Coming into this season the Maryland Terrapins were picked to win the Big Ten. They are currently in third place but they will host the team in first place, the Iowa Hawkeyes, on Thursday night with a chance to gain some ground. Maryland comes into this game at 17-3 (6-2) and ranked eighth in nation while Iowa comes in at 16-3 (7-0) and ranked third in the nation.
Iowa's resume is extremely impressive so far this season as they have five wins against Top 25 teams which is the most in the nation. Those wins include season sweeps of Michigan State and Purdue and a non-conference blowout win over Wichita State. Overall Iowa has won nine straight games and a win in College Park would cement them as the best team in the Big Ten.
The biggest key to the Hawkeyes success so far this season has been the play of senior forward Jarrod Uthoff. Uthoff is averaging 18.9 points and 6.2 rebounds per game while shooting 48 percent from three and he has worked his way into not only the Big Ten Player of the Year conversation but also National Player of the Year too. Uthoff has scored at least 20 points in each of his last three games and will look to continue this stretch on Thursday.
While Uthoff has been Iowa's guy, junior guard Peter Jok has also been huge for them so far this season. Jok is the only other Hawkeye averaging double figures in points per game (14.7) and he is shooting 40 percent from three. Jok struggled with consistency early in the season but recently that hasn't been too much of an issue as he has scored in double figures in seven of his last eight games.
While Iowa's resume is extremely impressive, Maryland's isn't too shabby. All three of Maryland's losses have come on the road so far but they are missing that marquee win. So far their best wins are over UConn and Georgetown which are not all that impressive. Maryland is coming off a loss at Michigan State and they have been 9-0 following a loss over the past two seasons so if that trend continues they will have finally gotten that big win.
Uthoff has the best numbers of the guys playing in this game but Melo Trimble, Maryland's sophomore guard, may be the best player. Trimble is extremely talented and has the ability to get whatever he wants on the floor as he is averaging 14.5 points and 5.6 assists per game while making 47 percent of his field goal attempts. Trimble had a big time game against Michigan State despite the loss as he scored 24 points and added 7 rebounds so he will look to stay in a groove.
Another player to keep your eye on for Maryland is junior transfer Robert Carter. Carter is a 6 foot-9 forward that is able to stretch the floor and hit threes (35 percent) but also leads the team in rebounding with 6.9 per game. Carter was the only other player, besides Trimble, to score in double figures against Michigan State and he has been consistent all season which is why he is second on the team with his 13.2 points per game.
This will be Iowa's first ever trip to College Park but they did meet up with Maryland at home last season, a game in which they upset the, then number 17 Terrapins, by 16 points.
The game is scheduled to tip off at 7 P.M. Eastern time on ESPN and to watch the live broadcast go here. For the Iowa radio broadcast go here and for the Maryland radio broadcast go here.
