Maryland Terrapins (19-14, 7-9)
Projected starting five:
So. G Terrell Stoglin
So. G Pe’Shon Howard
Sr. G Sean Mosley
Jr. F James Padgett
Sr. F Berend Weijs
Important departures:
Coach Gary Williams: 668-380 overall record, 461-252 record with Terrapins, 192-156 ACC record in 22 seasons at Maryland.
Jordan Williams: 16.9 ppg, 11.8 rpg, 0.6 apg
Cliff Tucker: 9.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.2 apg
Dino Gregory: 9.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 0.8 apg
Adrian Bowie: 8.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 3.5 apg
Percent returning scoring and rebounding:
Scoring: 38.8 percent
Rebounding: 33.3 percent
Additions:
Nick Faust, No. 48 Rivals.com and ESPNU four-star shooting guard from Baltimore
Schedule highlights:
Best non-conference game: vs. Notre Dame
Toughest conference stretch: Jan. 25-Feb. 4 (vs. Duke, vs. Virginia Tech, at Miami, vs. North Carolina)
Outlook:
Life after Gary Williams begins now for Maryland. The legendary Terrapins’ coach called it a career after last season, and it seems like good timing. With Jordan Williams bolting for the NBA and several starts graduating, Maryland is losing about two-thirds of its scoring and rebounding. That puts new coach Mark Turgeon in the tough spot of giving anxious fans some hope for the future while building toward that future.
Mark this prediction: Turgeon will win in Maryland. The former Texas A&M coach has assembled a great coaching staff that has roots in the fertile Washington, D.C, recruiting grounds. Although Williams brought a national championship to College Park, his inability to keep top talent close to home rankled the fan base. Turgeon might have a rough year this season. But Terrell Stoglin is a budding star, and Pe’Shon Howard will provide a nice change of pace for Stoglin. Within a couple of years, Maryland should be back near the top of the standings. It just won’t be this season.
