Many didn’t give third-seeded Maryland a chance Saturday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse against second-seeded and second-ranked Michigan State in the semifinals of the Big Ten tournament. Two teams headed in different directions, with the Terps going the wrong way.
While No. 18 Maryland wound up losing, 64-61, in a rugged affair that started with three first-half technicals, including one on coach Mark Turgeon, the Terps might have gained a measure of respect both for themselves and in the eyes of the NCAA tournament committee.
With a chance to pull off what would have been one of the more significant upsets in what has been a wild week of conference tournament play, sophomore guard Melo Trimble ended a frustrating afternoon by coming up short on a late layup attempt and then not getting a call on a desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer.