Maryland basketball: 5 best seasons in Terrapins history, ranked
No. 12 AP Poll. player. 439. Scouting Report. Big Ten Champions. 2019 (24-7). 3. Pick Analysis
Maryland basketball wins the Big Ten in 2019-2020.
With this team, Maryland fans witnessed the growth of Smith as a leader in the frontcourt for the Terrapins and the clutch play of Cowan Jr. Both players were recognized on lists for the top awards in college basketball and were All-Big Ten First Team selections. The overall play of the team was a direct result of the work these two put in, game in, and game out.
Wiggins won Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year after a really good sophomore campaign. Whether it was a three-point shot, a thunderous dunk, or a good defensive play, Wiggins took his game to another level as a sophomore. He averaged 10 points, five rebounds, and shot 45 percent from the field.
Ayala was a guy that was expected to take the next step as a shooter, but he struggled to find his shot throughout the season. Despite that, he turned things around with a late-season surge against the Illinois Fighting Illini (12 points, five rebounds, three assists), Nebraska (16 points, five assists, three rebounds), Michigan State (nine points, three rebounds, two assists), Ohio State (16 points, three rebounds, two assists) and he recorded 19 points and seven rebounds against Michigan in the Big Ten regular-season title win.
The Big Ten was the best conference in college basketball that year and didn’t get to flex its muscle when it mattered. The good thing to take away from all of this was that Cowan Jr. ended his career winning a title. The Terps did it in front of the home fans and it’s something that they will remember for a long time.