Maryland defensive ace Morsell eager to guard UConn's Bouknight

Mar. 18—Darryl Morsell likes a challenge. That's good, because the Maryland guard has one this weekend.

Morsell, the Big Ten's defensive player of the year, has the responsibility of guarding UConn star James Bouknight Saturday night in the first round of the NCAA Tournament when the Huskies and Terps meet in West Lafayette, Indiana.

Maryland coach Mark Turgeon said Morsell confirmed Wednesday that Morsell will be matched up with Bouknight, the Big East's leading scorer.

"That will be his primary matchup. The kid is good. He's a really good player," Turgeon said of Bouknight during a Zoom call with a reporters. "But we like to switch screens. We're going to do what we do. If Bouknight's getting really hot and doing some things, we might lock Darryl into him.

"Between now and Saturday at 7, which is a long time, we might change the game plan," Turgeon added with a smile.

Morsell, a 6-foot-5 senior, typically takes his defensive assignments very seriously.

"He's excited about it," Turgeon said. "But they (UConn) have got a lot of really good players. There's a reason they're a 7-seed and finished third in the Big East. They have really good players but Bouknight's the best offensively for them. He's terrific. Looks like an NBA player to me."

Morsell's teammates say he hones his craft with intense workouts.

"I just notice him in practice. We practiced (Wednesday) and he was just dialed in," Maryland guard Eric Ayala said Wednesday. "We play against our teammates and if a guy's got it going on the other team, he wants that matchup. That's who he is every day. He takes on that challenge and he knows that's what we need him to do."

Morsell isn't the only one on the Maryland roster who can play defense, of course. The Terps are a defensive-minded bunch, thanks to Turgeon.

Maryland's opponents are averaging 64.9 points per game. Over the last 14 games, the Terps are holding their foes to 38.2 percent shooting.

Of course, the Huskies hang their hats on defense typically as well. UConn is allowing 64.6 points per game.

"It's two coaches that like to coach defense. Danny (Hurley) has always been a great defensive coach," Turgeon said. "They do a nice job. They guard ball screens a little bit different than us. They do switch screens; they don't switch as many.

"I think the biggest separation in our teams is how well they offensive rebound. It's not a big priority for us. Transition defense is a bigger priority," Turgeon added. "We have to box out extremely well to beat this team Saturday night."

Although non-conference games were severely limited by COVID-19 concerns and cancellations this season, Turgeon thinks the Big Ten has prepared his team well for the postseason. And he thinks the Huskies are familiar to one of the Terps' other foes.

"They remind me a lot of Rutgers. Very tough, very physical, defensive minded, run a lot of ball-screen stuff. A little bit of Michigan State, the way they play," Turgeon said. "Rutgers first and maybe this year's Michigan State team."

The Huskies and Terps have met twice previously in the NCAA Tournament, a UConn win in 1995, and a Maryland win in 2002. But the two teams haven't played in any setting since a Dec. 8, 2015 clash in Madison Square Garden.

Still, some of the players are familiar with each other and one Terp has spent a lot of time in Connecticut.

Ayala is from Wilmington, Delaware, but spent two years of his high school career at Putnam Science Academy. He was a teammate of UConn graduate assistant Mamadou Diarra and was recruited by then-UConn coach Kevin Ollie for a time.

He said that he recalls his time in the Nutmeg State fondly.

"Everybody loves UConn, everybody loves the Patriots," Ayala said of his experience. "Connecticut is a special place."

Neill covers UConn men's basketball and UConn football teams, and he keeps a finger on the pulse of Connecticut sports. For live game updates, and more insight into UConn athletics, player transfers, and team changes, follow Neill on Twitter: @NeillOstrout, Facebook: JINeillO, and Instagram: @NeillOstrout.