Virginia Tech came out of the gate running, taking a 12-0 lead minutes into the first half and it was clear who had the momentum in this game. The Hokies played an effective 2-3 zone defense that shut the Terps down for the better part of the game with Jordan Williams, the Terps number one offensive threat, disappearing from the game for minutes on end. The Terps' shooting did not help their cause, either, as they 35.7% from the field and 30% from 3 point territory. Mix the disappearance of your star offensive player to your consistent lack of successful fundamentals and you have the illness that the Terps have been suffering from for the majority of this season.
The Hokies were extremely effective on their defensive end. Their 2-3 zone and quick transitions from offense to defense forced the Terps to play in the half court offense, which has been a major weakness of theirs.
Maryland got an offensive spark off the bench in Haukur Palsson, who caused some havoc for the VT defense with his energy off the ball. His movement on the court created passing lanes and opened up opportunities to get the ball inside to players like James Padgett and Jordan Williams. He may have been able to make a stronger contribution, but was limited to seven minutes on the court.
Defense is usually Maryland's strong point, but not in this game. Their defensive rotation was off, leaving a VT player open on multiple occasions. This Terps seemed to lack the mental sharpness they had against teams like Duke and Villanova, and it cost them big time.
If there is one element of the game that should be highlighted, it should be the difference in energy levels of these two teams. VT came out ready to play and the Terps did not and this is the results that Maryland is left with.
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