2013 NIT Quarterfinals
#2 Maryland Terrapins vs #1 Alabama Crimson Tide
Tuesday, March 26, 2013, 7:30 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN
Coleman Coliseum – Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Opening Line: Alabama -3 1/2
Current Line: Alabama -4
Opening Total: 126
Current Total: 127 1/2
Opening Money Line: Alabama -165 / Maryland +145
Current Money Line: Alabama -190 / Maryland +160
The first berth in the NIT semifinals next week in New York is on the line as the 23-12 Alabama Crimson Tide host the 24-12 Maryland Terrapins Tuesday night in the NIT quarterfinals. The winner will face either Virginia or Iowa in the semifinals.
This is the fifth ever meeting between Alabama and Maryland. The Terrapins lead the series 3-1. Alabama won the last meeting 62-42 in the 2011 Puerto Rico Tip-off tournament.
Alabama went 12-6 in the SEC, part of a three way tie for second with Ole Miss and Kentucky, two games behind Florida. Alabama lost to Florida 61-51 in the SEC semifinals, and was not selected for the NCAA tournament. The Crimson Tide were given one of the four #1 seeds in the NIT though. Alabama beat Northeastern 62-43 in the first round, and Stanford 66-54 in the second round Saturday. Both games were in Tuscaloosa.
Maryland went 8-10 in the ACC, and were in 7th place by themselves. The Terrapins lost 79-76 to North Carolina in the ACC semifinals after Maryland had upset Duke in the quarterfinals. The Terps were also snubbed by the NCAA, and given a 2 seed in the NIT. Maryland beat Niagara 86-70 in the first round, and Denver 62-52 in the second round last Thursday. Both games were in College Park.
Alabama is coached by Anthony Grant. The Crimson Tide have losses to Dayton, at Cincinnati, at VCU, Mercer, Tulane, at Missouri, at Tennessee, at Auburn, at LSU, Florida twice, and at Ole Miss. Alabama has wins over South Dakota St, Oregon St and Villanova in a tournament in New York City, at Texas Tech, Oakland, Tennessee twice, Mississippi St twice, Kentucky, Texas A&M, Arkansas, at Vanderbilt, LSU, Georgia twice, South Carolina, and Auburn. Alabama is 16-15 ATS and the total is 7-22 this season.
Alabama is outscoring teams 63-58 this season. The Crimson Tide are #20 in points allowed nationally. Alabama is shooting 42.9% from the field and 33.7% from 3 point range. The Crimson Tide make 70% of their free throws. Alabama averages 32.9 rebounds per game and gives up 30 per game. Tide opponents are shooting 40.2% from the field and 30.4% from 3 point range. Alabama is 55th or better in both categories. The Crimson Tide average 10 assists, 8 steals, 4 blocks and 12 turnovers.
Guard Trevor Releford averages 15.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.1 steals per game. Guard Trevor Lacey averages 11.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. Guard Rodney Cooper averages 10.1 points and 4.5 rebounds. Guard Levi Randolph averages 7.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. Forward Nick Jacobs averages 7.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game. Devonta Pollard, Retin Obasohan, Andrew Steele, and Moussa Gueye make up the rest of the rotation. Steele is day to day with an ankle injury. Forward Carl Engstrom is out for the season with a knee injury.
Maryland is coached by Mark Turgeon. The Terrapins have losses to Kentucky in Brooklyn, Florida St twice, at Miami, North Carolina 3 times, Duke, Virginia twice, at Boston College, and at Georgia Tech. The Terrapins have key wins over LIU-Brooklyn, at Northwestern, George Mason in Washington, DC, Virginia Tech twice, NC State, Boston College, Wake Forest 3 times, Duke twice, and Clemson. Maryland is 16-12-1 ATS and the total is 14-13 this season.
Maryland is outscoring teams 71-64 this season. The Terrapins are shooting 46.5% from the field and 33.6% from 3 point range. Maryland is #35 in field goal percentage. The Terrapins make 68.4% of their free throws. Maryland averages 40.6 rebounds per game and give up 28.2 per game. The Terrapins are #3 nationally in rebounds. Terrapin opponents are shooting 38.3% from the field and 30.3% from 3 point range. Maryland is #10 in field goal percentage allowed and #32 in three point defense. The Terps average 15 assists, 5 steals, 4 blocks, and 15 turnovers.
Guard-forward Dez Wells averages 13.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3 assists per game. Center Alex Len averages 11.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game. Guard Nick Faust averages 9.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1 steal per game. Guard Seth Allen averages 7.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1 steal per game. Logan Aronhalt averages 6 points, and 1.6 rebounds. Charles Mitchell, James Padgett, and Jake Layman all average around 5 points per game. Shaquille Cleare and Pe’Shon Howard make up the rest of the rotation. Howard leads the Terrapins in assists with 3.7 per game.
Maryland is 6-0 ATS overall, 5-0 after a cover, and against teams with winning records, 4-0 in road games, and against teams with winning home records, 4-1 in non-conference games, 6-2 against SEC teams, and 3-7-1 after a straight up win.
Alabama is 6-0 ATS against teams with winning straight up record, 5-0 in Tuesday games, 4-0 after a straight up win, and overall, 5-1 after a cover, and against ACC teams, 4-1 at home, and 4-9 against teams with losing road records.
Both teams play really good defense, so this could be a low scoring affair. Maryland scores more points and is a much better rebounding team. I think that will be the difference, as Maryland pulls off the upset on the road.
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