Old problems persist
Terps’ frustration grows as second half of Big Ten schedule approaches
BLOOMINGTON, IND. — Mark Turgeon typically wears a pained look on his face after his Maryland men’s basketball team loses a game. The one he wore after the Terps lost to Indiana on Monday night only seemed to accentuate the worry lines on Turgeon’s forehead.
If doubt isn’t creeping in to Turgeon and his team, frustration certainly is.
It was evident not just from the tired look in Turgeon’s eyes, but also in his voice as he talked about the way Maryland frittered away a five-point lead with less than five minutes to go to lose to the Hoosiers, 71-68, 105.7 FM, 980 AM at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
The loss — the Terps’ fourth straight on the road in the Big Ten and the fifth in six games away from Xfinity Center this season — was compounded by the sprained right ankle freshman center Bruno Fernando suffered early in the second half.
“My kids battled; that’s all I ask,” Turgeon said. “If we were laying eggs, it’s tougher. But we’re battling. It’s a tough year for us. But we’ve just got to keep battling. We’re getting better. We just weren’t good enough offensively in our execution to win this game, but we battled hard enough.”
Still, some of the problems that have hindered Maryland (15-7, 4-5 Big Ten) throughout what has been an inconsistent, injury-filled season resurfaced, especially down the stretch.
The Terps committed 18 turnovers — 11 combined from sophomore guards Anthony Cowan Jr. (six) and Kevin Huerter (five). It was the most for Maryland since the Terps had 19 against Ohio on Dec. 7 and a season-high 25 in an overtime win at Illinois the prior game. Maryland coach Mark Turgeon, talking with Darryl Morsell during Monday night’s loss to Indiana, has been pleased with his team’s effort despite its recent road struggles.