Despite a game-high 31 points from Jahmir Young, only four Terps scored and three knocked down at least one field goal against Michigan State as Maryland fell, 63-54, on the road to drop to 13-9 (5-6) on the season. Everything that Maryland head coach Kevin Willard said following the Michigan State loss:
Willard on Julian Reese struggling with foul trouble vs. Michigan State
“I think more than anything, we haven’t practiced a whole lot with Jordan at the five spot. We had a couple [of] things and we just got really stagnant on the offensive end because we just didn’t, a lot of the stuff that we could do with [Julian Reese] we couldn’t do just because of Jordan [Geronimo] being out there at the five. So those guys battled. I mean, we got it back to, took the lead, 43-42. We had a wide-open three when we’re down one, but then the fatigue came in. We gave up two huge offensive rebounds that kind of sealed the deal.”
On Maryland’s defensive efforts vs. Michigan State
“You also have to give them credit. I mean, they are a physical defensive team with an unbelievable home court advantage. And that’s something that’s, there’s a reason why [Tom Izzo] has 701 wins now is because this place is a bear to play in. So we had some opportunity. We had some shots. I thought we got a little sped up a little bit during that stretch and I thought we took some quick shots. But these guys, they battled. They played their butts off. That’s all you can ask for going on the road in a tough atmosphere.”
On why Malik Hall has proved to be a tough matchup vs. Maryland
“The twos were alright but we get a stop on him, he gets an offensive rebound. We get a foul, he makes both free throws. And then we lost him. We scrambled great–on the one he made a three, we scrambled great, we scrambled and we just kind of lost him at the end of the shot clock. He made one and he’s not a great shooter, but I always say like, okay shooters become great shooters at the end of the shot clock because they know they have to shoot it. And that happens. We were gassed. Coming off the bye week, Jahmir [Young] is so much more of a rhythm guy, even though he had 31. I thought he struggled a little bit early coming off the bye week, but his effort and his heart were unbelievable. All of them. It was great. It’s just, you know, the fouls on Ju really changed the game.”
On Maryland’s upcoming week
“Rutgers [is] tough defensively. We’re going to have to find ways to score and then Ohio state on the road. It’s tough, man. But we came in here, had an effort, had a chance and then, give them a lot of credit for making some big plays.”
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