With just one non-conference game remaining on the schedule before a return to Big Ten play, Maryland has some roster shuffling to deal with. It was reported on Saturday that freshman big men Makhi and Makhel Mitchell have decided to enter their names into the transfer portal, ending their time with the program after one semester. Statistically speaking these aren’t big losses, as Makhi averaged 3.0 points and 3.3 rebounds in 9.3 minutes per game and Makhel accounted for 1.0 points and 2.3 rebounds in 6.8 minutes per. But with those two moving on Maryland, which was already lacking interior depth, now has no margin for error with regards to either foul trouble or injuries moving forward.
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Jalen Smith is the constant in the front court for Maryland, as he heads into Sunday’s matchup with Bryant averaging 13.3 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2.4 blocked shots per game. But who steps up to assist the sophomore big man, whether it’s to play alongside him or to fill the void should Smith land in foul trouble? One can argue that neither Mitchell twin had established themselves in that regard, and that assessment would be more than fair. But with their exits, Mark Turgeon has two fewer options at his disposal. As a result, Maryland is likely going to be playing a lot of “small ball” moving forward.
More will be needed from sophomore Ricky Lindo Jr. and freshman Donta Scott, with Scott being the more productive of the two thus far. Scott’s averaging 4.5 points and 3.3 rebounds in just over 17 minutes per game, with Lindo coming at 3.0 points and 2.6 rebound in 9.8 minutes per. The freshman is the more willing of the two to step out onto the perimeter and take shots, but he’s making just 32 percent of his three-point attempts. It goes without saying that the number will need to improve, but the ask for both Scott and Lindo will be to provide more in the way of defending and rebounding to assist Smith.
As for a deep reserve like Joshua Tomaic, while there’s certainly the opportunity for him to earn more minutes that could be a tough ask given how rarely he’s been used to this point. The redshirt junior has appeared in just three games this season, and to go from that to be called upon night in and night out seems to be a bit much. That being said, Sunday’s game would be a good opportunity to get him extended minutes and build some confidence ahead of the resumption of Big Ten play.
Of course, any discussion of Maryland’s frontcourt rotation moving forward will include freshman Chol Marial and rightfully so. Measured at 7-foot-2 with a wingspan of seven feet, eight inches, the four-star recruit doesn’t lack for size. But he also hasn’t played a single minute this season, with his first action set to come against Bryant. How much he’ll play remains to be seen, but if Maryland can get consistent production from him — especially as a rim protector — that would be big for the Terps as they look to navigate the frontcourt depth issues.
The outlook on the perimeter from a depth standpoint is good, with Anthony Cowan Jr. leading the way and Aaron Wiggins, Eric Ayala and Darryl Morsell also giving quality minutes. And while the roster changes didn’t impact the backcourt directly, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Serrel Smith Jr. saw an uptick in playing time. Turgeon said on Saturday that the sophomore has done well in practice following the Christmas break, and he’ll be given the opportunity to make an impact against Bryant. Morsell’s ability to defend multiple positions will also help Maryland deal with the depth concerns, and in all honesty he may be the key to the season for that very reason.
While the comparison isn’t perfect, Maryland’s loss of frontcourt depth feels somewhat similar to what Villanova went through in the 2005 NCAA tournament when Curtis Sumpter went down with a torn ACL. Of course the timing was different, as the Wildcats had to adjust on the fly during their second round win over Florida. But that injury birthed a four-guard lineup that proved to be very effective both in that tournament (they nearly beat eventual champion North Carolina in the Sweet 16) and the following season, as Villanova earned a one-seed and reached the Elite Eight.
Can Morsell, at least from a toughness standpoint, be to Maryland what Randy Foye was to the 2005-06 Villanova team? To be fair Foye was a first-team All-American, but the question’s being asked from the angle of his being able to defend bigger players and as a result keep Villanova from being at a major disadvantage when playing against bigger teams. We’ve already seen Morsell take on a variety of defensive assignments, and that’s going to be the case moving forward as he is Maryland’s best defender. With the roster changes, there’s even more riding on his ability to be that kind of player.
Losing bodies at this point in the season, be it via transfer, injury or dismissal, is suboptimal. But the Mitchell twins moving on isn’t something that Maryland is incapable of dealing with. Players who have either been minor contributors or unused will need to step forward, and the current rotation players will have to raise their level of play, but Maryland is still capable of playing at the level expected of them before the season began.
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.