Coming off their best season since winning the national title in 2002, Maryland has some serious holes to fill as their top three scorers from last season’s ACC co-champion are gone including the flamboyant Greivis Vasquez. One thing is for sure though, Gary Williams will coach his guys up and have the Terps once again competing for a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
The Sports Bank’s 99 team college basketball preview in 99 days breaks down the 72 power conference teams and top 27 mid-majors and will lead you right into the opening tip of the season. Click here if you missed teams #43-#99.
By: David Kay
Maryland Terrapins (1st, 13-3, 24-9)
Projected Depth Chart
C: Jordan Williams (So)/Berend Weijs (Jr)
F: Dino Gregory (Sr)/James Padgett (So)/Ashton Pankey (Fr)
G/F: Cliff Tucker (Sr)/ Mychal Parker (Fr)/Haukur Palsson (Fr)
G: Sean Mosley (Jr)/Pe’Shon Howard (Fr)
PG: Adrian Bowie (Sr)/Terrell Stogin (Fr)
Gone: PG-Greivis Vasquez, F-Landon Milbourne, SG-Eric Hayes, C-Steve Goins (transfer-Troy), F-David Pearman (transfer-Salisbury)
2010-2011 Outlook:
Greivis Vasquez provided the fire for Maryland last season, being named the ACC Player of the Year and leading the Terps to a share of the conference title. Vasquez is now in the NBA while the team’s second and third leading scorers also graduated leaving Gary Williams with some holes to be filled.
Junior Sean Mosley is coming off a solid sophomore campaign but needs to elevate his game and start living up to the hype that surrounded him coming out of high school. He is a versatile scorer who can play several positions on the floor and will be asked to take on a much bigger role this season.
Senior Adrian Bowie faces the challenge of replacing Vasquez at the point while Cliff Tucker will take over for Landon Milbourne at the three. The Terps have some talented freshmen guards coming in who should contribute right away. Most notably is 6-5 Mychal Parker who possesses the offensive firepower to be a factor the bench.
Like most freshmen, 6-10 Jordan Williams had some ups and downs but showed the potential of being a physical force down low. Dino Gregory will likely join Williams in the starting frontcourt with little used Scott Padgett figuring to get more minutes off the bench. 6-11 JUCO transfer Berend Weijs could be a difference maker on the defensive end.
This year’s Terps are nowhere near as talented as the 2009-10 version. Still, Maryland should finish in the top half of the ACC which would more than likely earn them a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
Player to Watch: Jordan Williams, C
At 6-10, 260 pounds Williams has the ability to overpower opponents down low. He came on strong at the end of the season, posting five double-doubles in the Terps’ final ten games including a 21-point, 17-rebound performance in the opening round of the tourney. If he can stay out of foul trouble which was an issue at times during last season, Williams should be a focal point of the Maryland attack.
Key Non-Conference Games:
11/18 vs. Pittsburgh (Coaches vs. Cancer Classic)
11/19 vs. Texas/Illinois (Coaches vs. Cancer Classic)
12/1 at Penn State (ACC/Big Ten Challenge)
12/5 vs. Temple
1/15 at Villanova
Other 99 in 99’s:
#43 Richmond
#44 UNLV
#45 Seton Hall
#46 Wichita State
#47 Washington State
#48 St. Louis
#49 Old Dominion
#50 Minnesota
#51 New Mexico
#52 UConn
#53 Northwestern
#54 UCLA
#55 Southern Mississippi
#56 St. Mary’s
#57 Texas A&M
#58 Louisville
#59 Arizona State
#60 Northern Iowa
#61 Creighton
#62 Clemson
#63 Cincinnati
#64 Texas Tech
#65 Miami, FL
#66 Charlotte
#67 UTEP
#68 Ole Miss
#69 George Mason
#70 Colorado
#71 Weber State
#72 Alabama
#73 Bradley
#74 Central Florida
#75 Wake Forest
#76 Georgia Tech
#77 USC
#78 Oklahoma State
#79 Cal
#80 Oklahoma
#81 Virginia
#82 South Carolina
#83 Indiana
#84 Stanford
#85 Oregon
#86 Penn State
#87 South Florida
#88 Arkansas
#89 Boston College
#90 LSU
#91 Providence
#92 Michigan
#93 Oregon State
#94. Nebraska
#95. Auburn
#96. DePaul
#97. Iowa State
#98. Rutgers
#99. Iowa