Maryland Basketball: Biggest Lessons Learned in B1G Play so Far

One of the biggest surprises in college basketball this season has been the performance of the Maryland Terrapins. 

In their inaugural Big Ten campaign, the Terrapins are in line to challenge Wisconsin for the regular-season crown after a 5-1 start in conference that includes two wins over Michigan State. 

Mark Turgeon's team also possesses three stars who can take over the game at any point, which is something most big programs don't have this year. 

Here's a look at the five lessons we have learned from Maryland's terrific start to the 2014-15 conference season.

The Terrapins Have Emerged as Wisconsin's Biggest Threat

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Through six contests in their first year of play in the Big Ten, the Terrapins are tied with Wisconsin for the best conference record at 5-1. 

Wisconsin is seen by many as the only favorite to win the regular-season title due to the lack of competitors below it in the standings. 

Over the first few months of the season, Maryland emerged as a possible challenger, and it has validated that thought with a strong January. 

If it can keep pace with the Badgers for another month, the Terrapins have a chance to gain the upper hand in the title race when Bo Ryan and Co. visit College Park on February 24. 

The winner of that game isn't guaranteed to win the regular-season title because both sides have a tough schedule to end the season. But the winner could take a big step forward on the path to becoming the No. 1 seed at the Big Ten tournament.

The Michigan State Win Set the Tone for Other Road Tests

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Maryland's first Big Ten schedule presented Mark Turgeon and Co. with three major road bumps to get over. 

The first of those three games came on December 30, when they went into the Breslin Center and defeated Michigan State in two overtimes. 

The 68-66 win was not the prettiest of victories, but the Terrapins found a way to sneak out a win at the end. 

By leaving East Lansing with a crucial victory, the Terrapins earned a major confidence boost ahead of their two other massive road trips. 

The second test comes in the form of Indiana's Assembly Hall on Thursday, while Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City awaits them on February 8. 

If Maryland can put on a show on the home courts of two of the other three ranked sides in the Big Ten, it should be considered a dangerous team in March as well.

Melo Trimble Is a Scoring Machine

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Melo Trimble burst on to the collegiate scene when he delivered a 31-point showing against Arizona State in November. 

Since putting up the highest point total in his brief college career, the freshman guard has found his way into double digits in every game. His lone single-digit showing came four days before the win over Arizona State, as he only put up eight points against Fordham. 

Trimble leads the team in scoring with 16.1 points per game, and he has become a threat from the free-throw line as well. According to ESPN's Seth Greenberg, Trimble's 122 free throws are the third most in the nation. 

To add to those impressive stats, he averages three assists per game and is a 42.9 percent shooter from the field. 

During conference play, Trimble has averaged 16.6 points and 2.8 assists per game despite shooting under 35 percent from the field. 

By being able to attack opposing defenses from many angles, he is turning himself into one of the premier scorers in the nation.

The Team's Distribution Skills Need a Bit of Work

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Melo Trimble and Dez Wells have had strong seasons in the assist department, as both players are averaging over three assists per game. 

Despite how good those stats look, the Terrapins are only averaging 11.6 assists per game as a team, which is the 256th-best total in the nation. 

If you look deeper at the team's full stat line, those assists are only contributing to 33 percent of the team's points. Maryland is averaging 72.9 points per game. 

At some point in the season, the Terrapins will have to find a way to distribute better to score a few baskets, especially in close games. 

While working on that during conference play could become a distraction, Maryland does have a fairly easy three-game stretch coming up against Northwestern, Ohio State and Penn State in which it can improve on its passing.

Maryland Will Go as Far as Its Big 3 Take It

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If the Terrapins want to make some noise when March rolls around, they will have to rely on the Big Three of Melo Trimble, Dez Wells and Jake Layman. 

All three players average over 13 points, four rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. The trio of stars are also shooting over 41 percent from the field and 74 percent from the line. 

If the three-headed monster on the court for Maryland can continue to rack up efficient numbers, few teams will have success defeating the Terps. 

Each of the players bring a certain set of skills to the court as well. Trimble is a crafty floor general, while Wells can beat you from almost every part of the hardwood. While the other two can kill any opponent in the backcourt, Layman does all of the work down low thanks to his 6'8" frame. 

If you glance at Maryland's remaining opponents, only Wisconsin pops out as a team that could shut down all three of its stars. 

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