Opponent: Nebraska Cornhuskers (17-15, 6-14 Big Ten)
Location: United Center, Chicago, Illinois
Tipoff: Approximately 2:55 p.m., Thursday, March 14
Last Matchup: Feb. 6, 2019 — Maryland won, 60-45
Last game: Maryland beat Minnesota 69-60, Nebraska beat Rutgers 68-61
Odds: Maryland -6.5 (per OddsShark)
Kenpom prediction: Maryland wins, 70-67
TV: BTN — Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Stephen Bardo (analyst) and Mike Hall (sideline)
Streaming: BTN2Go
Radio: Maryland Sports Radio Network (105.7 FM Baltimore, 980 AM D.C.) — Johnny Holliday (play-by-play), Chris Knoche (analyst), Walt Williams (sideline)
Student Radio: WMUC Sports — Justin Gallanty and Jarred Belman
What to watch for the Terps: A lack of postseason success
None of Maryland’s eight rotation players have ever won a postseason game. That’s a little crazy to think about. The Terps, of course, didn’t make the NCAA tournament or the NIT last season, and lost in the first round of both the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments in 2017. This should be a very winnable game for Maryland, but as the past shows, it can be tough for the Terps to come through in the postseason.
What to watch for the Cornhuskers: A short bench
Because of injuries and other factors, Nebraska arrived at the Big Ten tournament with only six scholarship players. Somehow, they were able to slide past Rutgers using what was essentially a six-man rotation. In the Cornhuskers’ last two games, Johnny Trueblood has played 26 minutes after having never played more than eight minutes in a game during his career. That Nebraska now finds itself relying on someone who normally rides the bench could be a promising sign for Maryland.
