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Maryland enters Big Ten tournament after hitting reset, refresh Maryland enters Big Ten tournament after hitting reset, refresh
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Maryland men’s basketball Coach Mark Turgeon was thinking ahead to the postseason as his team walked off the court following an 80-62 loss at Indiana in Sunday’s regular season finale, strategically planning a 45-hour period for his players to decompress before reconvening on the court. After watching his team close the regular season with four losses in six games, Turgeon wanted his players to spend some time by themselves Monday before this week’s Big Ten tournament in Indianapolis.Maryland men’s basketball Coach Mark Turgeon was thinking ahead to the postseason as his team walked off the court following an 80-62 loss at Indiana in Sunday’s regular season finale, strategically planning a 45-hour period for his players to decompress before reconvening on the court. After watching his team close the regular season with four losses in six games, Turgeon wanted his players to spend some time by themselves Monday before this week’s Big Ten tournament in Indianapolis.
Sophomore Melo Trimble got a massage. Junior Jaylen Brantley spent six hours in study hall. Senior Jake Layman went to a steakhouse to celebrate his 22nd birthday, a chance to get his mind off the team’s recent struggles and the impending pressures of his final postseason. By the time the group gathered again for practice Tuesday afternoon, Turgeon began to recalibrate his mentally refreshed team in preparation for Friday night’s quarterfinal against Wisconsin or Nebraska. Sophomore Melo Trimble got a massage. Junior Jaylen Brantley spent six hours in study hall. Senior Jake Layman went to a steakhouse to celebrate his 22nd birthday, a chance to get his mind off the team’s recent struggles and the impending pressures of his final postseason. By the time the group gathered again for practice Tuesday afternoon, Turgeon began to recalibrate his mentally refreshed team in preparation for Friday night’s quarterfinal against Nebraska.
“The regular season grind is behind us,” Turgeon said. “I think our guys have moved on.”“The regular season grind is behind us,” Turgeon said. “I think our guys have moved on.”
[Trimble talks about respect and rest and ahead of Big Ten tournament][Trimble talks about respect and rest and ahead of Big Ten tournament]
Maryland (24-7), seeded third in the Big Ten tournament, faces the prospect of a third game this season against the No. 6 seed Badgers, who set in motion the Terrapins’ worst stretch of the season with a 70-57 win in College Park in mid-February. But Turgeon was less concerned about his team’s potential opponents this weekend — he has, after all, already scouted each team extensively throughout the season. This week is more about self-reflection and improving not by practicing longer and harder, but by doing more with less time. Turgeon has shortened practices, scheduled down time for his players and encouraged them to watch other conference tournaments in order to recharge their batteries. Maryland (24-7), seeded third in the Big Ten tournament, nearly faced the prospect of a third game against the No. 6 seed Badgers, who set in motion the Terrapins’ worst stretch of the season with a 70-57 win in College Park in mid-February. But the Badgers were upset by the 11th-seeded Cornhuskers, 70-58, on Thursday night.
If four losses in three week taught Turgeon anything, it’s to teach his team to be more detail-oriented and return to the core principles that helped them reach 24 wins in the first place. Maryland’s defense, once thought to be its greatest strength, has become a liability far too often over the past month. It allowed a total of 35 three-pointers on 44 percent shooting from behind the arc in those losses. Another troubling trend is the team’s tendency to allow its poor offensive play affect its energy on defense. Turgeon was less concerned about his team’s potential opponents this weekend — he has, after all, already scouted each team extensively throughout the season. This week is more about self-reflection and improving, not by practicing longer and harder but by doing more with less time. Turgeon has shortened practices, scheduled down time for his players and encouraged them to watch other conference tournaments to recharge their batteries.
A prime example came in the loss to the Big Ten champion Hoosiers, who effectively forced Maryland to use more of the shot clock than it would like on offense while running the Terrapins’ defense to death with a frantic pace that resulted in 16 fast-break points and a slew of other offensive opportunities. Maryland shot 41 percent from the field, including 8 for 24 from three-point range, and committed 12 turnovers on Sunday. It is averaging a 12.8 turnovers per over the last six games and ranks 11th in the 14-team Big Ten in turnover margin at minus-1.8 per game. If four losses in three weeks taught Turgeon anything, it’s to teach his team to be more detail-oriented and return to the core principles that helped the Terrapins reach 24 wins in the first place. Maryland’s defense, once thought to be its greatest strength, has become a liability far too often over the past month. It allowed a total of 35 three-pointers on 44 percent shooting from behind the arc in those losses. Another troubling trend is the team’s tendency to allow its poor offensive play to affect its energy on defense.
A prime example came in the loss to the Big Ten champion Hoosiers, who effectively forced Maryland to use more of the shot clock than it would like on offense while running the Terrapins’ defense to death with a frantic pace that resulted in 16 fast-break points and a slew of other offensive opportunities. Maryland shot 41 percent from the field, including 8 for 24 from three-point range, and committed 12 turnovers Sunday. It is averaging 12.8 turnovers over the past six games and ranks 11th in the 14-team Big Ten in turnover margin at minus-1.8 per game.
[ACC tournament: Brogdon’s impact stands out, even if his demeanor doesn’t][ACC tournament: Brogdon’s impact stands out, even if his demeanor doesn’t]
“Our communication, and also just playing defense with our principles, closing out, just little things to help us play better defense, we haven’t been doing,” Trimble said. “Our communication and also just playing defense with our principles, closing out, just little things to help us play better defense, we haven’t been doing,” Trimble said.
Turgeon has hinted over the past week that he could deploy a smaller lineup more consistently and continue to use his full-court press, which could be a key postseason weapon given Maryland’s overall length. More than anything, he wants communication on defense even if his players are frustrated with themselves on the offensive end. Maryland players have been less talkative at times over the last six games, which has caused breakdowns on the perimeter and at the rim. Turgeon has hinted over the past week that he could deploy a smaller lineup more consistently and continue to use his full-court press, which could be a key postseason weapon given Maryland’s overall length. More than anything, he wants communication on defense even if his players are frustrated with themselves on the offensive end. Maryland players have been less talkative at times over the past six games, which has caused breakdowns on the perimeter and at the rim.
“Overall team defense, that works on ball-screens, off-ball screens . . . just trusting your help. We have to be one cohesive unit,” guard Rasheed Sulaimon said. “I think that will drastically improve protecting the rim and our overall defense.”“Overall team defense, that works on ball-screens, off-ball screens . . . just trusting your help. We have to be one cohesive unit,” guard Rasheed Sulaimon said. “I think that will drastically improve protecting the rim and our overall defense.”
Sulaimon called the Big Ten tournament a “mini-version of the NCAA tournament,” where Maryland will faces droves of media and structured game-day routines before playing on a neutral court. Most analysts project Maryland as a No. 4 or No.5 seed entering the conference, although it could significantly improve its stock with multiple wins in Indianapolis. Sulaimon called the Big Ten tournament a “mini-version of the NCAA tournament,” in which Maryland will faces droves of media and structured game-day routines before playing on a neutral court. Most analysts project Maryland as a No. 4 or No. 5 seed entering the conference, although it could significantly improve its stock with multiple wins in Indianapolis.
[Bracketology: Maryland is No. 5 seed in Post’s latest projections] [Bracketology: Maryland is No. 5 seed in The Post’s latest projections]
Maryland’s tipoff time of approximately 9 p.m. Eastern in the quarterfinal round will also make it more difficult the following day, when it would play at 3:30 p.m. should it advance to the semifinals. Had the Terps dropped to the No. 4 seed behind Purdue, they would’ve played at 2:30 p.m. on Friday. Turgeon played down that difficult scenario on Wednesday, instead choosing to point out that his team will have ample time to rest after securing a top-four seed and a double-bye. Maryland’s tip-off time of approximately 9 p.m. EST in the quarterfinal round will also make it more difficult the following day, when it would play at 3:30 p.m. should it advance to the semifinals. Had the Terps dropped to the No. 4 seed behind Purdue, they would have played at 2:30 p.m. on Friday. Turgeon played down that difficult scenario Wednesday, instead choosing to point out that his team will have ample time to rest after securing a top-four seed and a double-bye.
The mood remained light at times on Wednesday with players joking around with each other before practice. Freshman Diamond Stone showed up with a fresh haircut that he snuck in earlier in the day, and Trimble and Layman held up a banner to wish Sulaimon a happy 22nd birthday while he met with reporters. The mood remained light at times with players joking around with each other before practice. Freshman Diamond Stone showed up with a fresh haircut that he snuck in earlier in the day, and Trimble and Layman held up a banner to wish Sulaimon a happy 22nd birthday while he met with reporters.
“We’re going to try to use the Big Ten tournament as much as we can as our last preparation for the NCAA tournament,” said Sulaimon, whose five NCAA tournament games as a freshman and sophomore at Duke make him the most seasoned member of Maryland’s roster. “At the same time we’re going to try to win it.”“We’re going to try to use the Big Ten tournament as much as we can as our last preparation for the NCAA tournament,” said Sulaimon, whose five NCAA tournament games as a freshman and sophomore at Duke make him the most seasoned member of Maryland’s roster. “At the same time we’re going to try to win it.”