During a span of 15 offensive possessions in the first half their double-overtime win at Michigan State on Dec. 30, Maryland scored just once — on a steal and breakaway dunk by junior forward Jake Layman.
Missing nine of 10 shots and committing six turnovers in that stretch, the Terps still managed to maintain a five-point lead. The offense got better in the second half and the two overtimes, but Maryland won its Big Ten opener mainly because of defense (the Spartans were 21 of 65 shooting overall; 5 of 22 on 3-pointers) and rebounding (the Terps won the battle on the boards, 52-36).
In Saturday's 70-58 win over Minnesota, the Terps were able to overcome a similarly sloppy stretch late in the first half when the Golden Gophers cut a 15-point deficit to three. Maryland won again, mainly due to its defense in the second half (Minnesota was 7 of 31 from the field; 0 for 11 on 3-pointers) and rebounding (a 44-35 overall margin).
While offensive efficiency was an underlying theme of many of Maryland's victories in Mark Turgeon's first three seasons, it has been different this year. Defense, rebounding and rim protection have been at the core of the team's 14-1 start.
Turgeon knows his No. 11 Terps (2-0 Big Ten) will have to improve their offense — especially cutting down on turnovers — when they go back on the road for two games, starting Wednesday night against Illinois (10-5, 0-2) at State Farm Center.
On a teleconference Tuesday, he talked about the need for the Terps to take better care of the ball, calling the team's 19 turnovers against Minnesota "pretty careless."
Layman believes that some of that has to do with readjusting to seniors Dez Wells and Evan Smotrycz returning after both missed significant time with injuries. Wells has been back from a fractured wrist for three games, while Smotrycz seems to finally be healthy after breaking and then re-injuring his foot.
"Since the young guys had to step up when they were out, maybe their roles are not as big. That's definitely a bit of an adjustment," Layman said. "With the new offense we're running, and those guys being hurt around the time we started running it [in games], they're trying to remember what we're doing and what coach wants."
Asked if the return of Wells and Smotrycz has contributed to the Terps playing a bit ragged on offense, Turgeon said, "That's a good excuse for us. I guess. because we're not in sync yet with those two. They're just getting used to playing with different bodies. A lot of it is just carelessness with the ball. Our shot selection has also not been what it needs to be. Hopefully those two things will improve."
Until that happens, the Terps plan on using the same formula as they did against Michigan State and Minnesota.
Maryland's defense ranks second behind Michigan State among the 14 Big Ten teams in field goal percentage allowed (36.9) and 3-point percentage allowed (27.8) for the season. In the two Big Ten games, the Terps have the best 3-point defense (18.2 percent shooting allowed) and rank second in field goal defense (33.1).
Considered a major concern earlier in the season, rebounding and rim protection have become another of Maryland's strengths. After two games, the Terps lead the Big Ten in overall rebounding (48 per game), rebounding differential (plus-12.5) and blocked shots (6.5, including a season-high nine against Minnesota).
It has made an impression on Illinois coach John Groce.
"You go through stretches as a team maybe where you don't make shots all the time. And you look at their Big Ten stats in the first two games … where they didn't make some shots. It happens to all of us," Groce said. "But they found ways to win because of their defense and their rebounding and their togetherness."
Maryland is certainly hoping that its offense comes together against Illinois, which after road losses at Michigan and Ohio State ranks last in the league in scoring defense (75 points per game), field goal percentage defense (48.6), 12th in 3-point defense (38.6) and 13th in defensive rebounding (28.5).
The Fighting Illini will be playing without junior guard Rayvonte Rice, who leads the team in scoring (17.2), rebounding (6.9), 3-point shooting (48.3 percent) and steals (27 total). Rice broke his left hand in practice Monday and is out indefinitely, Groce told reporters Tuesday.
Knowing how Maryland's players filled in when Wells and Smotrycz were out, Turgeon is not expecting any different from the Fighting Illini in Champaign.
"Illinois has good players, so they have an opportunity to step up," he said.
The Terps have seen some of their role players take their own star turns, most recently sophomore Damonte Dodd. The 6-foot-11 center tied his career-high against Minnesota with nine points — all in the first half — and also finished with a career-high 12 rebounds and three blocked shots.
Along with the play of senior forward Jon Graham, it gave the Terps the kind of emotional lift they needed to overcome some sloppy offensive execution toward the end of the first half and at times in the second half. It led to the seventh straight win for Maryland.
"They're a central part of of our defense and our offense," Wells said after the game. "We want to play inside-out. ... We're in a good place right now, mentally and physically."
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