The Illini are back home for a matchup with the Terrapins and freshman big man Derik Queen
Maryland turns its opponents over 15.5 times per game, while coughing up just 10.7 turnovers itself – giving the Terrapins a turnover margin of plus-4.8 . With the ball so often in the hands of lead guard Ja’Kobi Gillepsie , it's no wonder Maryland has few issues taking care of the ball. On the other end, the Terrapins rely on a sticky-fingered team effort to force opponents into errors.
Illinois' defense is predicated on the principle of running opponents off the three-point line and forcing them to settle on difficult twos, rather than creating turnovers. If the Illini contest shots and rebound, a negative turnover margin becomes less of an issue.
In a year when the Big Ten – and college basketball as a whole – is being dominated by first-year players, the Terps have been able to get in on the act. Derik Queen is inarguably the league's best freshman big man, and he leads his squad in scoring and rebounding . Even more impressively, Queen is shooting 54.8 percent from the field and putting up his numbers in just 27.6 minutes per game.
As Maryland’s go-to offensive weapon, Queen has been excellent as a freshman, but the Illini have a proven track record of shutting down star bigs. Between Ivisic and Morez Johnson Jr. , Illinois will make Maryland's meal ticket earn everything he gets Thursday. Between Illinois’ offensive firepower, ability to dominate the glass and shifty defense that forces even the most efficient offenses into off nights, the Terrapins are going to need a season-best performance to pull off their first conference road win. The Illini may never completely pull away from the Terps, but expect them to take a lead and maintain it down the stretch on their home floor.
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