MSU’s Jase Richardson was named Big Ten freshman of the week for the first time. Amazingly, it was also the first Big Ten weekly award received by any of the Spartans this season. Richardson, who tallied 21 points, six rebounds and three steals in 33 minutes at Michigan, could make an interesting case for Big Ten freshman of the year in what’s a loaded pool, including three projected NBA lottery picks in Rutgers’ Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper and Illinois’ Kasparas Jakucionis. If Richardson is the go-to guy down the stretch of a Big Ten title run, while at least two of the three others don’t even make the NCAA tournament, Richardson deserves serious consideration.

MORE: Couch: Win at Michigan caps week in which MSU basketball proved it has what it takes to be dangerous in March

• Maryland update: The Terrapins have flown under the radar a bit this Big Ten season, perhaps because they began poorly — 1-3 and then 3-4, including early losses to Washington and Northwestern. But since then, they’ve won 8 of 9 games and 10 of 12. Among those wins: an 18-point win over UCLA, by 21 points at Illinois and by eight over Wisconsin. All five of Maryland’s starters average in double figures scoring and all five average more than 30 minutes per game in conference play. Freshman center Derick Queen and senior power forward Julian Reese are also two of the top four rebounding leaders in the Big Ten in league play, averaging 9.7 and 9.1, respectively.

• Matchup analysis: MSU’s depth has made a big difference in the second half of recent games. It could again Wednesday night at Maryland, which plays its starters a ton and does so for good reason — the Terrapins have a heckuva starting lineup (and not much behind them). That includes two big men who can score, rebound and protect the rim in Derick Queen and Julian Reese, and a backcourt with three high-volume 3-point shooters, all shooting 37% or better from beyond the arc, with Selton Miguel and Ja’Kobi Gillespie each above 42%. Miguel and Gillespie were both terrific evaluations in the transfer portal — coming from smaller programs, but with big-time game. Gillespie runs the show and is a good on-ball defender, too. The Terrapins are No. 2 in conference play in defensive efficiency, per Kenpom — behind only MSU — and lead the conference in block rate. I don’t love this matchup for the Spartans, which are at their best when they’re getting work done offensively headed toward the rim. MSU is the stronger rebounding team and if the Spartans can find a way to live in transition, that would be in their favor, both in terms of offensive efficiency and fresh legs.