Terps eliminated from Big Ten Tournament after 59-54 loss to Wisconsin
With 1:21 left and slim NCAA Tournaments hopes hanging by a thread, Maryland couldn’t get a rebound.
With the score tied at 53, Wisconsin’s Brevin Pritzl missed a three pointer but Khalil Iverson was able to beat the Terps to the ball for the offensive rebound. The Terps had another chance to escape the possession when Brad Davison missed a three pointer but this time it was Ethan Happ who grabbed the offensive rebound.
“We gave them two offensive rebounds and they finally scored” said Turgeon, lamenting the lost chance to take the lead late in the game.
After the second offensive rebound, Wisconsin coach, Greg Gard, called timeout. The Badgers would get a basket from Pritzl giving them a two point lead with 28 seconds left.
That’s when the game got a little shaky. Depending on what side you’re on, Terps’ Kevin Huerter might have traveled with the ball, not only once, but twice. But, instead of a travel being called, the referee called a foul on Ethan Happ. The break Maryland has been looking for all season but Happ kept talking to the referee, essentially freezing Huerter.
I didn’t know why we weren’t shooting yet. I don’t know what was happening under the basket. But I’m not going to say too much. I just don’t know why I wasn’t shooting, and I was getting frustrated, just that I was getting taken out of rhythm. – said Huerter
The delay got to Huerter and he would miss the first free threw.
But that’s not an excuse for missing. I just didn’t know why I wasn’t shooting the ball. I don’t know why it took so long to get the ball.
He would go on to make the second free throw cutting the lead to one. The Terps would foul immediately and Wisconsin’s Davison would make both pushing the lead back to three.
Coach Turgeon was anticipating Wisconsin would foul since they only had five team fouls for the half. But, the Badgers wouldn’t have to foul because Maryland’s Dion Wiley would turn the ball over on the inbounds.
In the postgame interview, Turgeon explained “That’s not what we wanted. We ran the play — had a guy run the play wrong. So not what we wanted.”
Iverson would make two free throws with .8 seconds left sealing the deal for the Badgers. Turgeon was left with the thoughts of what might have been.
I thought we tried hard. I thought we competed. I thought we did a great job on Happ who is absolutely a terrific player. Didn’t get a rebound. And so disappointed in the outcome.
