Terps Basketball Q&A w/ Chris Knoche

For the 3rd time, the Terps Radio Analyst Chris Knoche has been kind enough to answer a few questions from Baltimore Sports and Life.

In addition to his radio gig, Knoche is also a contributing writer to Comcast Sportsnet. You can find his blog at: http://www.csnwashington.com/pages/chris_knoche

Baltimore Sports and Life: “Through the first ten games of the 2010-11 season, Sophomore Jordan Williams has already recorded 8 double-doubles. He came back to College Park having dropped 20 lbs, but with increased strength and better cardio shape. He runs the court hart, gets good position, has strong hands. What growth have you seen in his game? Beyond his Free-Throw shooting, where else can he improve? Some Terp fans are concerned he will jump to the NBA as early as after this season. Would that surprise you?”

Chris Knoche: “Jordan took a big step in improving the athletic quotient in his game by losing the weight and working on his conditioning. He will probably never be the best athlete on the floor, but that doesn’t mean he can not continue to work on his speed and quickness. It can be awfully hard for a guy that big to improve in those areas but considering the huge leap he made in one year it would not surprise me. Regarding the issue of Jordan – or any kid for that matter – leaving early for the NBA, nothing would ever surprise me. I have always believed that if the opportunity is there and a kid stands to benefit in a big way, you cannot stand in the way.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “In 7 of the 10 games, Bowie has scored at-least 9 points. After 7 turnovers in the opener, he has been at-least turnover neutral in every game since. He’s made 90% of his foul-shots. He is playing about the same minutes and giving the same production he provided as a Soph. I’m thinking most Terp fans should be pleased with the production he is providing. Do you agree?”

Chris Knoche: “No, not at all. The expectations change as a player gets older and I think it is natural for the bar to go higher and higher. The fact is that he has played a lot of minutes over four years, and he should be reaping the rewards of those minutes. While he has never been a particularly demonstrative guy, I would have hoped he would be exhibiting a little more in leadership areas as well but I recognize that there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes. Maybe, just maybe, he has improved in those areas over time.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “As a Soph. Tucker averaged 20ppg against the eventual National Champion North Carolina. As a Junior Tucker hit the game-winning 3 against Georgia Tech. The first five games of this season, he took at-least 11 shots per game. Prior to the Greensboro game, Tucker had 8 shots combined in the previous two games. Did Penn State and Temple do something specifically to take him out of the offense? Do you expect him to be a consistent scorer in conference play?”

Chris Knoche: “After the UNC Greensboro game, Tucker flogged himself in our post game show for not being aggressive enough in the games leading up to Greensboro. While he was certainly a marked man against those teams, it was more a matter of what Cliff did – or did not do – than what the opposition did. Then, when he faltered, in both games reserves game in for him and played well and Cliff found himself sitting on the bench. This is his senior season. The last go-round. He needs to play every game like he recognizes that.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “Past Bowie and Tucker, the other Senior starter has been Dino Gregory. I thought Gregory had a strong stretch of games against Illinois, Delaware State, Elon, and at Penn State. At his best he is running the floor, blocking shots and getting on the glass. He has also been hitting that 12′ jumper this year. What are you seeing from him? What else do the Terps need from him?”

Chris Knoche: “For the most part Dino has been pretty solid. I would think his role should be to play great defense, hit the occasional jumper and finish around the basket when he has the opportunity. Given all the attention given to Jordan, Dino’s goal should be to be the best garbage player in the ACC.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “As ACC play begins, my biggest question with the Terps is with Mosley. While he does a lot of the little things well (cutting, physical play, etc.) I was expecting further offensive growth from the Junior. Where is the guy that put 26 points on Villanova last-year? I do not understand how Mosley has had 6 shots or less in 6 of the 10 Terps games. Does he lack confidence? Against Seattle in the season opener, he got to the foul line 10 times. In the 9 games since he has gotten to the line just 21 times. To get his offense going, does he need to get some looks closer to the rim, and then work his way out?”

Chris Knoche: “Offensive rhythm is a funny thing.. sometimes you never know when you lose it and you never know when you can get it back. I agree that Sean has not played as anybody expected coming into this season. I think your point about the foul line is perfect though. I think when a player is really struggling from the field he should make a concerted effort to get to the line more. Sometimes just watching some free throws go in can be very beneficial to a guy who is struggling offensively.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “I’m really enjoying watching the infusion of youth on the roster. Of course Howard had the game winner against Charleston. Also made a big difference when he entered against Temple. I like how he runs the offense in 1/2 court sets. What do you think about his defense?”

Chris Knoche: “I love the way Pe’Shon has plays for the most part. I do think that – like a lot of freshman – he will play to the level of his competition. He was outstanding against Juan Fernandez in the last 5 minutes of the Temple game, but did not seem to go as hard against UNCG. I think that is very natural for young players.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “I’ve been pleasantly surprised by Stoglin. I thought he could come in this year, and help in limited minutes, but certainly did not expect him to be 3rd on the team in scoring (in just 16.4 minutes per game). 6 games over 10 pts, 81% from the foul-line, 42% from 3. He certainly is not shy about finding his shot. In New York, Bobby Knight talked about Stoglin having to dribble less. Where else does he have to improve to get even more minutes?”

Chris Knoche: “He has had a terrific start, for sure. I think that’s pretty funny about what Knight said and I could guess that he wouldn’t be a Knight kind of player. That said, what Coach wouldn’t want a complete jolt of instant offense off the bench? In terms of what he needs to work on…. it’s simple. Like a lot of prolific scorers, he needs to work to be better defensively.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “I think Coach Williams is always looking for two reserve bigs to rotate at the PF and Center positions. Padgett and Weijs are combining for 18 minutes a game, cumulatively providing 7.4 ppg, 4.1 boards, and 1.5 blocks. If I’m pleasantly surprised by Stoglin, I’m doing cartwheels for what they are getting from the Junior College transfer Weijs. Also enjoying the recent intensity of Padgett. Your thoughts on these two?”

Chris Knoche: “I completely agree on both. I wonder if Padgett isn’t playing with this new found tenacity as a result of being healthy (he had some injury issues for most of last year) and from watching Jordan Williams chase down rebounds. Whatever it is, you have to like what you’re seeing right now. I think Weijs is a real wild card for this team. He is really athletic and can run like a deer. He makes great transition and can change shots on the defensive end. Gary Williams mentioned on his radio show tonight that he thought if he had Weijs for four years he could be a first round draft pick. Too bad he’s only around for a couple.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “Two of the other three Freshman in this class are Hawk Palsson and Mychal Parker. Palsson is physically strong for a Freshman, even playing up to the ‘4’ at times. Seems to be a decent passer, plays hard. He hit his first 3 against Temple. Had 3 minutes against Pittsburgh and Illinois. Didn’t play against PSU, and had 12 minutes against Temple. What do you see in store for him the rest of his Freshman year?

The most highly rated recruit in the class was Parker. The fact that he is barely playing has come MD fans concerned. To me he has just started his career, and behind a lot of experience. The few times he has touched the floor, his skills and athleticism has been apparent. When I project out, I see him having a Freshman to Sophomore jump similar to what Milbourne did. Is there anything he can do, to get on the floor more this year?”

Chris Knoche: “I think Hawk has been really solid for the most part. I like his versatility and demeanor on the court. He seems completely unafraid. As far as Parker is concerned, that should really underscore the problems with recruiting evaluation. Everyone knows who are the top two to three dozen high school players are. After the top 25 or 30 it is a complete crapshoot and you see that kind of thing play out every year in every conference. Parker is playing behind some pretty good players. He needs to work on all aspects of his game defensively and commit to playing hard on every play all the time.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “Alright, we have talked about the roster individually lets talk about how they fit collectively. With their improved athleticism they are able to trap and press and create offense from their defense. They are obviously better in transition then they are in the 1/2 court. They are shooting just 64% from the line, and 32% from 3. There is a lot of depth. What do you like best about the team, what is your biggest concern?”

Chris Knoche: “The shooting numbers will improve over time. I really like the team speed and overall athleticism. I also like the bench and the energy of the freshman. My biggest area of concern is the same as it was in October. Who are going to be the guys that regularly make perimeter shots to keep defenses honest and out of Jordan Williams’ lap? I was impressed with Illinois last-month because of the number of shot makers they could hurt you with. The Terps don’t need that many… just a few to step up regularly.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “Maryland has 3 neutral-court losses to talented and experienced teams. Each of those losses were a lesson learned for the Terps, and could have been wins. However, when the Selection Committee meets the only thing that will matter from those games are the L’s. If Penn State finishes at the bottom of the Big Ten, Maryland is going to live and die solely based on their game in Philadelphia against Villanova and by what they do in Conference play.

If that is accurate, I’m fine with it. I like where this team is heading, and think they will finish with 11 wins within the ACC. After watching this team for 10 games, what do think this team is capable of achieving this season?”

Chris Knoche: “They are still capable of accomplishing every goal they talked about in the off-season. I know the team – and a lot of Terp Nation – are disappointed with the games that got away from them in the past few weeks but it’s a long season and patience is critical. A week ago I saw an ESPN commentator talk about the likelihood of Duke going undefeated. Now it looks like they might have lost Kyrie Irving for a long time. Things like that – an injury, a bad break or, conversely – a great break – can change the course of a season for a team. Add to it a player playing at a level that nobody predicted coming into the season. Call it the Vasquez factor. You look at a team like Boston College. This is a team that nobody gave a thought to in preseason rankings but they enter a huge game this weekend at 7-2, largely on the efforts of power point guard Reggie Jackson. He’s a guy that was not on anybody’s preseason all-ACC lists but he’s all over the top of most ACC statistical categories.”