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Break is over as No. 4 Maryland faces Marshall in non-conference finale After long break, Turgeon and Terrapins are ready to shift into overdrive
(about 1 hour later)
Maryland basketball Coach Mark Turgeon said Saturday he wasn’t exactly celebrating the self-imposed holiday break he and his players took earlier this week. After four months of spending nearly every waking minute together, Maryland’s players dispersed across the country and were afforded an opportunity to decompress and reflect on the first third of the season.Maryland basketball Coach Mark Turgeon said Saturday he wasn’t exactly celebrating the self-imposed holiday break he and his players took earlier this week. After four months of spending nearly every waking minute together, Maryland’s players dispersed across the country and were afforded an opportunity to decompress and reflect on the first third of the season.
The first part of the campaign has brought plenty of thrills and a number of humbling moments for the No. 4 Terrapins (10-1 ), who will finish non-conference play Sunday afternoon against Marshall (4-8). The first part of the campaign has brought plenty of thrills and a number of humbling moments for the No. 4 Terrapins (10-1 ), who will finish nonconference play Sunday afternoon against Marshall (4-8).
Turgeon can only hope his team can fall back into a rhythm following the layoff. This is one of the most difficult times of the year for Turgeon and his staff, who have had just five practices over the past two weeks as the players have been otherwise occupied taking final exams and visiting their families. They could finally move on after returning to College Park for a fat-burning practice on Christmas Day, and Turgeon was further encouraged by how his team prepared during Saturday’s session. Turgeon only can hope his team can fall back into a rhythm following the layoff. This is one of the most difficult times of the year for Turgeon and his staff, who have had just five practices over the past two weeks as the players have been otherwise occupied taking final exams and visiting their families. They finally could move on after returning to College Park for a fat-burning practice on Christmas Day, and Turgeon was further encouraged by how his team prepared during Saturday’s session.
“This break has been a little different. I’m not in love with the break,” Turgeon said. “It’s been more about rest, and moving forward we’ll start to practice more and get ready for the league.”“This break has been a little different. I’m not in love with the break,” Turgeon said. “It’s been more about rest, and moving forward we’ll start to practice more and get ready for the league.”
While Marshall has won four of its past six and have a versatile weapon in 6-foot-7 forward James Kelly (17.8 points per game, 9.3 rebounds), it lost to Grand Canyon earlier this week and essentially represents the last tune-up for Turgeon’s team ahead of Wednesday’s Big Ten opener against Penn State. Maryland is coming off one of its more complete performances in an 82-61 win over Princeton in Baltimore last week, where Turgeon improvised his game-plan on the offensive and defensive end. Five players scored in double figures against the Tigers. While Marshall has won four of its past six and has a versatile weapon in 6-foot-7 forward James Kelly (17.8 points per game, 9.3 rebounds), it lost to Grand Canyon earlier this week and essentially represents the last tuneup for Turgeon’s team ahead of Wednesday’s Big Ten opener against Penn State. Maryland is coming off one of its more complete performances in an 82-61 win over Princeton in Baltimore last week, a game in which Turgeon improvised on the offensive and defensive ends. Five players scored in double figures against the Tigers.
Sophomore point guard Melo Trimble finished with 10 assists (Maryland had 14 assists on 32 field goals) — the latest example of the point guard facilitating Maryland’s balanced offensive identity. Sophomore point guard Melo Trimble finished with 10 assists (Maryland had 14 assists on 32 field goals) — the latest example of the point guard facilitating Maryland’s balanced offensive identity.
Maryland is the only Big Ten team to have five players averaging double figures in scoring: Trimble (15.0), Robert Carter Jr. (12.5), Jake Layman (11.3), Diamond Stone (10.7) and Rasheed Sulaimon (10.5). It is partly a result of ball movement within Turgeon’s NBA influenced sets — but also improved shot selection and efficiency around the rim. Carter is ranked fifth in the Big Ten in field goal percentage (61.4), while Maryland is No. 3 nationally in that category (53.5). The Terrapins have shot 50 percent or better from the field in eight of 11 games and seven of the past eight. Maryland is the only Big Ten team to have five players averaging double figures in scoring: Trimble (15.0), Robert Carter Jr. (12.5), Jake Layman (11.3), Diamond Stone (10.7) and Rasheed Sulaimon (10.5). It is partly a result of ball movement within Turgeon’s NBA-influenced sets — but also improved shot selection and efficiency around the rim. Carter is ranked fifth in the Big Ten in field goal percentage (61.4), while Maryland is No. 3 nationally in that category (53.5). The Terrapins have shot 50 percent or better from the field in eight of 11 games and seven of the past eight.
“We’re being very efficient. That’s encouraging. We have to continue taking care of the ball; we’ve been up and down in that category. Some games we’re really good, and then we have an 18-20 [turnover game] in there. So I just want us to be efficient,” said Turgeon, who team is averaging 13.2 turnovers. “But I still think we’re evolving offensively. We’ve been pretty simple offensively, but we’ve been efficient. We haven’t had to show a lot. We’ll become more complex as the year goes on.” “We’re being very efficient. That’s encouraging. We have to continue taking care of the ball; we’ve been up and down in that category. Some games we’re really good, and then we have an 18- to 20- [turnover game] in there. So I just want us to be efficient,” said Turgeon, whose team is averaging 13.2 turnovers. “But I still think we’re evolving offensively. We’ve been pretty simple offensively, but we’ve been efficient. We haven’t had to show a lot. We’ll become more complex as the year goes on.”
While Turgeon has eased into his rotation and developed trust in junior Damonte Dodd to start at center — thus putting Maryland’s best interior defender on the floor from the outset — Stone has continued to be a revelation off the bench.While Turgeon has eased into his rotation and developed trust in junior Damonte Dodd to start at center — thus putting Maryland’s best interior defender on the floor from the outset — Stone has continued to be a revelation off the bench.
The highly touted freshman has scored in double-figures in six of his past seven games and is averaging 13.8 points and 6.3 rebounds in four straight outings off the bench (he’s shooting 51.2 percent from the floor in that span). That included last week against Princeton, when he entered the game early in the first half and helped crack the Tigers 3-2 zone and finished with 11 points and six rebounds. The highly touted freshman has scored in double figures in six of his past seven games and is averaging 13.8 points and 6.3 rebounds in four straight outings off the bench, shooting 51.2 percent from the floor during that span. That included last week against Princeton, when he entered the game early in the first half, helped crack the Tigers’ 3-2 zone and finished with 11 points and six rebounds.
“When things aren’t going so good, I guess I might be able to turn things around. . . . I don’t mind it. I kind of like it a little bit,” Stone said of coming off the bench after the win against Princeton. “It was new at first, but now I’m used to it.”“When things aren’t going so good, I guess I might be able to turn things around. . . . I don’t mind it. I kind of like it a little bit,” Stone said of coming off the bench after the win against Princeton. “It was new at first, but now I’m used to it.”
Stone will run into players in the Big Ten who can “stretch him” and challenge his defensive approach on both the perimeter and on the block, Turgeon said. But everything will become more difficult as Maryland begins its second season in the league. It will become more difficult to move the ball and play at an up-tempo pace, two areas Maryland has worked to fine-tune throughout the first month of the season. Stone will run into players in the Big Ten who can “stretch him” and challenge his defensive approach on both the perimeter and on the block, Turgeon said.
Turgeon was just happy to be back in a routine this weekend after an unusual two week stretch. But everything will become more difficult as Maryland begins its second season in the league. It will become more difficult to move the ball and play at an up-tempo pace, two areas Maryland has worked to fine-tune throughout the first month of the season.
“It gets harder in conference. I’d like to think we’re going to share the ball and hopefully the assist-to-basket ratio will stay high,” Turgeon said. “I’m sure there will be some nights where it will be more difficult, but every game is different. Hopefully the trend will continue throughout the year.” Turgeon was just happy to be back in a routine this weekend after an unusual two-week stretch.
“It gets harder in conference. I’d like to think we’re going to share the ball, and hopefully the assist-to-basket ratio will stay high,” Turgeon said. “I’m sure there will be some nights where it will be more difficult, but every game is different. Hopefully the trend will continue throughout the year.”