Point spread, preview and how to watch: Maryland a hefty favorite against struggling Nebraska

Maryland basketball has a chance to continue solidifying its standing in the Big Ten, and in the NCAA Tournament projections, when Nebraska visits today (4:30 p.m., BTN). The Cornhuskers don't look like much of a threat against Maryland, which is favored by 11.5 points, easily its biggest spread as a Big Ten favorite with the conference slate nearly halfway complete.

The Terps (13-7 overall, 4-5 Big Ten) have a chance to get back to .500 in conference play for the first time in a while and emerge from a group of four teams in the middle of the standings with identical 4-5 records, while Nebraska is struggling as usual, sitting 13th in the 14-team Big Ten.

Senior point guard Jahmir Young could be a problem for a Nebraska (10-11, 3-7) team that's given up at least 73 points in six of its past seven games, losing five of them. Their only wins in that span have come by a combined five points against struggling Ohio State and Minnesota. He's averaging 18.6 points per game in Big Ten play, and he's been red-hot lately, with four of his six 20-point games this season coming in the past five games.

“Not only has he gotten used to the league, I think he’s gotten in good enough shape where with the way we’re playing, that his second wind is coming really quick,” Maryland coach Willard said.

“I think he’s gotten much more comfortable with the offense, but I think more than anything, he’s gotten much more comfortable with the physicality and length of the league.”

Maryland is ranked No. 38 in the current NCAA NET rankings, with three Quad 1 wins (Illinois, Miami, Ohio State) and two Quad 2 wins (Saint Louis, Wisconsin). The Terps have a chance to solidify their NCAA Tournament resume, with winnable games against the Cornhuskers, Indiana nd Minnesota coming up. They nearly knocked off No. 1 Purdue last weekend, then blew out Wisconsin while shooting 56.5 percent from the floor on Wednesday.

“I feel like we’re just getting back to the way we were playing early in the season with the ball movement. I think the size and physicality early in the season caught us off guard. Both Tennessee and UCLA’s size and length was a shock and we had that big long break and we saw Michigan and it was like, ‘Holy cow.’ I think everyone is getting a little more comfortable with everything in the Big Ten. This league is a monster. I think they’re just getting used to it and everything the league brings out every single night," Willard said.

Maryland leads the all-time series 10-3 and has won four straight against the Cornhuskers.