Maryland moved to .500 overall after arguably its most humbling defeat of the season as Indiana pulled out an 83-78 win in College Park. Maryland led by as many as 16 points in the second half, but Indiana woke up and outscored the Terps 48-27 the rest of the way. Everything that Kevin Willard said following the loss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARsOCPJc7XQ On the defensive breakdowns that led Maryland to blow its 16-point lead “Really, it was just transition. They went a quick little 5-0 run and we got it back to 11 and then it just, our transition defense, give them credit. They really pushed the pace on us and it was just, it was kind of tough because they weren't really doing anything in the half court but they were really attacking us in transition and that kind of -- we've been good in transition all year because the way we've played offensively we've had a lot of practice at it. So it was kind of one of those things that's like, we kind of get stuck where it's like when we play good offensively we struggle defensively. When we play good defensively we struggle offensively. We've never been able to put both ends together.” On the feeling of celebrating the seniors in a disappointing loss “Yeah, it sucks.” On the impact of his seniors on the program “I think Jahmir and Donta more than anybody -- Jordan just got here this year, but Jordan's done a great job with it too. Again, laying the foundation of how we want to work and what we want to do and obviously if you look at their numbers, they've had a heck of a career.” On what went wrong for Julian Reese in the second half “You’ve got to give Ware a little bit of credit. I think that his biggest growth8-- we played them in early December I think. If you watch the difference between him early in December and now he's turned himself into a very, very good defender. He uses his length well. He's turned into a heck of a defender.” On containing Mackenzie Mgbako “It was transition. I mean, we lost him in transition three times. Even in the first half, two of their threes were in transition and then Ju makes a great play and he gets a loose ball and hits a three. So, I thought they did a lot a great job of just kind of staying around, staying around, making plays to keep them close and then they went on a good run." On whether he could tell any difference on the bench in the second half “We've struggled at home this year…that's probably been the most frustrating thing. We've had three games in this building where if we had won those three games it would have been totally different. And we've just, for some reason we've just struggled. We haven't struggled nearly as much on the road. They seem much more relaxed on the road than they do at home. I can't really put my finger on it.” On the defensive transition breakdowns in the second half “I just think that they were beating us down the court.” On Maryland’s seven turnovers in the second half “Some of our turnovers were obviously led to transition. It's okay. I struggle with math, too. Some of our turnovers led down to them getting some easy buckets. And again, I think it's a little bit of --give them credit. They really started loading up the paint a little bit, making it a little bit more difficult.” On what’s next heading into road game vs. Penn State “I think these guys are looking forward to a couple days off. I know I am. Get a couple days off. We'll come back Wednesday. Ease back into the week. Because again, we don't play until Sunday. It's a weird bye week. I mean just give these guys a chance to recharge and relax a little bit. They have battled. They have played their ass off for me all year. They've had a great attitude. I think, again, some of the late buckets are probably just frustration level reaching a certain point of it's been that type of year.” On the final game inside Xfinity for Jahmir Young & Donta Scott “It's only my second year here, so, you know, to have a special bond with two guys that you've only been with for two years. Donta could have left, Jahmir could have left last year. They both stuck around, so the fact that they've put a lot into this program, Donta obviously for five, JY for two. As a coach, I'm extremely appreciative of their effort, their hard work, their attitude. And they're both terrific young men. You don't want to go out the way they've gone out but like I said, they've laid down a foundation that will last -- that was not here, that's going to last a while.” Related Links
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