Shortly after Maryland men’s basketball forward Jalen Smith’s second layup attempt rimmed out early against Northwestern on Tuesday, the freshman walked away from the basket and muttered under his breath in frustration.

“He didn’t start great, did he?” coach Mark Turgeon said.

It appeared to be the culmination of pent-up exasperation from an up-and-down stretch that’s tested Smith’s size and strength as much as his talent. His troubles were most evident in the Terps’ 69-55 loss to No. 6 Michigan State last week, in which he struggled to match up with some of the Big Ten’s most formidable big men.

That performance signaled a need for change — some adaptation to Smith’s routine to help him recover his form, and live up to his hype as a McDonald’s All-American.

So Smith added three or four extra weight room sessions to his regimen, and director of basketball performance Kyle Tarp began using pads to beat on Smith in practice, simulating the physical nature of playing at the block in the Big Ten. During the week after the Michigan State game, Smith spent up to an hour before or after practice putting in extra work, attempting to fill out his 6-foot-10 frame.

[Read more: No. 21 Maryland men’s basketball bounces back in comfortable win over Northwestern, 70-52]

While Smith admitted his arms were a bit sore from the extra lifting, he’s shown signs of improvement in the Terps’ last two games. The freshman scored 11 points and pulled in seven rebounds against Illinois on Saturday, then put up 14 and nine to help Maryland overcome guard Anthony Cowan’s foul trouble and top the Wildcats, 70-52.

“My little body has become a lot stronger now,” Smith said. “When I take a hit, I am able to withstand the hit now. Going to the weight room, it helps me with being able to finish around bigger people and making sure that I maintain my balance.”

Against the Spartans, Smith had just three rebounds, as contested balls between him and an opponent often went the other way. It was the final game of a brutal four-game stretch, where he averaged 7.3 points on 28.6 percent shooting, and was often a non-factor.

But Smith’s change in regimen has seemed to pay off over his last two outings. Against the Illini, he sank a pair of 3-pointers, and was the only regular rotation player without a turnover as his teammates struggled to take care of the ball.

[Read more: Maryland men’s basketball isn’t dwelling on its brutal loss to Illinois]

Facing Northwestern three days later, he featured at the post more frequently than in the past. He found ways to finish through contact, a development he credits to Tarp’s work with him in practice.

“That just braces me for the type of contact in the Big Ten,” Smith said. “I’m getting used to it now.”

With under 10 minutes left in the first half, forward Bruno Fernando — who finished with a game-high 22 points and 10 rebounds — worked with his back to the basket on Wildcats center Dererk Pardon. Fernando’s attempt misfired, but Smith rose up and collected the rebound, holding off Pardon and guard Anthony Gaines before finishing with his left hand.

The strength to corral the board — followed by the pump-fake, turn and finish with his off-hand — showed the level Smith could soon reach on a more consistent basis.

“I was able to grab rebounds more aggressively,” Smith said, “because against Michigan State, I would just lose it.”

In a two-minute span midway through the second half, Smith added five quick points to his tally. As he cut toward the hoop on an inbounds play, the Baltimore native caught the pass and was fouled, but finished at the rim and converted the and-1.

Then, after foul trouble forced Cowan to check out with nearly 12 minutes to go, Fernando’s feed to a wide-open Smith from the top of the key — leading to a dunk from Smith — established a 20-point advantage to put the game on ice.

“He’s understanding a lot more what the Big Ten is really about — the physicality and just staying strong with the ball,” Fernando said. “At practice, people just beat up on him all the time, so it’s helping him a lot. It’s good to see him grow.”

Maryland needs to see that growth turn into consistent performances from Smith. And Tuesday’s display was a promising sign after he struggled to compete against the Spartans on Jan. 21.

Without Cowan — Maryland’s most experienced ball handler and on-court leader — the Terps relied on Fernando and Smith to carry them to victory and buck a two-game skid. Smith’s resurgence, instigated by a more physical practice routine, will be pivotal during the final two months of the season.

“We need him. He’s been really working,” Turgeon said. “It’s coming. It takes time. He looked really confident out there.”