Imagining life without Dino Gregory

As a guest of Bruce Posner’s Terp Talk show on ESPN 1300 the other-day, I heard Mr. Posner state first-hand that guessing, and conjecture about Gregory’s future, does little to advance the topic.

I happen to agree. I am not sure that anyone knows what will definitively happen here. While the possible ramifications are clear, this is ultimately between Gregory and the University. Unlike most College-kids, Gregory has to deal with the issue as a public figure.

For the record, there appears to only be 3 possible outcomes. A) The suspension of Gregory for the first-exhibition game was the penalty. B) He will be suspended for the first-semester, making him eligible in late-December, prior to conference play. This would mean he would miss the Maui Classic, the ACC/Big 10 Challenge vs. Indiana, and the BB&T Classic vs. Villanova. C) He will be out for the year.

I do not know which of those is the most-likely outcome, and will not spend time wondering. The answer will become clear soon enough.

That said, until Coach Williams knows that Gregory will definitively be part of the team, you have to plan that he will not.

If you look at the roster without Gregory, this is what you see:

1) Bowie, Hayes
2) Vasquez, Tucker
3) Mosley
4) Milbourne, JSC
5) Padgett, Williams, Goins

The Terps will have zero problems with their depth at the guard, and wing positions.

Without Gregory, the first thing that happens is that Padgett becomes a starter. For the most-part this is basically a wash. Gregory and Padgett are similar players, with the idea that they they can run the floor athletically, rebound, and block shots. Both are also a bit undersized for the Center position. Gregory has had two years of College experience, and familiarity in the system. He also probably has a better shot to 12-15′. Neither player is going to help a lot scoring, but both are capable of put-backs. If anything, it seems that with Padgett’s ability to use both-hands, he might have a few more moves in the post.

The correlating event here, is that if Padgett is starting at Center, and Gregory is not available; then a back-up to Milbourne at the 4 is needed. Milbourne is going to be capable of playing major minutes, but he clearly tired out as the 2008-9 season came to a close. You can understand this, as Milbourne had to bang against bigger, stronger players all year. If Gregory or Padgett can be available to back-up Milbourne, and keep him fresh, that will be a great help for this roster. If Gregory is not around, and Padgett is starting at the Center, than someone has to step-up for a few minutes a game behind Milbourne.

At 6’8, 200, Jin-Soo Choi is obviously very thin. With Gregory available, you would have to imagine Choi’s minutes would come as a reserve at the 3. That said, I think he would be the most logical candidate to get a few extra-minutes a game in the front-court. He is not going to be able to bang against major-conference PF’s, but his strengths could help. His height alone would give a chance. Plus with his shot, he could pull bigs out to the 3point-line, and have the option of shooting them, or driving past them to the rack.

Choi did average 10.8 rebounds and 2.6 blocks in the Under-19 2007 FIBA World Championships, so maybe his ability to help at the PF position is realistic.

What I will be keeping my eyes on, is the availability and play of Steve Goins these next few-weeks. If Goins is healthy enough to give time as the back-up Center, the Terps are in pretty good shape.

In my opinion, Jordan Williams will consistently improve, and eventually take over the Center position from either Gregory, or Padgett. When that happens, Padgett will be able to help as a reserve PF behind Milbourne, if Gregory is not available. If Gregory is playing, Padgett will be the primary reserve Center.

If Gregory is not around, and Padgett is helping as the primary reserve big for both the 4, and 5 positions, then you could really use Goins to be available for 5-8 mts, and 5 fouls a game.

Hopefully Goins’ knees hold-up, and allow him to be an option to help.

I have been following Gregory since his time under Pat Clatchey at Mount Saint Joe, and I hope (and expect) that things will work out for him. As I stated above, I am not going to spend time guessing what will happen to him accomplishes little. We will all have to wait, and watch the events play-out.

You could adjust to life without Gregory. Obviously it would be easier if you were not faced with that scenario.