After returning from the Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis on Sunday, Terrapins men’s basketball coach Mark Turgeon expressed sympathy for Terps fans.
The No. 5-seed Terps had just learned their destination for the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament: Spokane, Washington.
This weekend, first and second-round games will be being played in several places: Des Moines, Iowa; Spokane, Washington; Providence, Rhode Island; Brooklyn, New York; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Raleigh, North Carolina; St. Louis, Missouri; Denver, Colorado.
In terms of travel costs, some of those locations are more favorable than others for local Terps fans.
A trip to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn would’ve meant about a four-hour drive. North Carolina would’ve been about five. Even a sub-seven-hour trek to Providence would’ve been doable.
But of the eight locations, Spokane Arena checks in as the furthest. By far. Google Maps estimates a 34-hour drive from College Park to the Terps’ opening-weekend location.
The selection committee is typically favorable to high seeds, trying to place them at nearby locations.
So what did a team that began the season ranked No. 3 in the nation do to deserve a No. 5-seed and a trip across the country?
1. Home loss to Wisconsin
Entering a Feb. 13 matchup against Wisconsin, the Terps hadn’t lost a game at Xfinity Center in more than 14 months. At this point in the season, the Terps had dropped three road games but owned the No. 2 ranking in the country.
But the Terps offense was stagnant against the Badgers, a No. 7-seed in the NCAA tournament. The Badgers took a 16-point lead late in the first half and never looked backed in a 70-57 win.
The Terps’ frustration was most apparent when center Diamond Stone smashed Wisconsin forward Vitto Brown’s head into the hardwood.
The folly earned him a one-game suspension. That brings us to Minnesota.
2. Embarrassment in Minnesota
No Diamond Stone? No problem.
Well, not exactly. Though Minnesota had come up short in each of its 13 previous conference bouts this season, the Terps were forced to leave the floor amid a court storming. Forward Robert Carter Jr. shot 3-for-12, and guard Melo Trimble finished 3 of 11.
The Terps have been too reliant on Stone offensively at times this season, and that showed in the team’s worst loss of the season.
3. Trimble’s 2 of 15 night in the Big Ten semifinals
Despite their late-season struggles, the Terps found themselves with an opportunity to knock off No. 2-seed Michigan State in the conference tournament.
The Terps played great defense and forced the Spartans into 13 turnovers. In addition, they surrendered just 10 offensive rebounds after the Spartans grabbed 17 boards off the offensive glass during the teams’ regular-season clash.
Still, it wasn’t enough to earn the win. Much of the blame for the loss should be given to Trimble, who shot 2-for-15. When the team’s leader misses 13 shots, it’s never a good sign. And when the team’s leader misses 13 shots against Michigan State, a loss is all but guaranteed.