As we get closer to the start of conference play, which for Maryland will begin at home against Illinois on December 27, coaches want to have a better idea of what their rotation will be. In the case of Mark Turgeon’s Terrapins, we’ve already got some answers through the first nine games of the season. While the role of a Melo Trimble (19.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.8 apg) was never going to come under question, a definite positive thus far has been how prepared the three true freshmen have been to contribute.

 (You can discuss this on the BSL Board here.)

Anthony Cowan’s (10.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3.6 apg) fit in next to Trimble in the backcourt, with his ability to handle and distribute the basketball freeing up Trimble to be the feature scorer Maryland needs. Kevin Huerter (6.9, 5.6 rpg) and Justin Jackson (10.9, 6.4) have been key additions on the wings, with Huerter despite the offensive struggles showing himself to be a valuable piece on both ends of the floor and Jackson emerging as an important supplementary scorer who can get points both inside and on the perimeter. Jackson’s play has allowed Turgeon to use him at the four, giving the front court additional scoring punch while also providing a “mismatch” guy against teams that may still use the more traditional power forward as opposed to a combo who’s comfortable just about anywhere offensively.

In the front court Michal Cekovsky (8.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg) has shown noticeable signs of improvement in the five games he’s been able to play, more than tripling his scoring average from a season ago on 66.7 percent shooting from the field and scoring in double figures on three separate occasions. He and Damonte Dodd (5.9, 5.3) have been the most productive interior options, with Ivan Bender (4.1, 3.3) and L.G. Gill (4.1, 1.8) providing additional depth inside.

So where does that leave Maryland? Trying to figure out what wings Jared Nickens and Dion Wiley, two players who haven’t been able to fully tap into the potential many saw in them when they announced their decisions to attend Maryland. And given the way the season’s gone though nine games, the final four non-conference games may represent “crunch time” for both when it comes to ensuring their spots in the rotation when Big Ten play begins.

Nickens and Wiley entered the preseason in slightly different positions. While Nickens 5.4 points in 19.5 minutes of action per game, Wiley redshirted after undergoing surgery to repair the torn meniscus in his right knee just before the start of last season. As a result, it was reasonable to think that while Wiley would need some time to shake off the rust Nickens would be capable of at the very least maintaining his role of a season ago if not earning greater responsibility with the loss of four starters.

Unfortunately that hasn’t happened, with Nickens shooting 13.9 percent from the field and 19.2 percent from three in averaging 2.1 points per game. Wiley’s been better, averaging 3.8 points per game, but he’s shooting just 29.0 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from beyond the arc. Both players were lauded for their offensive abilities upon their respective commitments to Maryland, but as we all know projections before someone’s played a game at the college level don’t always pan out. But in the case of both players, these final four non-conference games are an opportunity to snap out of their respective shooting funks, thus showing that they hold more value than the minutes they’re currently receiving (12.1 mpg for Nickens, 12.8 mpg for Wiley) would indicate.

And by the numbers, Maryland could sure use a boost in the perimeter shooting department.

As a team the Terps are shooting just 29.2 percent from three, and of their 64 makes Trimble (16), Jackson (15) and Huerter (11) are responsible for 42 of them. Maryland hasn’t shot all that well from inside of the arc either, with their two-point field goal percentage currently at 49.2 percent per KenPom.com (that number doesn’t factor in the St. Mary’s game). While players such as Trimble and Cowan can definitely break down opponents off the bounce, their jobs become that much easier with reliable perimeter shooting. While there have been dry spells throughout the first nine games, Maryland’s been able to avoid a crippling blow outside of the home loss to Pittsburgh (10-for-36 from three). Big Ten play won’t be as forgiving.

With that being the case Wednesday’s game against Howard, one in which Maryland will be expected to win comfortably, represents another opportunity for Nickens and Wiley to get going. Maryland’s ranked 80th in adjusted offensive efficiency by KenPom, but in Howard they face a team ranked 292nd in adjusted defensive efficiency, and the Bison have allowed 76 points or more in each of their five defeats (Georgetown being one). Maryland’s entire offense could use a boost ahead of conference play, and that includes two players who arrived on campus in the summer of 2014 amid expectations of being the wing scorers Maryland needed to continue is progress in the Big Ten.

Raphielle Johnson
Raphielle Johnson

BSL Analyst

Raphielle’s been writing about college sports for more than a decade, making the move to college basketball alone in 2013. Beginning his work with the former website CollegeHoops.net in 2003, Raphielle spent 3 years writing for NBCSports.com beginning 2013, covering CBB and the Olympics. In 2016, Raphielle joined Heavy.com. If there’s a game on, there’s a strong likelihood that he’s watching it.

X