By Douglas Holtz-Eakin
The young drop coverage to avoid higher premiums
The 6-foot-3 point guard averaged 3.3 points and 3.6 assists in 36 games this season. He started in 24 games. Over his three-year career at Maryland, Howard averaged 4.7 points and 3.5 assists in 83 games.
Alex Len had 16 points, nine rebounds and six blocked shots for the Terps (25-13). Nick Faust added 14 points.
The Terps have won six of nine, including their second win of the season over Duke, in the ACC tournament. Then they reeled off wins over Niagara, Denver and at Alabama to reach the NIT's final four.
Alex Len finished with 15 points and 13 rebounds and had a key block in the final seconds to help Maryland escape with a 58-57 victory over Alabama on Tuesday night in the NIT quarterfinals.
Maryland used a small lineup to mount a big comeback in a 62-52 victory over Denver on Thursday night in the second round of the NIT. Dez Wells scored 19 points for the Terrapins, who closed with a 23-4 run after trailing 48-39 with 9:15 left.
Tied at halftime, the Terrapins (23-12) used a 21-2 run to take a 56-38 lead before coasting to the finish. Second-seed Maryland next hosts the winner of the Ohio-Denver game, held late Tuesday.
For both programs, it's not a terrible situation. Not this year at least. It does bring up the question as to when too much NIT is too much? At what point does the heat get turned up?
Given that the Terrapins (22-11) haven't played in the postseason since 2010, a berth in the NIT as a second seed is something to celebrate. When longtime coach Gary Williams retired before the 2011-12 season, he didn't leave much talent behind.
Wells was 9 of 13 from the field and 10 of 10 from the free throw line to lead the seventh-seeded Terrapins (22-11), who delivered the first big shocker of the week in Greensboro and advanced to the semifinals for the first time since 2009.
Since beating Duke, Maryland has lost three of five — including a deflating 79-68 defeat at home against North Carolina on Wednesday night.
Dez Wells led Maryland with 18 points and Nick Faust had 16. The Terrapins missed 20 of 23 attempts from 3-point range.
Wells, a Raleigh native who played AAU ball for the Chris Paul All-Stars, was 11 of 12 from the field and finished two points shy of his career high of 25 set Dec. 2 against George Mason.
The loss left Maryland 1-6 in road ACC games. Maryland (19-9, 7-8) is 15-2 at home, but its latest road loss was a damaging blow to its NCAA tournament hopes.
There are some familiar NBA names lighting up college basketball courts this season.
Maryland coach Mark Turgeon says, "We understand this is best for Pe'Shon and his family and will support him through this transition."
Pe'Shon Howard leaving Maryland; will transfer for senior season →
Turgeon pointed out another advantage: "It's been great for our families, too. You know, it's spring break for our families so we've kind of treated this like a family outing, so everybody's happy."
Maryland set to meet future Big Ten foe Iowa in NIT semifinals →
