Terps basketball analysis today
My men's basketball preview story is in the paper today. My game plan was to look at last season, evaluate what the Terps did well and assess where they can improve.
The more I reflected on last season's team, the more I was struck at how they overachieved.
Here's the thing: Maryland wasn't big and it wasn't an especially good shooting team either. So how does a team like that advance to the second round of the NCAA tournament? With pressing, trapping defense; smart coaching; penetration on offense; lots of grit; and the ability to rise to the occasion, as the team did against North Carolina (the second time) and in the ACC tournament.
The Terps will need more of the same this season. It would help considerably if they could:
*Re-establish the inside post play that Gary Williams likes so much.
*Get to the foul line more.
*Shoot better from three-point-range.
*Improve their rebounding margin with help from the two freshman forwards.
I know the Terps are more highly rated than they were last season. But this is a team that feels like an underdog to me because it still needs to work exceptionally hard to be successful.
Comments
I think that Gary will get the most out his guys and that the ACC will be the most balanced it has been in years. All of your points are on target and the team should get better as the season goes on. Dino would help on defense and on the boards but who knows if he'll play this year [remember QB Portis?]. If the Terps do well this year, it will certainly help recruiting for the 2011 class which will be crucial for the program's future.
Posted by: Phil | November 12, 2009 8:59 AM
Listen Jeff,
just because you write a column doesnt make you an expert. We have one of best guards in the country, if not the best. A great game coach, and ton of depth at guard. team that with experience and some talented young big guys. many teams would like to be in marylands spot
Posted by: jeremy | November 12, 2009 10:18 AM
What is the real story with regards to Dino Gregory and what do you expect to happen?
Posted by: Randy | November 12, 2009 1:05 PM
...nor are you an expert jeremy. Not sure who this "best guard" in the country is, but it ain't Gravy Veisquez. NBA teams took a look at him in the Spring and realized, he can't play defense.
Posted by: Rob K. | November 12, 2009 2:27 PM
the terps have much more potential then they did last year. but that was before they lost burney and possibly gregory.
the bar is high.
but they are in the same bind to produce as every year at maryland. the new bigs won't be able to contribute if williams doesn't get them time on the floor. same said for goins.
and talent-wise maryland may have the most talented back-court/wing rotation in the country.
choi, milbourne, mosely on the wing
vasquez, hayes, tucker, and bowie.
wow.
Posted by: space | November 12, 2009 2:52 PM
It really doesn't matter about teh details..Gary showed his coaching stuff last year, if he can do the same thing this year with this group they will win 25 games
Posted by: John | November 12, 2009 2:56 PM
It really doesn't matter about teh details..Gary showed his coaching stuff last year, if he can do the same thing this year with this group they will win 25 games
Posted by: John | November 12, 2009 2:56 PM
Grevis, one of the best guards in the country? Yikes! Anyone notice what his shooting percentage is with the shot clock under 5 seconds? Below 7%!!! I wish I could remember a single time he scored with the shot clock winding down (despite almost always going one-on-one once the clock gets below 10 seconds) - but I can't.
He's a great passer but previous poster is right - he can't play man-to-man defense - worse than Caner-Medley1 Yes I said it.
Go Terps anyway.
Posted by: EJR | November 12, 2009 3:39 PM
One of the reasons the Terps did so well last year was because they had someone at the 5 spot who could shoot the 3. That really opened things up. Could be we'll miss Dave Neal more than we thought we would.
Posted by: Terpie | November 12, 2009 3:49 PM
When did Gary become a great game coach? For so many years, the knock on him was that he wasn't a great game coach, became too flustered and paniced too much. Suddenly, he is a great game coach? I must have missed the evolution on that one.
Posted by: BE | November 12, 2009 4:29 PM
take GV away from the terps last yr and they are borderline DII team,.......fact
Posted by: jeremy | November 12, 2009 5:04 PM
It may be an exaggeration to say that w/o GV Maryland would be a DII team, but the point is a good one. Without Vasquez, Maryland is an unremarkable team. That is not said to build up Vasquez; he is a very good guard and will succeed in the pros, but he is not great.
Posted by: guglio | November 12, 2009 5:35 PM
BE - GW IS one of the best big game coaches in the country. Just look at how many No.1s and No. 2s MD has beaten over the last 15 years. I do not think any team in the country has that many wins over top ranked opponents.
Posted by: Dave | November 12, 2009 6:25 PM
Jeff
I enjoyed your article as well as your blog post. I agree with everything that you are saying. It was absolutely AMAZING to watch the miracles that Gary Williams worked in his twentieth season as head coach after a lackluster start to the Terps 2008-09 season. I live in Kansas City so I was able to attend the NCAA Tournament first round victory over Cal. I hope that the Terps can repeat what they did this season!
---FROM JEFF----
Thank you. I enjoyed Kansas City. The Sprint Center is a nice facility.
Posted by: Drew Johnson | November 12, 2009 7:58 PM
yes, gary williams gets the most out of his players. yes, his teams overachieve. but why is his program often in this position? how can a "big-time program" with their history, facilities, league, etc. find itself undermanned? why can't UM just "reload" like the dukes and the carolinas?
Posted by: jonniebmore | November 13, 2009 9:03 AM
Wow! Maui Maui. What a Maryland stinker.
This better get a whole lot better. Since the NCAA Title this really smells.
Norman
Posted by: Norman Solow | November 25, 2009 6:52 PM