Alabama Basketball: How big a threat is Maryland with predictions

Alabama Basketball: Check out what the Tide faces in Maryland and predictions about the NCAA Second Round outcome.

There were tense moments in the Alabama Basketball win over Iona. The Gaels slowed down the Crimson Tide and doing it disrupted the Tide’s offensive rhythm. As it has many times, the Crimson Tide defense saved the day.

Maryland was an under-valued 10-seed that surprised against U Conn. The Huskies capitalized on their size advantage, controlling the glass, 40-29. Even more impressive for U Conn was 22 offensive rebounds compared to four for the Terrapins.

Maryland controlled every other aspect of the game. The Terps shooting 51.2 percent meant fewer, offensive rebound opportunities than the Huskies, who shot 32.3 percent. Maryland was also hot outside the arc, making 50 percent, compared to 30.2 percent for U Conn.

While the Terrapins rebounding efforts did not resemble the Crimson Tide, their tough defense did. Although he finished with 15 points, Maryland hounded U Conn’s leading scorer, James Bouknight, frequently denying him the basketball.

Led by Eric Ayala, the Terps four-guard offense scored all but 13 of Maryland’s 63 points. The four players are either 6-feet-5 or 6-feet-6 and after spreading the court, Maryland likes to post them up inside. Ayala and Aaron Wiggins also had no problem making threes. The pair combined to shoot 7-for-11 outside the arc. That kind of three-point shooting is not likely against the very good Crimson Tide perimeter defense.

The Terrapins swarm on defense and are patient on offense. Alabama Basketball cannot allow them to dictate the pace. When the Terps successfully slow the game down, the Crimson Tide cannot afford to lose composure.

Maryland coach Mark Turgeon is considered about the Crimson Tide ability to control the glass.

"They (Alabama) send four guys to the boards like they haven’t eaten in a week."

That is a clever line by Turgeon and is not much of an exaggeration. The intensity referenced by Maryland’s coach is exactly what the Tide will need Monday night. But it must be controlled intensity. The Terps are capable of matching the Tide’s intensity. They do not have as much talent as the deep Alabama basketball roster.

The very capable Maryland defense, ranked No. 27 by Ken Pomeroy, can cause the Tide problems. Offensively, Alabama basketball cannot afford to help the Maryland defense with turnovers and low-percentage shots.

Maryland plays a six-man rotation, with only former Tide player, Galin Smith, at 14 minutes, providing much help from the bench. The standard Alabama Basketball tempo can wear down the Terps.

Surveying a group of college basketball experts shows a Crimson Tide win predicted by four to eight points. Most of the predictions are around four points. Four points is a pretty tight margin for a 2-seed vs. 10-seed game. The Crimson Tide should win unless it makes so many mistakes it essentially beats itself. Without an inordinate number of Crimson Tide mistakes, look for a six-point victory. Survive and advance is all that matters.

The Second Round game can be seen on TNT. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:35 Pn CST.