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Sometimes you want to make a quick pit stop, empty the bladder, grab a bag of salty snacks and limber up the limbs before hitting the open road again. For the fast-minded who enjoy simple $2 scratchers hoping to uncover the jackpot-winning image, here are quick thoughts and the lean on Michigan State vs. Maryland.
No. 8 Michigan State (22-5, 13-3) at No. 16 Maryland (21-6, 11-5)
Date: Wednesday, February 26
Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
TV: Big Ten Network
All hard-shelled crustaceans in Bikini Bottom agree. The Crab Five is in the running for all-time great college basketball nicknames.
Apologies to Chris Weber, Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, Ray Jackson and Jimmy King.
Kevin Willard’s bunch is peaking at the most opportune time, exhibiting a nearly uncrackable exoskeleton. Over the last 30 days, the Terrapins are No. 18 overall on BartTorvik, slotting top-40 nationally in adjusted offensive and adjusted defensive efficiency. Handling business at home and on the road (see Ws at Illinois, at Indiana and at Nebraska), they’re quickly rising up the ranks. Scott Van Pelt is overjoyed.
Bracketeers looking to score the bag in this year’s NCAA Tournament office pool need to pay attention. Your first assignment: Watch Wednesday’s game against Big Ten title-motivated Michigan State.
The pick — SGP: Maryland ML, Game UNDER 160.5 (+105, Caesars)
Over the past several weeks, the Sparty party has steadily raged. The shindig is on the brink of reaching a legendary level.
In its last nine games, Michigan State may only be a modest 6-3, but it’s riding a three-game win streak after registering impressive triumphs at Illinois, against Purdue and at Michigan. Sliding inside the BartTorvik top 20 over that stretch, the Spartans derailed teams with a mixture of glass waxes (top 50 in OR% and DR%), midrange splashes and, of course, vintage Tom Izzo defense (0.938 points allowed per possession).
Jase Richardson’s scoring emergence has also provided a much-needed spark. Totaling double figures in his last five games, the freshman guard can give the Spartans an offensive lift off the bounce or with occasional outside splashes. The latter is most crucial.
[ Bracket Big Board: Brad Evans' latest NCAA Tournament projections ]
On the season, State has netted a miserable 29.5% on 3-pointers. However, Richardson and cohorts drained nine triples in the Spartans’ defining defeat of Michigan last Friday. If they continue to improve along the arc, a run to the third weekend of the NCAA Tournament isn’t unfathomable. It’s an Izzo-coached team after all.
Boiling the Claws from College Park is a monumental task.
Derik Queen and Julian Reese make up quite possibly the best frontcourt in college basketball. Thunderous dunks, soft through-the-rim touches and demoralizing disruptions are their trademarks. Their presence and a sizzling perimeter game — Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Rodney Rice and Selton Miguel have caught fire — give Maryland incredible scoring balance. In the Terps’ last 10 games, they are shooting a ridiculous 40.1% on 3s, the nation’s 16th-best rate over that span.
Whoever wins the rebound battle at XFINITY Center will gain an edge, but Maryland’s moneyball hot hand gives it an enormous advantage. It’s unlikely Michigan State can replicate what it showed against the Wolverines.
Clamp down, Dungeness dudes.
Season record: 22-22, -0.53 units