Maryland 76, UConn 66: Ray Floriani's Tempo-Free Analysis

A press box view of Madison Square Garden during the Jimmy V Classic. (Photo courtesy of Ray Floriani)

New York City­ - The nightcap of the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden saw UConn battle Maryland. UConn fell behind early and rallied late, only to fall by a 76­-66 final.

In the first half, Maryland led early, and long. The Terrapins built a double-digit lead early and forced the Huskies to spent most of the half playing catchup. The following numbers attest to the 38-­22 lead Maryland enjoyed at the break:

Possessions: 34

Offensive efficiency: Maryland 112, UConn 65

The final numbers and wrapup:

Possessions: Maryland 70, UConn 69

Offensive efficiency: Maryland 109, UConn 96

Four Factors
eFG%: Maryland 48, UConn 48
FT Rate: Maryland 53, UConn 20
OREB pct: Maryland 44, UConn 16

TO Rate: Maryland 21, UConn 13

What UConn did well: Show resiliency. Trailing by double digits most of the game, the Huskies rallied to get within one possession in the stretch. At that juncture, a foul on Jalen Adams and ill-timed technical foul assessed to coach Kevin Ollie basically extinguished their run.

What Maryland did well: Besides rebound and get to the line, exhibit a good deal of poise. Mark Turgeon’s group seemed to be in control the entire game. UConn made their run, yet the Terps never folded, maintained the lead, and gradually built on it to seal the verdict. Teams will make their runs, how you handle it and respond separates contenders from pretenders. Maryland, on this night, was the former.

Leading scorers and Effectiveness Factors: 
Maryland: Melo Trimble (25 points, EF 29)
UConn: Daniel Hamilton (23 points, EF 30)

The three is a weapon: Kevin Ollie’s Huskies made their late game run by getting a few stops and hitting threes. They finished 7-of-17 for a 42 percent showing. Inside the arc, they managed just 43 percent. Hamilton knocked down three trifectas while Sterling Gibbs (12 points) and Rodney Purvis (11 points) added two each. The three can get you back or, if you continue to miss, bury you deeper in a deficit. In this case, it was able to get UConn back into the hunt.

Maryland’s offensive rebound advantage helped translate to a 40­-30 points in the paint edge, as well as second chance points, 15-­6. Both were crucial in a game that was up for grabs with under five minutes remaining.

In a related item, the Terps’ frequent trips to the line can also be traced to those second chances courtesy of the rebounding. Offensive boards often put you in a position to get great second shots and/or draw fouls.

Robert Carter of Maryland paced all rebounders with 11. In ‘raw’ numbers, the Terps outrebounded UConn, 45-­24. Diamond Stone of Maryland was also effective inside, turning in a nice 16-point, 9-rebound outing.

Maryland improved to 8-1, while UConn fell to 5-3.