MD loses to ‘Nova; The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

Playing in the 15th Annual BB&T Classic at the Verizon Center, the University of MD lost to Villanova 95-86. In the history of this event, many college teams have struggled shooting from the outside. Villanova proved to have zero problems dealing with the lighting, and differing site-lines, as they buried 16 three-point shots.

The Wildcats pushed their 11 point half-time lead to 16 early in the 2nd-half, but the Terps rallied to make it a 3 point game. Villanova showed the poise of the Nation’s 3rd-ranked team, and quickly ended that rally. MD would have a couple of additional opportunities to make it interesting, but could never quite pull through.

The Good:

1) Villanova hit 16 three-pointers, and the Terps got almost nothing from Milbourne and Vasquez, and still had an opportunity to beat the 3rd-ranked team in the Nation.

2) Mosley had 26 points, going 11 from 14 from the floor. He made 3 of 4 from 3 point range, and also added 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals. The evolution in the offensive side of his game has been huge.

3) Freshman Jordan Williams had 19 points, and 12 boards. He came into the game shooting 40% from the foul-line, but made 9 of 13 attempts tonight. Many Terp fans were calling Williams a bust before he had even played a Collegiate game. After the first 8 games of his College career, he is averaging over 8 points, and 8 rebounds a game. He has produced as much as you could ask for in the absence of Dino Gregory.

4) Hayes had 20 points of his own, hitting five 3 pointers.

5) Down 16 early in the 2nd-half, credit MD for finding a way to make it a 3 point game.

6) The Terps shot 53% from the floor, and 78% from the foul-line.

The Bad:

1) When the Terps got the game to 3, they had 3 straight possessions where they came away empty.

2) MD was 53% from the floor, but only had 53 shots. Villanova had 75 Field Goal attempts.

3) Taylor King, and Corey Stokes came into this game with good percentages behind the arc, while Reynolds, and Fisher did not. It was fine to let them take their shots, but once they got hot the game plan should have changed earlier. Villanova was not doing any of consequence inside. I would have gotten out on the shooters, but continued to play man. There was too much help defense of Terp defenders leaving their player, to help on the other. MD went to a zone defense late in the 1st-half, which helped with the rebounding some, but continued to give the Wildcats open looks.

4) Part of the reason Villanova had so many more shots, was that they controlled the boards 41-29.

5) With the pace being up and down the court, you expect an increase in turnovers. Some increase is understandable, but too many times the Terps had empty possessions. It was not just the 19 turnovers, but the fact that many of them came when you trying to get back into the game.

6) I am big Landon Milbourne fan, who really respects what he brings to the team. That said, tonight against Antonio Pena was just the latest example of a big athletic, true PF that limited what Milbourne brought to the table. 4 points on 4 shots, and 5 rebounds, is not going to cut it against a team of Villanova’s caliber. Do credit Milbourne for his 2 blocks though.

7) Vasquez was 5 of 6 from the foul-line, had 3 boards, 2 steals, and 7 assists; but also had 7 turnovers, and was a complete non-factor. He picked up the two fouls early, and never was in-sync. The word is out about Vasquez’s poor outside shooting. Teams are daring him to shoot, and packing the lane. Once there, Vasquez is very good inside the lane. He makes good interior passes, or gets his shot-off, or gets to the line. However, he has to get there first. Against many teams, Vasquez does not have the first-step necessary to get past his defender. With Mosley stepping up as a shooter, Vasquez would be well served to concentrate for awhile on doing everything else. Distribute the ball, crash the boards, play defense.

8) A guard-oriented team like Villanova that runs the floor, should have been an opponent that Tucker could have taken advantage of. The lack of any positive production from him, Bowie, and Padgett off the bench hurt.

The Ugly:

1) The Ugly is the reality that MD did not accomplish anything of note in Maui, and lost an opportunity tonight against Villanova. Indiana is a major conference team, and the win on their home-court will help some; but only so much.

Up-Next:

The Terps now have a stretch of 5 games where they will be heavily favored in every game.

The opponents are:

Eastern Kentucky: 6-2 overall, lost by just 11 at Pittsburgh
Winston-Salem: 2-5 overall, lost by 24 to Wake Forest.
Florida Atlantic: 3-3 overall, lost by 20 @ South Florida.
William & Mary: 6-2 overall, won their last 6. Lost by 9 at UCONN, won at Wake Forest by 10.
@NC Greensboro: 2-4 overall, have played Duke, VaTech, and Clemson. Lost by 13 at VaTech.

MD can not afford a slip-up in any of those games. Eastern Kentucky, and William & Mary are dangerous games, that the Terps must win.

When Conference play starts, the Terps will need 9 wins to get to the NCAA Tournament. With 10 wins, they can worry only about their seeding.

MD plays with a razor-thin margin most games. They do not possess great athleticism, or shooting ability. They do have the ability and components necessary to compete against almost anyone on a given night. They have to be smart with the ball, get to the foul-line, and stay close in games. This is not a team with the offensive fire-power, to slug it out with the teams that can really fill it up.

Williams showing he can convert around the paint, and having a bunch of guards and wings that are good in the transition game will give this team a chance most nights.

If MD takes care of business in these upcoming non-conference games, the Terps will be 10-3 entering ACC play.

The week of January 10th through the 16th, could prove to be very important, as the Terps begin Conference play. During that week, MD will match-up against Florida State, and visit both Boston College, and Wake Forest. I think getting off to a good start in ACC play, will be needed for their collective psyche. You go 2-1 (or preferably 3-0), you are at-least 12-4 entering a game against Longwood. The Terps will win that game, and would be at-least 13-4, 2-1 heading into their last 13 regular-season games.

First things first though, MD has to play these next 5 out of conference games, and gobble up wins. Any loss, would do significant damage to their resume. The Terps will have to use this time to improve, and to incorporate Gregory back into the flow.