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Maryland stumbled on way to NCAA tournament. That might help it stand tall. Maryland stumbled on way to NCAA tournament. That might help it stand tall.
(about 2 hours later)
SPOKANE, Wash. — Away from the spotlight and the scrutiny, Mark Turgeon bowed to mounting pressure. In public, he tried to manage expectations and ease the burden of a struggling Maryland men’s basketball team, but when alone with his thoughts, he stressed and over-coached. He had to do something.SPOKANE, Wash. — Away from the spotlight and the scrutiny, Mark Turgeon bowed to mounting pressure. In public, he tried to manage expectations and ease the burden of a struggling Maryland men’s basketball team, but when alone with his thoughts, he stressed and over-coached. He had to do something.
He started fiddling, exhausting options. How about playing smaller? How about tweaking the rotation? How about adjustments on offense, on defense, on which players are featured? The Terrapins, who once had a 22-3 record and No. 2 national ranking, saw their problems progress: Two losses in a row, then three out of four, four out of six. Turgeon worked diligently to quiet minds and get his players to trust the process, but he realized all wouldn’t be fixed until he got through to one last person. He started fiddling, exhausting options. How about playing smaller? How about tweaking the rotation? How about adjustments on offense, on defense, on which players are featured? The Terrapins, who once had a 22-3 record and No. 2 national ranking, saw their problems progress: Two losses in a row, then three out of four, four out of six. Turgeon worked diligently to quiet minds and get his players to trust the process, but he realized all wouldn’t be fixed until he got through to one last person.
Himself.Himself.
[Maryland’s March, Part 6: A fork in the road to the Final Four][Maryland’s March, Part 6: A fork in the road to the Final Four]
“Yeah, it’s been a challenging year,” Turgeon said softly Thursday afternoon. “Yeah, we’ve learned a lot about ourselves, and what I’ve learned is, when we started to struggle, I started to dabble: ‘Well, maybe I need to try this. Maybe I need to try that. Maybe I’m not doing my job right.’ Well, some of the things I tried didn’t change anything.“Yeah, it’s been a challenging year,” Turgeon said softly Thursday afternoon. “Yeah, we’ve learned a lot about ourselves, and what I’ve learned is, when we started to struggle, I started to dabble: ‘Well, maybe I need to try this. Maybe I need to try that. Maybe I’m not doing my job right.’ Well, some of the things I tried didn’t change anything.
“I think what I’ve done, because of what we went through, I know exactly how I need to coach this team. And they know exactly how we need to try to play to be successful. And we’ve learned that over the last three weeks.”“I think what I’ve done, because of what we went through, I know exactly how I need to coach this team. And they know exactly how we need to try to play to be successful. And we’ve learned that over the last three weeks.”
Maryland enters the NCAA tournament with eight losses — never mind the 25 victories, huh? — and as much to prove as any team in this win-or-weep challenge. There’s no denying what these games mean for Turgeon, who is in his fifth year at Maryland and still building a case that he can get the most out of the program. The pressure is immense, and it wouldn’t be much less if the Terrapins had won three or four more games and put itself in a better position than a No. 5 seed.Maryland enters the NCAA tournament with eight losses — never mind the 25 victories, huh? — and as much to prove as any team in this win-or-weep challenge. There’s no denying what these games mean for Turgeon, who is in his fifth year at Maryland and still building a case that he can get the most out of the program. The pressure is immense, and it wouldn’t be much less if the Terrapins had won three or four more games and put itself in a better position than a No. 5 seed.
It’s easy to obsess over the importance of this run and turn the knob several degrees up on Turgeon’s seat. Maryland has yet to play consistently to the level of its talent, and that’s a disappointment that will intensify if the team can’t finish with flair. It’s also a failure Turgeon must bear if the Terrapins don’t advance to, at least, the Sweet 16.It’s easy to obsess over the importance of this run and turn the knob several degrees up on Turgeon’s seat. Maryland has yet to play consistently to the level of its talent, and that’s a disappointment that will intensify if the team can’t finish with flair. It’s also a failure Turgeon must bear if the Terrapins don’t advance to, at least, the Sweet 16.
[NCAA tournament live updates, scores, upset watch and more][NCAA tournament live updates, scores, upset watch and more]
But while you’re waiting for clarity about a perception, you shouldn’t dismiss the lessons that Maryland has learned to this point. The lows might just help the Terrapins reach their potential.But while you’re waiting for clarity about a perception, you shouldn’t dismiss the lessons that Maryland has learned to this point. The lows might just help the Terrapins reach their potential.
There’s a belief that the Terps have been a season-long underachiever. Reality suggests they were achieving just fine until a brutal three-week stretch from Feb. 13 to March 6. That’s when they lost four of six. But with those losses came a level of introspection that most teams this talented never experience.There’s a belief that the Terps have been a season-long underachiever. Reality suggests they were achieving just fine until a brutal three-week stretch from Feb. 13 to March 6. That’s when they lost four of six. But with those losses came a level of introspection that most teams this talented never experience.
Gaining a deeper understanding of who you are — and who you aren’t — isn’t a bad thing. Maryland has had to answer questions about itself that should make it more effective. There are things Turgeon can’t fix right now: He didn’t develop enough depth, the team isn’t as physical as its size suggests it should be, and its best lineup doesn’t flow as well together offensively as hoped. But all teams have weaknesses, and this one has the talent to overcome them. And it understands the consequences of underperforming.Gaining a deeper understanding of who you are — and who you aren’t — isn’t a bad thing. Maryland has had to answer questions about itself that should make it more effective. There are things Turgeon can’t fix right now: He didn’t develop enough depth, the team isn’t as physical as its size suggests it should be, and its best lineup doesn’t flow as well together offensively as hoped. But all teams have weaknesses, and this one has the talent to overcome them. And it understands the consequences of underperforming.
The Terrapins could write a thesis on handling expectations. It has been good for them. For all the criticism of what Turgeon hasn’t done to avoid disappointment, he has maintained a steady vision of March. He has developed his team slowly, knowing when to pull back, challenging when necessary and keeping the big picture in mind.The Terrapins could write a thesis on handling expectations. It has been good for them. For all the criticism of what Turgeon hasn’t done to avoid disappointment, he has maintained a steady vision of March. He has developed his team slowly, knowing when to pull back, challenging when necessary and keeping the big picture in mind.
[Sulaimon has what other Terps don’t: NCAA tournament experience][Sulaimon has what other Terps don’t: NCAA tournament experience]
We’re used to coaches flaunting their passion and screaming their way to more out of their teams. But in reality, a coach needs to throw many pitches to keep a team focused, especially one that was anointed before it had played a game. We like to think coaching great talent is easy — who wouldn’t want a roster like this? — but the biggest challenge is managing the people, their egos and, quietly, their fears. We’re used to coaches flaunting their passion and screaming for more out of their teams. But in reality, a coach needs to throw many pitches to keep a team focused, especially one that was anointed before it had played a game. We like to think coaching great talent is easy — who wouldn’t want a roster like this? — but the biggest challenge is managing the people, their egos and, quietly, their fears.
Has Turgeon been flawless? Of course not. He’ll be the first to nitpick his tactics. But he has done good work guiding this team through turbulence and giving it a chance to make a tournament run. Maryland doesn’t have the ideal seed. If the South Region bracket seeds hold, the Terrapins would have to face No. 4 California and potential NBA lottery picks Jaylen Brown and Ivan Rabb in the second round, and then top-seeded Kansas looms in the Sweet 16. Even Friday’s opponent, No. 12 seed South Dakota State, is a dangerous first-round matchup.Has Turgeon been flawless? Of course not. He’ll be the first to nitpick his tactics. But he has done good work guiding this team through turbulence and giving it a chance to make a tournament run. Maryland doesn’t have the ideal seed. If the South Region bracket seeds hold, the Terrapins would have to face No. 4 California and potential NBA lottery picks Jaylen Brown and Ivan Rabb in the second round, and then top-seeded Kansas looms in the Sweet 16. Even Friday’s opponent, No. 12 seed South Dakota State, is a dangerous first-round matchup.
[South Dakota State finds spot in NCAA tournament after taking leap][South Dakota State finds spot in NCAA tournament after taking leap]
But Maryland has the proper mind-set, and it still has the confidence to make a run. It will be a tough out. Turgeon must accept blame for falling short of expectations in the regular season, but at the same time, you can appreciate the fact that this team is still together and improving. There are no signs of dysfunction.But Maryland has the proper mind-set, and it still has the confidence to make a run. It will be a tough out. Turgeon must accept blame for falling short of expectations in the regular season, but at the same time, you can appreciate the fact that this team is still together and improving. There are no signs of dysfunction.
“Expectations make it really hard because the way they were set up, unless we cut down the nets on Monday [April 4] or make a Final Four, it’s going to be really hard on these guys,” Turgeon said. “For them, I could see that when we started to lose, when we lost those two games in a row, it was really weighing on them. From that point forward, we tried to change the way we approach things. We tried to have a little bit more fun. . . . But we never stopped talking about being great. We never stopped talking about being great and what our expectations are.”“Expectations make it really hard because the way they were set up, unless we cut down the nets on Monday [April 4] or make a Final Four, it’s going to be really hard on these guys,” Turgeon said. “For them, I could see that when we started to lose, when we lost those two games in a row, it was really weighing on them. From that point forward, we tried to change the way we approach things. We tried to have a little bit more fun. . . . But we never stopped talking about being great. We never stopped talking about being great and what our expectations are.”
The players give Turgeon credit, too, for managing the difficult task of being understanding and keeping them motivated.The players give Turgeon credit, too, for managing the difficult task of being understanding and keeping them motivated.
“Coach Turgeon has had a tough job,” guard Rasheed Sulaimon said. “Not only having all this talent on one team, but having this talent mesh. Having this talent play to their potential each and every game and having everyone click and mesh and build that chemistry. I think he’s done a tremendous job. Our chemistry is getting better each and every day, and I think we’re peaking at the right time. He’s definitely our leader and everyone follows him. We’re following his message right now, and everyone is ready.”“Coach Turgeon has had a tough job,” guard Rasheed Sulaimon said. “Not only having all this talent on one team, but having this talent mesh. Having this talent play to their potential each and every game and having everyone click and mesh and build that chemistry. I think he’s done a tremendous job. Our chemistry is getting better each and every day, and I think we’re peaking at the right time. He’s definitely our leader and everyone follows him. We’re following his message right now, and everyone is ready.”
Turgeon has won 362 games in his 18-year coaching career, but at Maryland, he has one tournament victory in five seasons. He has one of the most talented teams in program history this season, and he has to make a deep tournament run with a group that was put together to enjoy one shining season. The stakes are incredible. His success or failure here could create permanent perception among Maryland fans. Turgeon has won 362 games in his 18-year coaching career, but at Maryland, he has one tournament victory in five seasons. He has one of the most talented teams in program history this season, and he has to make a deep tournament run with a group that was put together to enjoy one shining season. The stakes are incredible. His success or failure here could create a permanent perception among Maryland fans.
But amid the pressure, he grins now. He doesn’t bow to it anymore. He waves at it.But amid the pressure, he grins now. He doesn’t bow to it anymore. He waves at it.
“This,” he can finally say, “is what we’ve been gunning for.”“This,” he can finally say, “is what we’ve been gunning for.”
For more my Jerry Brewer, visit washingtonpost.com/brewer. For more by Jerry Brewer, visit washingtonpost.com/brewer.