A few relatively meaningless games in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) might still occur in this 2013-14 season for the Maryland Terrapins; but the sooner this year can be put in the rear-view the better.

It’s time to forget about life in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), and wonder what awaits the Terps next year when they begin play in the Big Ten Conference.

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

Some Immediate Thoughts & Questions:

1) Coach Turgeon isn’t going anywhere.

When Turgeon left Texas A&M to become the Head Coach at MD, he received an 8 year contract. Year 3 is ending with disappointment, but it would be absolutely shocking if Turgeon was not beginning Year 4 at the helm when Maryland’s Big Ten adventure begins next November. After all, the whole reason Maryland is making the conference move is financial. It would be hard to articulate an argument where Maryland would have the means to reach a financial settlement with Turgeon (and his Assistants), while bringing in another Coach.

2) There will be pressure on Turgeon next year though.

The Athletic Department’s financial difficulties will be improving, and that will make it more plausible to make a change in leadership – if so warranted by a lack of results. As things stand, MD’s entire roster can return, and be improved by a Top 10 recruiting class. Expectations should be higher than being a bubble team that hopes to return to the Tournament for the first time since the 2009-10 season. If at the minimum, the Terps don’t get back to the Tournament next year, those remaining years on Turgeon’s contract won’t be reason enough to keep him around.

3) Will every player who can return, actually return?

Right now, the 2014-15 Terps look like:

2014-15 Terps
Guards:
  Faust (Sr), Allen (Jr), Peters (Soph), Trimble (Frosh), Wiley (Frosh)
Wings: Wells (Sr), Layman (Soph), Nickens (Frosh)
Bigs: Mitchell (Jr), Cleare (Jr), Smotrycz (Sr), Dodd (Soph), Reed (Frosh)

That is the max 13 scholarship players, plus Graham.

It is hard for me to envision Faust or Smotrycz going anywhere. Faust has spent his entire career at MD, and is a local product. He’s going to transfer somewhere else? Smotrycz transferred in from Michigan. He’s not going to be looking to sit out another year anywhere.

Wells might have pro aspirations, but it is hard to imagine him being a 1st round NBA pick. He was a 3rd team All-ACC player this year. His best attributes on the college level are his physicality and athleticism. As an NBA prospect, he’s a bit undersized with a suspect jumper. I have to think returning for his Senior year at MD with a chance to improve his stock, is more attractive vs. being a possible 2nd round NBA pick or spending next year playing in Europe, or the D-League.

Layman has some of the traits NBA teams like (size, athleticism, shooting ability), but he’s going to have to prove he can be a consistent factor at the College level before he can dream of the pros. I’d like to see him develop some post-up skills, and find a way to get to the foul line more often. Also, while he helped this year at the top of the 1-3-1 defense Coach Turgeon often went to; he struggled at times in man defense. Before this season, some people were actually writing about Layman playing his way into a 1st round NBA selection this coming June. Here in March, it is incomprehensible that Layman would be anywhere but College Park this next year.

Allen has no reason to leave. He’s got 2 years of remaining eligibility, and is going to continue to receive important minutes. He’s a SG in a PG body. He isn’t the type that could leave early. No reason to transfer, and sit out a year.

Would Peters leave prior to his Sophomore year? Seems unlikely to me. A highly regarded prospect that missed his Senior year of HS. Have to think that impacted his development. The argument for leaving would be that he has effectively been recruited over. The arguments for staying would be that he’s a local guy who decided on MD for a reason. He still has years to develop. He needs to be in the gym taking a 1,000 jump shots a day this off-season.

Dodd? He went to Prep School and still maintained his commitment to Maryland. While very raw, he is athletic. He has years left to show he can become a regular member of the post rotation. Maryland wasn’t expecting a finished product. The Coaches knew he would arrive in College Park needing to be developed. Nothing that he’s shown this year should have the Coaches pushing him out the door.

Mitchell is an undersized big, who typically plays hard, and makes a difference on the offensive boards. He can help a team. The only way I think he leaves, is if he has some desire to step back a level and be closer to his Atlanta home. He did have the heated exchange during the recent Virgina Tech game, but there was no further discipline. He would have to be very unhappy with the program to leave.

Cleare? He’s another heralded recruit who has underachieved compared to the expectations he arrived in College Park with. There had to be something numerous recruiting analysts liked about him. There was a consensus that he was a strong talent on the AAU Circuit, of course playing with the Harrison Brothers likely helped. Even with people disappointed by Cleare’s play this year, he continued to start most of the season. Coach Turgeon went out of his way to mention Cleare’s defensive improvement several times. If anyone were to depart early, I would think it would be him. If he’s back, he has to work hard to improve his hands. He’s always going to be a below the rim player, but you need him to also concentrate on finishing strong. Too many times he was willing to just try and lay it in vs. dunking. Even if never develops any post skills beyond that little baby hook, he should be able to provide more of the put-backs that Mitchell does.

Graham? Right now he doesn’t even have a scholarship for next year. Baltimore native, with a Father who is a Terp legend? Where would he go, better then this? What more could MD hope to get from a non-scholarship player?

Maybe there will be surprises, and several departures. If that is the case, maybe there will be JUCO’s or unexpected transfers. Someone like Graham, or Logan Aronhalt from last year who has immediate eligibility and becomes part of the rotation.

Until that happens…

4) How will the incoming recruits impact the roster?

By nearly every account, Melo Trimble is the star of the class. Starting or not, he’s going to be asked to contribute immediately. Another scorer. Another ball-handler. Can he run the offense, allowing Allen to play more off the ball?

Wiley and Nickens are both supposed to be strong shooters, with plus athleticism. Maryland faced a tremendous amount of zone defense this year. Wiley and Nickens will be asked to bust those zones next season. Can their athleticism also improve MD’s team defense?

Reed is a true 7-footer, who plays above the rim, and blocks shots. Just having that length, and bounce off the floor will change MD’s defense. Offensively, he’s supposed to be just as raw as Dodd. Reed is going to get time next year. How hard he works from now to November will greatly impact how much. I’ve seen him listed at 210lbs. Hopefully, he can be bulked up fairly quickly once he gets to the College Park weight room. If Cleare departs (and a JUCO or immediate transfer-eligible player doesn’t replace him), that much more will be asked of Reed right away.

5) What will life be like in the Big Ten?

As of today, the Big Ten is 2nd in Real Time Conference RPI. Seven teams are in Top 52. Overall, the caliber of play in the Big Ten shouldn’t differ too much vs. a typical year in the ACC. (Style of play, might prove to be different though.) The ACC was down a bit this year, but annually you are talking about two Top 3-4 leagues. One of my takeaway moments from this 2013-14 season was the trip to Pittsburgh. Playing a league game in unfamiliar territory. There will be a lot of that next year. We already know what MD’s league schedule looks like. It is a bit disappointing that Ohio State will not becoming to the Comcast Center. Was looking forward to having the Buckeyes to College Park after the beating this year in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Past that though, Indiana, Michigan, MSU, & Wisconsin are all games which will be looked forward to by the fan-base.  Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Penn State, & Rutgers? The attendance and interest in those games will solely be about the Terps, and how good MD is.

EDIT: Jeff Ermann from Inside MD Sports joins BSL Radio weekly on ‘Sports Tonight with Rob & Mike’ each Thursday night. On his appearance last night, he stated he is now hearing about multiple players who might depart. Ermann’s is as plugged into things as anyone, so this was interesting information. One of the interesting things he mentioned was the rumors about Faust possibly wanting to leave. You can listen to the interview here. Should be an interesting couple of Months at College Park.

Chris Stoner
Chris Stoner

Owner

Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.

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