As thrilling as the 2009-“10 basketball season was for the University of Maryland, Terps fans cannot help but look forward to next season with a great sense of uncertainty. The Terps lose 3 seniors in Greivis Vasquez, Eric Hayes and Landon Milbourne who have not only performed to the best of their ability on the court, but also provided great leadership and effort. And when you consider that Vasquez was both and all league performer and the heart and soul of the squad, you realize the losses will be great and the outlook is not very rosy. So what is next for the Terps? Can the returning players step into the void created by the departing ones? Will all five members of the incoming recruiting class be ready to contribute as freshman? Does Gary Williams have it in him to undertake another rebuild at Maryland? Are the ’09-’10 Terps any better than a bubble team?
The clearest path for success int he ’09-’10 season is for the returning Terps to step their games up and make up for the losses of Vasquez, Hayes and Milbourne. It is unlikely that Maryland’s five newcomers will all be ready to contribute and maybe only a couple of them will be ready to play at a high level. The Terps have a lot of returning experience in seniors Cliff Tucker, Adrian Bowie and Dino Gregory. None have been starters for an entire season, but they have been through it all in 3 seasons. Bowie will see a lot of time at the point and will need to improve his ability to distribute and run the offense. A lot of pressure falls on him and his ability to get open looks for his teammates, especially the bigs. Tucker needs to continue to improve his jumper and his ability to finish on the break. Tucker’s scoring could see the biggest jump of the returning players. Gregory needs to be more consistent on the boards and continue to hit open looks. Dino does a lot of little things and knows the offense well, but can he put it together and be productive with starters minutes?
Should the Terrapins see only moderate improvement from the three seniors, the job of carrying the Terps will fall even more squarely on the shoulders of Sean Mosley and Jordan Williams. Mosley and Williams will be called on to carry a heavy load. If they can ascend to all-conference status the Terps will find themselves on the right side of the bubble and perhaps back in the thick of things in the ACC. Mosley is going to have to transform his game some. The Terps will continue to feed on his toughness and all around, but he needs to hunt for his shot more and be a 15-17 ppg scorer. Williams will also be more of an offensive focal point, but next year his looks may come more on his post moves as opposed to looks set up by his teammates.
Along with James Padgett Maryland’s bench will be made up of almost entirely first year players. The Terps welcome G/F Mychal Parker, G Terrell Stoglin, G Pe’Shon Howard, F/C Ashton Pankey and F Haukur Palsson. Padgett did not see many minutes this passed season, but it will benefit the Terps that he was in the system for a year. Unless Padgett really steps his game, he will be the main back-up to Gregory and Williams at the 4 and 5. Pankey is billed as a strong rebounder and good shot blocker who will provide extra fouls on the inside. Parker and Stoglin appear to be most ready to make an impact. In fact they could see significant minutes if Bowie and Tucker struggle. Parker is an athletic wing and the most highly rated on the incoming class. Stoglin and lefty scoring point int he mold of former BC guard Tyrese Rice. Howard also provides depth at both guard spots and is a tough defender. Palsson is regarded as a shooter, but got limited minutes on a stacked Montverde Academy team.
Coming of a year that saw a consistent level of performance led by senior guard play, Terps fans are going to be in for more ups and downs next season. The ’09-’10 squad should be a quicker team defensively and able to do more off the dribble, but I think they will have struggles running the flex offense and knocking down perimeter jumpers. While the offense will not be as high scoring the Terps can be a stronger defensive and rebounding team. Will next year’s Terps be as resourceful at finding ways to win games as their predecessors? Who will step up the most and lead the Terps in ’09-’10?
This is always the time of year that the Gary bashing begins. There are gonna be tons of guys that MD fans want the Terps to go after, but Williams likes to build teams that will be together longer than most other college bball coaches. Losing Greivis is tough, we saw that emotion in Gary Williams in plenty of different interviews. I'm not sure who the new leader will be.
…what do you guys think?
Gary's son Jordan has to step up and take the lead. It's been two decades since the Terps had a dominate BIG man, but I think Jordan can be that guy. Let's face it the ACC will be tougher next year…the Heels have a year of growth under their collective belts as does GT and Duke is always there. I see the Terps declining in the standings next year to perhaps middle of the pack in the ACC.
That's what worries me. The ACC will be back in full forth next season and you've got to think that the Terps, without a leader, will probably be in the middle of the road.
Jordan has to step up his play, but Mosley is the guy that will the coach on the court. He brings toughness and the personality that guys can follow.
UNC brings in more talent, but they still need much better guard play and to come together. Plus, Roy Williams is a average coach. Favors and maybe Lawal are gone at GT, so that knocks them down a rung. Duke loses a fair amount, but also returns a lot and has a good class. If VT can get tougher mentally, they could be a top 3 team in teh league next year.
Bookmark it…Archive it…Tape it to your mirror…Whatever…Terps go 6 – 10 in Conference Play next year, something like 18 – 14 overall…Fire Gary…Keep Gary…Give him Another Bonus…Give him a 3-Year Extension…Raise Ticket Prices to $75…Whatever…
Bruz
What were your predictions for the 2009-10 team?
Mark…Thanx for asking…The only one I can really remember was taking Garyland's side three weeks ahead of the rematch against Duke! 🙂 Seriously, with Vazquez returning for a fourth year, joining two other Senior Starters, I wouldda had them somewhere in the top half of the league (admittedly not tying for 1st Place)…In general, I'm conflicted when it comes to Gary…Less occasionally against Duke, I havta hand it to his teams for never getting blown out, for never giving up in any game…Havta also hand it to him for running a Clean Program…That said, and I read the recruiting series the Wash Post did, I can't give him a free pass when it comes to recruiting…He's got resources at MD that most schools would envy…He's got a track record of putting players in to the NBA…He's won the Big One…And yet…And yet he's won the third game of the NCAA Tournament just twice in 31 years of Coaching…He's one just one ACC Tournament Title in 21 years in College Park…While being very well compensated…He saved the Program two decades ago…Back-to-back Final Fours and a sparkling new gymnasium, check and check…Guess I feel they should more often than not be the third-place team in the ACC (Tournament Champs twice every decade), easily Top 25 nationally, and thru to the Elite Eight every three to five years…Having not achieved those "expectations", I ultimately feel left wanting more.
Fair enough
I will say this though. The Washington Post series was garbage and the agenda was easy to see.
He does run a clean program. I know you don't like to hear it but he also has to deal with an AD who routinely butts heads with him. And there is no doubt he deals with an admission standard that many of the other big schools flat out don't have to deal with. It all started back with the Bias tragedy and the subsequent Wade years.
It's quite apparent (not just from this year's tourney) that the college basketball landscape has changed. Look at the powers that didn't even make it to the dance this year.
Gary has his faults, there's no doubt. I'll ask again, who would you replace him with. And please don't say Patsos again!
Mark…The only thing I don't have is the name of two or six "hot coaching prospects"…I know we are supposedta bring solutions and not just bring problems to the table…My bad for not having the answer…I just know I don't think the status quo is good enough, especially for what it costs.
Knock Gary all you want, but he has built the most consitently compelling franchise in the DC/Baltimore area in the last 20 years. The Caps are good now and the Ravens have had their years, but the Terps produce consitent winners and regularly beat the heavyweights of the ACC.
Has GW had the success of the top handful of NCAA coaches? No, but he is more limited in the level of talent he can bring in more than those other coaches are.
Next season expect the Terps to fall to the middle of the pack or lower. Bowie and Tucker have shown flashes but then again they haven't had extended minutes. I expect Mosely and Williams to be more offensive minded next season while Gregory will start at the 4 even though he's better suited bringing energy off the bench.
The Gary debate has passed. He's here to stay until he retires. Which also makes me wonder how many years he has left? Maybe 3 or 4?
As for his replacement just look around the NCAA. What about Butler's Brad Stevens, or even Todd Bozeman from Morgan? You need a young energetic guy to go after the top recruits.
I think a guy liek Stevens would be ideal. Could Maryland pull him or a guy like Mark Few? Not sure. There are some who think that Chuck might get a shot when Gary moves on. I think Bozeman is too tainted from his days at Cal, but he sure would come with lots of relationships having recruited the area for some time. The question is, would what it takes to get big time players from MD and DC call those relationships into question by the local media and ultimately the NCAA.