When you’re among the final five unbeaten teams in Division I, the last player you want to see entering your arena is JuJu Watkins.
Yet, that’s where the No. 8 Maryland Terrapins, owners of an unscathed 14-0 record, find themselves on Wednesday, Jan. 8. The No. 4 USC Trojans, led by Watkins, come to College Park for a battle of Big Ten titans (8:30 p.m. ET, FS1).
The two teams present alternative theories of title-contending basketball, making the matchup on all the more intriguing. Will USC’s star power or Maryland’s balanced attack win out on Wednesday night?
Can the Terps’ team ball triumph?
After last year’s disappointing descent into mediocrity, Maryland is back at their more familiar perch near the top of the sport, with head coach Brenda Frese not only impressively importing a talented group of transfers, but also, almost instantly, effectively integrating new and returning players to establish an elite, two-way team.
As our Eric Nemchock has covered, the newcomers have alleviated the burden on Shyanne Sellers, allowing the senior point guard to more effectively and efficiently effect all areas of the game. And while junior guard Kaylene Smikle has emerged as the Terrapins’ most consistent scorer after transferring from Rutgers, the likes of junior…
