Maryland Terrapins
Record: 27-6, 14-4 Big Ten
Head Coach: Mark Turgeon (4th season)
Season summary: The Terrapins' tenure in the Big Ten started with a bang with a 14-4 conference record and second-place finish behind Wisconsin. Yet, Maryland may not be as good as its record indicates. The Terrapins finished with an 11-1 record in close games, which made them the second-luckiest team in the nation, according to basketball statistician Ken Pomeroy. Whether Maryland's success is due to luck or not, there is no doubt that its backcourt of freshman Melo Trimble and senior Dez Wells is elite. The duo leads the way averaging 16.3 and 15.4 points per game, respectively, and both have made a living at the foul line. Aside from the two guards, the versatility of 6-foot-8 forward Jake Layman makes him another dangerous shooter on the perimeter for opponents to worry about. With so much of success in March dependent on having playmakers on the perimeter, the Terrapins have the players necessary to piece together a solid tournament run.
How they make a run: Trimble and Wells continue to feast at the line and Layman’s ability to hit shots on the perimeter makes life tough for opponents.
How they falter: Luck finally turns against Maryland and the pressure of March causes the team to falter down the stretch of an early-round game.
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