn the ball over but average nine steals a game and force nearly 16 turnovers a game, creating a lot of their transition opportunities. Indiana basketball needs to match the toughness from the tip, but this is now an athletic and explosive Maryland roster that can score in bunches.

Projected Starters

G – Ja’Kobi Gillespie (Junior; 6-0, 175)

Stats: 14.4 ppg, 4.5 apg, 1.9 spg, 42.3% 3pt

G – Rodney Rice (Sophomore; 6-4, 195)

Stats: 12.1 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.1 apg, 33.9% 3pt

G – Selton Miguel (Junior; 6-4, 210)

Stats: 11.3 ppg, 39.6% 3pt

F – Derik Queen (Freshman; 6-10, 245)

Stats: 15.6 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.2 spg

F – Julian Reese (Senior; 6-9, 235)

Stats: 13.7 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 1.5 bpg

Key Notes

SEE ALSO: ‘I wish I knew. I’m still trying to figure it out’: Indiana basketball sits with back squarely up against the wall, with more questions than answers

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