Terrapins (14-9) vs #9 Blue Devils (20-4)
The Maryland Terrapins hoops program is going through some lean times. It wasn’t that long ago that they were considered the third best program in the conference after Duke and UNC, but now they are closer to the middle of the pack with the Florida schools rising up.
Saturday February 11
Cameron Indoor Stadium – Durham, NC
4:00PM
Moneyline: No money line currently posted
Spread: Duke -15.5
O/U: 151.1
Maryland
They have a chance to make a statement with their visit to Cameron Indoor Stadium this weekend. It may not be an even rivalry these days but these squads always get up for playing each other so it should be entertaining.
He may not be the league’s best player but guard Terrell Stoglin leads the ACC in scoring. He has had 4 straight 20+ point game and has scored that many or more in 6 of the past 7…too bad he just doesn’t get much help. In fact only one other Terp averages even 10ppg. Center Alex Len is a nice prospect at 7’1” but he doesn’t produce all that much.
They need to do a better job of getting him the ball and will need him to be a factor against that tall Duke frontline.
Duke
It has been quite the week for Duke. First they lose to Miami at home for the first time ever. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Then three days later they travel to North Carolina and win on a buzzer beater by freshman guard Austin Rivers, after being down 10 points quite late in the ball game. I think Coach K, like the rest of us, is trying to find out what the team’s true level is. Maryland might not be the best barometer as the Blue Devils have beaten them 4 in a row and 9 of 10.
Rivers has been having a nice freshman year pacing the Blue Devils in scoring but after this week the expectations just got a little bit higher. Against Carolina he had a season high 29 points, but more importantly, you could see the confidence he is developing. On that last shot he waited patiently then nailed the dagger.
Forward Ryan Kelly has emerged as the best scoring threat when Rivers doesn’t have the ball. They are surrounded by lots of nice players but you don’t really have to run sets for the Plumlees or Seth Curry. They pick their spots.
Spread Pick: Maryland +15.5
O/U Pick: Under
Score Prediction: Duke 82 – Maryland 69
