COLLEGE PARK, Md. (97.1 The Ticket) -- Three minutes into Sunday's win over Maryland, Michigan freshman Ignas Brazdeikis got a bit of a jolt from Terrapins fans.
While shooting a pair of free throws, the Maryland student section chanted "you are ugly!" and Brazdeikis sunk both shots -- a sign of things to come.
Video captured the chants and Terps head coach Mark Turgeon can be seen walking to the scorer's table. While the broadcasters drown most of it out, the public address announcer can be heard saying "coach Turgeon has requested..."
Media reports confirmed that students were asked to stop that chant, a request that was met by boos. The students did oblige throughout the game, though, as only boos were heard during Brazdeikis's remaining trips to the line.
Maryland fans chant "You are ugly" at Ignas Brazdeikis during two FTs.He backpedals down-floor after making both, pointing to his ears and giving a wave to the crowd.The PA announcer asks the UMD students not to do that chant. #collegehoops
— Brendan Quinn (@BFQuinn)
March 3, 2019 The heckling did not bother Brazdeikis, who went on to score 21 points -- his ninth game over 20 this season -- on 6-of-12 shooting and 7-of-8 free throws.
Brazdeikis was seen flexing and blowing kisses to the Maryland crowd following a pair of made free throws late to put the game on ice.
The freshman told reporters after the game he used the jeers as fuel.
"I love crowds like that. It motivates me," Brazdeikis said,
according to the Associated Press. "It makes me more hungry. I embrace that, every second of it. As much as they think they're getting in my head, that's actually fuel for me."
My girls the baddest tho so I stay winning --♂️ good road dub -- https://t.co/hQ0ijkvHEw
— Ignas Brazdeikis (@_iggy_braz)
March 3, 2019 Sunday's win leaves Michigan sitting a half-game behind Purdue for first place in the Big Ten and a half-game ahead of rival Michigan State, whom the Wolverines (26-4, 15-4 Big Ten) will face in the regular season finale on Saturday in East Lansing.
Purdue controls its own destiny for winning the title outright, playing at Minnesota Tuesday and at Northwestern Saturday afternoon.
If the Boilermakers (22-7, 15-3) win both, the title is solely their's. Should they lose one, Saturday's showdown in East Lansing could be for a share of the conference title, provided the Spartans (23-6, 14-4) beat Nebraska on Tuesday.
