Maryland Basketball Preview: The Terps and Me

In a slight departure from my normal ramblings about the Redskins on Fridays, I’m going to write about college basketball (surprise, the moron is actually going to talk about something other than Clinton Portis’ weekly costume and the absolute failure that is Walt Harris).

I just finished school at the University of Maryland. Way before that, I was obsessed about Maryland hoops. I have been going to games since I was eight. I remember going to games at Cole Field House during the ugly and forgettable 1990-91 season. The first game I ever attended was a 104-100 Maryland win over NC State. Walt Williams went shot for shot with the Wolfpack’s Tom Gugliotta. The Wizard had at least 30 with a broken left arm (I remember the yellow cast very vividly). Throughout the 90’s, I watched all the great players come and go. Joe Smith, Exree Hipp, Keith Booth, Sarunis Jasikevicius, Laron Profit, Johnny Rhodes, Obinna Ekezie, Terrell Stokes, Steve Francis, Terrance Morris. All these teams were so promising, but almost all the seasons ended in failure. The ugly upsets against College of Charleston in ’96 and Santa Clara in ’97. Close calls against Arizona in ’98 and St. John’s in ’99. Both of those losses came in the Sweet 16. The 35 point drubbing by UCLA in the second round in 2000. I had to watch all of these.

Then came the 2000-01 season. This turned out to be one of the most exciting, and ultimately, the most crushing season in Maryland history. It was my senior year in high school. At the beginning of the season, no one knew what kind of team Maryland was going to be. A win against Louisville would be followed by a loss to Dayton. But from mid-December to late January, the Terps won 13 of 14. The only loss was a 86-83 defeat at the hands of a pretty good UNC team.

It was around this time that I finally accepted my invitation to Maryland. For awhile, I seriously considered taking my scholarship offer from the University of Miami. But on January 27, 2001, I sent my acceptance form back to College Park and became a part of the University of Maryland.

That night, some of my friends (who had also enrolled at Maryland) and I settled down to watch the 2nd ranked Duke Blue Devils visit Cole. Any Maryland fan knows what happened in this game. The Terps blew a 10-point lead in the final minute, thanks to Drew Nicholas and some questionable refereeing. I was officially indoctrinated to the culture of heartbreak that was Maryland basketball.

The Terps would obviously go on and blow another game to the Dookies in the ACC Championship game and the Final Four (it was tough for Maryland, seeing how they played the entire second half five against eight). But everyone except Morris would be back the following year.

I thought I was horrible luck, considering that Maryland’s season turned south, then went back to promising, and ultimately ended in another failure, ever since the day I enrolled. These fears that I was a bad omen to the program were put to rest the following season. The Maryland Terrapins became national champions my freshman year. They went 15-0 at home in what would be the final season at Cole Field House. This included a game in February against the #1 Dookies. My friends and I waited two and half days for tickets. We survived the bitter cold and a last minute stampede to get them. Our patience and diligence were rewarded. We saw one of the greatest one-sided performances in basketball history. The #3 Terps manhandled Ratface’s overrated Dook team from start to finish. The Terps never trailed, led by as many as 25, and won 87-73. It was a win that would only be matched in importance by the 64-52 victory on April 1st, 2002 against Indiana. Ah, it seems like it was only yesterday that I took a whiff of that glorious victory pepper spray on Route 1.

The next year I started working a few of the Maryland games for WMUC radio. I attended the majority of games as a fan, but I got my first behind the scenes look into a major college program. Over my final two years at UMD, I went to most of the games as a broadcast journalist. I ended up broadcasting many games from the Comcast Center. I also broadcasted games at the MCI Center, UVA’s University Hall, NC State’s RBC Center and Wake’s Lawrence Joel Coliseum. I even got a chance to broadcast a women’s game at Cameron Indoor. I've seen the players at their highest highs, and their lowest lows. I've partied with Rashad McCants and Sean May at UNC. When the Terps went to the NCAA’s in Denver two seasons ago, I was there, at midcourt, broadcasting the games against UTEP and Syracuse. I was sitting there within whispering distance from Gary and Roy Williams, Jim Boehiem, Rick Barnes, John Thompson III and Billy Gillespie. And despite Maryland having a poor season last year, I got to broadcast a game from Madison Square Garden, which is something I will never forget.

Unfortunately, the last two years, my love for Maryland basketball has waned. And it has nothing to do with the diminishing results on the court (I am not a fair-weather fan…I followed this team during the probation years, I followed the Redskins during the mid-90's and I'm a Baltimore Orioles fan for some reason, I forget why). Covering the team day in and day out for the better part of two years showed me a side of the program that I didn’t want to see. I found out that Gary Williams really is a jackass. I always thought his on court demeanor and his off court attitude would be different. It turns out, they are one in the same. He treats his players horribly. He treats the media worse. He is grumpy, grouchy and moody…and not just on game day. He even has a penchant for going to the local bars and getting drunk almost every night. This wouldn’t be a problem if he wasn’t flirting and trying to pick up underage coeds while drinking. In Gary's defense, he isn’t married and he isn’t drinking at the local frat houses, so he hasn’t reached the Larry Eustachy plateau yet.

Also, I discovered that the term student athlete really doesn’t apply in most major athletic programs. I knew going in that school was a distant third place to the players behind the sport and picking up girls. But I found out that school usually was sixth or seventh on the list. Hitting on girls and drinking was the number one choice of most of these guys. Then comes hitting the bong (I know of at least three current players who have serious problems with this). Then comes basketball. Close behind comes sleeping. Then lounging around the cafeteria. Then maybe, if there is time, a class or two. For a normal student, there is nothing wrong with this priority list. In fact, mine looked a lot similar. But these players are on scholarship representing the university. And it was disgusting how they took advantage of their status as basketball players. When it came down to it, very few players on the team even cared about basketball. That was the most disturbing aspect of all of this. Some were only on the team to coast with their free ride. And the one player who really did care had other mental problems and hurt the team last season (obviously talking about John Gilchrist…try and keep up).

I guess I’m comparing (get ready for a horrible metaphor) the basketball program to a hot dog. What red-blooded American doesn’t like going to a ballgame and having a hot dog with a nice cold beverage? But do you want to know what goes in to making said meat product? Obviously not. That’s what I’ve seen the past two years with Maryland basketball. I’ve seen the process of putting together a somewhat competitive basketball team. And it wasn’t pretty. I loved going to the games and watching on TV as a fan. But when I started covering them as a member of the media, I realized that Maryland basketball is made up of the parts of a cow or pig that no one in their right mind would normally eat. Or something to that affect.

Hopefully now that I am away from the program, I can begin earnestly rooting for them again. It may take a couple of years, especially to get rid of the players that I couldn’t stand talking to or interviewing, before I start blindly following the Terps again. But, I'll obviously still root for them through thick and thin this year, I just won't care as much as I used to if they lose. With that disclaimer out of the way, here is a brief scouting report and preview of the Maryland Terrapins this season:

GUARDS

Mike Jones
Pros: Best shooter on team. When he is on, he can hit from anywhere on the floor at anytime. Doesn’t even have to set his feet (in fact, rarely sets his feet). Loves to run and play in transition. Despite being a guard, loves to play above the rim. Not afraid to go inside and grab rebounds. Excellent free-throw shooter
Cons: Horrible defender. Often times, it looks like he loses interest on the defensive end. Won’t see consistent playing time until he learns to defend better. Very streaky shooter. Without consistent playing time, he struggles to get into a shooting rhythm. Frustrated by Williams’ half-court “flex” offense, so he usually is out of position.

Sterling Ledbetter
Pros: Good ball-handler. Can run transition game really well.
Cons: Average to poor defender. Afraid to make tough passes. Will be asked to play point guard but not a true point. Can’t run efficient half-court offense. Afraid to take shots. Not a great shooter either. Struggles from the free-throw line.

Chris McCray
Pros: Most consistent player on the team last year. Team leader that leads by example, not necessarily by his mouth. Good defensive player. Rarely gets out of position. A solid shooter that can shoot his way out of a dry spell. Excellent free-throw shooter
Cons: On a team devoid of emotional leaders, he failed to be one. Needs to be more vocal. Sometimes he is afraid to take open shots, especially beyond the arc. Also afraid to bang inside or drive inside if he needs to. Rarely plays above or near the rim.

DJ Strawberry
Pros: Tenacious defender. Perhaps the best defensive player in the ACC. He has great speed and uses it to his advantage on the defensive end. Also is very versatile. Can play point guard, shooting guard, or even small forward if need be. Very coachable. Listens well in practice. Emotional leader on a team that desperately needs one.
Cons: Coming off a serious injury. While he can play three positions pretty well, excels at none of them. Not a true point guard, but will be asked to play there. Struggles moving the offense in a half court set. Horrible shooter, especially as a guard. One of the worst free-throw shooters on team.

Others: Parrish Brown

FORWARDS/CENTERS:

Will Bowers
Pros: Height is a huge advantage (7-1). Has a big body and not afraid to throw it around. Runs very well for someone his height. Good stamina. Very coachable
Cons: Often times awkward and uncomfortable in half-court sets. Serious problems with his footwork. Has a tendency to pick up dumb fouls in bunches. Many times he does not go up for a rebound with two hands. Non-existent vertical. Plays like the smallest 7-footer in the country. Often gets out rebounded by players five inches smaller and 25 pounds lighter.

Nik Caner-Medley
Pros: Versatile offensive player. Can play inside or outside. Not afraid to attack the basket. If he squares up and gets set, can hit a three from anywhere. Good rebounder. Great defender on the perimeter. Runs in transition real well.
Cons: Rushes his shots too much. Too predictable on the offensive end. Only likes attacking basket from the baseline, almost never attacks from the top of the key. Also has tendency to play wild and out of control. Forces too many shots. Poor passer. Often gets lost on the defensive end when he has to cover someone inside.

Travis Garrison
Pros: Great touch for someone who is 6-8. Can step outside and shoot the three. Silky turn-a-round jumper. Decent fade-away shot. Good rebounder on the defensive end. Runs well and plays smart in transition. Fights for loose balls. Great free-throw shooter.
Cons: Afraid to use his body inside. Has real problems playing with his back to his basket. Doesn’t attack the rim when he has the ball. Can’t grab an offensive rebound to save his life. Beats himself up when he makes mistakes. Very inconsistent.

James Gist
Pros: Excellent rebounder and shot-blocker on the defensive end. Has an amazing vertical. Attacks basket when he has the ball. Good but getting better with his back to the basket. Great footwork for a freshman last year. Major upside.
Cons: Can’t shoot more than 10 feet away from the basket. Horrible free-throw shooter. Often has stretches with severe mental lapses. Could be an even better rebounder if he learns how to box out properly.

Ekene Ibekwe
Pros: Best shot-blocker on team. Has a very long wingspan. Helps real well in backside and recovery defense. Like most Maryland big men, runs court real well and loves transition game. Attacks basket on offensive end, goes to the foul line a lot because of it.
Cons: Name is hard to spell (haha). Worst free-throw shooter on the team. Picks up dumb fouls early in the game and minimizes his effect on the game. Can’t shoot well away from the basket, but tries anyway. Very uncomfortable playing in flex half-court offense

Others: Gini Chukura, David Neal

Maryland will once again be a very deep team. They will use at least nine, maybe even ten players a game. They are also a senior heavy team with McCray, Garrison, Caner-Medley and Ledbetter. Maryland should be an exciting team to watch because they are going to play up-tempo basketball. Gary Williams loves to push, and the return of DJ Strawberry should help get the transition game started with plays on the defensive end. The front court should be better this year as well. Garrison, Ibekwe, Bowers and Gist all got another year of experience. As long as Garrison and Ibekwe stay out of early foul trouble, they should be fine. Hopefully this will be the year that Garrison learns how to play with his back to the basket. Gist should be tremendously improved and that should also help the front court.

The problem for Maryland and for many other ACC teams will be at point guard. Strawberry and Ledbetter will be the main point guards, and neither one of them looks great in a half-court offense. Teams that stop Maryland from running and frustrate Strawberry and Ledbetter early in the game are going to kill the Terps (see North Carolina and Wake Forest last year). This will be an ongoing drama the entire season unless relative unknown Parrish Brown steps up.

Mike Jones will continue to struggle to see minutes. Reports are that he has not improved defensively at all during the off-season. I see a starting lineup consisting of Strawberry/Ledbetter, McCray, Caner-Medley, Ibekwe and Garrison. Jones won’t even be the sixth man on this team.

Despite all the dangerous scorers, there are going to be plenty of times this year when the Maryland offense looks sluggish and struggles. They should be one of the best defensive teams in the conference. With the exception of Jones and Ledbetter, most players who will see major minutes are good to great defenders. That is part of the game that many analysts are overlooking. If Maryland’s defense leads to transition opportunities…look out.

The team to watch out for in the ACC is not Duke, but Boston College. They are my early favorite to win the conference. I don’t like the Devils point guard situation with Sean Dockery and the freshman Greg Paulus splitting time. Before we anoint Paulus as the second coming, remember that he is a freshman that is playing in a league that is traditionally very rude to rookies. More on that as the season wears along and football is out of the way. But that’s why BC is my favorite, with Dook a close second. I believe Maryland will win about 22 games this year and finish with a 10-6 conference record. That should be good enough for fourth place in the conference. Maryland may not be much better from last year, but UNC, Wake, Georgia Tech and NC State all lost significant parts of their teams from last year, so that will help the Terps. Again, I’ll get to the rest of the ACC later in the season.

With that said, Maryland should get victory number one tonight against Fairleigh Dickinson. It won’t be as easy as many think. I won’t go into much detail about FDU. The Knights come off a great season where they won the NEC and made it to the NCAA tournament (which is more than you can say for Maryland). They gave Illinois all they could handle in the first round, but lost 67-55. They return three of their starters and two of their top three scorers from a year ago. This will be a good opening test for Maryland, but one they should win. Maryland 74, FDU 57.

Tomorrow, I preview the stimulating Moss vs. Moss battle as the genius formerly known as Norv Turner takes his Raiders to Landover.