'Your papers, please' must never be heard in America
Independent voices from the TWT Communities
Maryland coach Mark Turgeon knows youthful inconsistency is part of the package when deploying a roster dominated by underclassmen. But during the Terrapins' 72-59 win over Clemson on Saturday, he saw his team showcase an unexpected trait: stability.
Freshman guard Seth Allen overcame eight turnovers to finish with 16 points, including the winning free throws with two seconds remaining, and Maryland upset No. 2 Duke 83-81 on Saturday.
Pe'Shon Howard might spend as much time in the Comcast Center media room as anyone on Maryland's roster. Even on days when the point guard doesn't duck in, though, he has a pretty good idea what sort of questions coach Mark Turgeon is fielding from scribes.
Maryland closed out nonconference play Tuesday with a 81-63 defeat of IUPUI, its 12th straight victory coming against the latest random and overmatched opponent to enter Comcast Center.
Most days after practice, Maryland forward Jake Layman will linger to work with assistants Scott Spinelli and Eric Hayes on getting over screens and on-ball defense. At other times, he'll put up extra shots with teammates.
Maryland's conditioning opportunities decreased in early December, and freshman Charles Mitchell slipped a bit. He added a few pounds, grew a little more sluggish and found his playing time diminish significantly.
This was a change of pace, a stark contrast to the de facto scrimmages Maryland partook in over the previous three games.
Maryland's priorities did not change over a nine-day break for final exams.
Mark Turgeon wanted the breakthrough to come this week. Actually, he probably wanted it a month earlier, but at this stage the sooner the better would suffice.
A flustered Mark Turgeon walked away from Maryland's final contest before a break for final exams unwilling to give his team a fully passing grade.
Mark Turgeon hadn't slept much in the two nights since his Maryland basketball team outlasted George Mason in the BB&T Classic, a game featuring more than a few turnover issues.
Logan Aronhalt's decision to use his final year of basketball eligibility at Maryland meant an opportunity to play in a power conference and pursue a graduate degree in exercise physiology.
Last Wednesday's film session was a rough one for freshman forward Charles Mitchell. Even in an 83-74 win over Lafayette, head coach Mark Turgeon focused on everything that the Terrapins – and Mitchell in particular – did wrong.
Eric Hayes grew up in gyms, tagging along with his father, Kendall, to high school basketball practices at Virginia's Potomac High School.
Mark Turgeon had yet to see the real Dez Wells, the all-around player viewed as a man who could provide multiple elements to an inexperienced Maryland team upon receiving eligibility last week.
