Nebraska Aiming for a Big Ten Road Win at Maryland

Nebraska and Maryland are both feeling the pressure after tough losses earlier this week, and they’re looking for redemption as they face off on Sunday in College Park. With Nebraska struggling on the road and Maryland trying to keep their perfect home record intact, this game has all the makings of a nail-biter.

Nebraska’s Road Struggles Are a Big Problem

Let’s be honest—Nebraska hasn’t had much luck on the road in the Big Ten this season. They’re 0-3, and those losses haven’t been close. The Cornhuskers have been losing by an average of 27.7 points per game, and their defense has been a glaring weakness. Opponents are shooting 54.4% from the field and almost 50% from three-point range. That’s a big yikes.

Even worse, Nebraska has been outshot from beyond the arc in league road games, with their opponents sinking 45 threes compared to their 19. If Nebraska wants to turn things around, they’ll need big performances from Brice Williams and Connor Essegian, who both shoot over 40% from deep. Can they step up when it matters most?

Maryland’s Home Sweet Home Advantage

Maryland has been a totally different team when playing at home. They’re undefeated in Big Ten home games (3-0), but they’ve yet to win on the road (0-4). It’s a weird dynamic, but Maryland seems to thrive at the Xfinity Center, and their shooters have been lights-out.

Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Selton Miguel, and Rodney Rice have combined for 107 three-pointers this season, which is not great news for Nebraska’s struggling perimeter defense. Plus, Maryland has a strong inside presence with Derik Queen and Julian Reese. Reese, in particular, has had success against Nebraska in the past—he posted 15 points and 16 rebounds in last year’s blowout win.

Both Teams Are Feeling the Heat

Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg isn’t sugarcoating it—this is a pivotal game. “I like this short turnaround to hopefully get this bad taste out of our mouths and get back out on the floor and compete again,” he said after Nebraska’s home-winning streak ended against Rutgers.

On the flip side, Maryland coach Kevin Willard is under a bit of scrutiny too. He’s still trying to figure out why his team can’t get it done on the road. “What I can say is, these guys are battling, and we’re in every game. And we’ll figure it out,” he said. Time will tell if Maryland can finally solve their road woes—or if they’ll keep leaning on their home-court advantage.

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A Look at the Bigger Picture

Historically, Maryland has owned this matchup. They’ve beaten Nebraska 12 out of 16 times and haven’t lost to them in College Park in six straight meetings. Last year’s game wasn’t even close, with Maryland cruising to a 73-51 win.

This game is a must-win for both teams. Nebraska needs to prove they can compete on the road, and Maryland is looking to keep their momentum at home. The Cornhuskers will have to tighten up their defense, especially against Maryland’s three-point shooters, and find a way to compete inside the paint. For Maryland, it’s all about leveraging their strengths at home and exploiting Nebraska’s weaknesses on the road.

What to Watch For

• Key Players: Brice Williams and Connor Essegian for Nebraska; Derik Queen and Julian Reese for Maryland.
• Big Questions: Can Nebraska finally win on the road? Will Maryland’s home dominance continue?
• Series History: Maryland has dominated, with a 12-4 record overall and a six-game home win streak against Nebraska.