Maryland @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 8, 2019 ) Minnesota 60, Maryland 69

Eighth-ranked Maryland looks to take a huge step toward clinching its first Big Ten regular-season title since joining the conference in 2014 when it visits Minnesota on Wednesday. The Terrapins had won nine consecutive games before dropping a 79-72 decision to No. 23 Ohio State on Sunday, but still hold a two-game lead at the top of the conference, and hope to get back on the winning track by taking down the Gophers for the fourth straight time.

“We didn’t play our best game but we competed and that’s all you can ask for,” Maryland coach Mark Turgeon told reporters. “Maybe we can get another winning streak going.” Minnesota kept its faint NCAA Tournament hopes alive with an 83-57 rout of Northwestern on Sunday. The Golden Gophers had dropped five of their previous six games before knocking down 14 3-pointers en route to matching their largest margin of victory in Evanston, and hope to play their way on to the right side of the bubble by knocking off the Terrapins for the first time since Feb. 22, 2017. “The season’s not over but it’s been pronounced over for some reason,” Minnesota coach Richard Pitino told reporters. “The beauty of our league is you got great wins in front of you.”

TIME: 9 p.m. ET. TV: Big Ten Network

ABOUT MARYLAND (22-5, 12-4 Big Ten): Aaron Wiggins knocked down six 3-pointers en route to a career-high 20 points, but the rest of the team went 4-of-16 from beyond the arc against Ohio State. Eric Ayala scored 16 points while Anthony Cowan Jr. added 10 points and seven assists before fouling out late in the second half against the Buckeyes. Donta Scott tallied 10 points and Jalen Smith, who is averaging 15.1 points and 10.4 rebounds his season, was limited to eight points and seven boards to see his double-double streak end at nine games.

ABOUT MINNESOTA (13-13, 7-9): Daniel Oturu stuffed the stat sheet as he produced 22 points, 12 rebounds and three blocked shots against Northwestern to notch his 15th double-double of the season. Marcus Carr added 18 points, seven assists and five rebounds to move with five assists of matching the season program record set by Arriel McDonald (179) in 1993-94. Gabe Kalscheur finished with 14 points, five rebounds and a career-high five assists while Payton Willis tallied 14 points and six rebounds against the Wildcats.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Smith leads the Big Ten and was tied for fourth nationally entering Wednesday with 17 double-doubles.

2. Oturu was seventh nationally in rebounds per game (11.4).

3. Cowan is set to make his 127th consecutive start, which would be a program record.

PREDICTION: Maryland 76, Minnesota 71