FWIW, I was at the MD-ND game last night in College Park with a buddy of mine who played for MD years ago. I've watched MD regularly the past several years and am familiar with team. They are athletic and deep. Their center (Jalen Smith, aka "Stix") is a wiry 6-11 with a huge wingspan. Blocked 7 or so shots last night. Also sank three treys. A forward blocked a further three shots, in savage fashion. Their PG, Cowan, is often quiet but runs the offense effectively. Wing Ayala is my favorite player. Gritty defender and deadly offensively when he gets going. Sank several treys last night IIRC and penetrated and scored, too. Morsell and Wiggins are nightmares, too. And Mark Turgeon (coach) has had excellent recruiting classes lately. They have twin frosh 6-10 fwds from DC who are getting a fair amt of tick. Also a frosh from Philly, Donta Scott, who's big (6-7, 225) and agile. He saw a fair amt of time last evening.
Game started slow. ND had inferior athletes but led for first 12 mins as MD couldn't figure out how to attack zone. Then they solved it and went on a big run to lead by ~ 12 at half. Watch some of the highlights on ESPN (esp. Ayala's break in first half when he absolutely posterizes a poor ND guard.) Some highlight reel stuff. They came out in the second and just destroyed ND. Really felt for Mike Brey. For the final 25 minutes of the game they really had no chance to even pull close, let alone win.
MD defended aggressively all night. That's a big reason why they're 10-0. If we do not start playing aggressive defense they will shred us on Saturday. They move the ball well and are unselfish. Got a lot of back door looks last night when they sought them. The one potential weak spot is the center, Stix. Last year as a frosh he got pushed around down low as he's too skinny. He put on 35 lbs over summer but it wasn't enough. Needed ~50 at least. (Why these S&C coaching idiots don't have these guys deadlifting and squatting 5-600 lbs and not simply eating 7000 cals per day baffles me.) Stix got manhandled underneath last night by inferior (though bulkier) ND center and fwds. Had trouble finishing in close when guarded, hence his floating to the perimeter and tossing in the occasional dagger. Last year they had Bruno Fernando, a Kofi-like beast, at center, and Stix played the four often. Kofi and GB need to push him around Saturday. He's a perimeter threat, however, as I noted.
(Side note: I was at MSG for the Illini upset of MD in January. The reason why we won, IMO, is that Adonis DLR got in Fernando's head by pushing him around. Kofi and GB have to do this Saturday w/o getting in foul trouble.)
MD also have not shot well from three, though they did last night in the final 30 mins. ND gave them open looks all night. That doesn't bode well for us as we've been lazy defenders on the perimeter.
My initial observation is that we're nearly as athletic as MD. The only way we will hang with them IMO is to defend them aggressively. Otherwise we're probably toast and if we lose by fewer than 15 it will surprise me. With defense, and proper shooting, we can beat them, in Champaign much more likely than here on Saturday. After the game Turgeon said he doesn't like playing an Illinois team coming off that loss to Miami. I hope BU's boys are motivated.
For the first 10 mins of game I was wondering why MD is a top five team. They looked ordinary. After 20 minutes I was no longer wondering.
-ILL-
