Maryland Minute 12.14.09 - Brandon Coleman Takes OV

by Ben Goldstein on Dec 14, 2009 6:56 PM EST in Maryland Minute

Tip of the cap to Ben B. for most of the links today.

That's all we know right now, but it's good to know nonetheless.

Maryland feels good about start to season - WT

Can't say I agree, but then, people say I'm a pessimist.

"We beat Michigan State last year, but we also had a couple bad losses down in Orlando," guard Eric Hayes said. "I don't think we have any bad losses at this point. We could have won a couple of those games as well. I think at this point I'd say we're in a better position."

I don't really agree that the GT and Gonzaga losses were bad. They were large, but not bad. Morgan State was the killer; Michigan State got Maryland in the tourney. They haven't had either yet.

ACC's potential first-round picks - Dinich

Interesting stuff. Our very own Bruce Campbell is slated to go at #20 to the New York Jets. For selfish purposes, I hope he stays. Don't think there's been any announcement as to whether he's staying or leaving, yet. - Ben G.

Good Article On Chris Turner - Diamondback

Again, he wasn't always the best QB, but he was damn good and had some great moments.

Georgia interested in VT's Foster - ESPN

Good. Get this guy out of the ACC...unless he wants to come to MD, of course. - Ben G.

Recruiting Report: Weekend wrap

Busy weekend for recruiting.

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Comments

Re: being in a "better position" than last year...

I think you may be misinterpreting the comments and the article. The point they’re making (and I agree wholeheartedly) is that this team looks very capable of competing in the ACC, more so than last year. Our offense is overall much more balanced and efficient than last year, we have a blossoming post presence in JWill and another good freshman big in Padgett, and Hayes and Mosley have both stepped up their offensive games. If GV fully returns to form and we avoid injuries, there’s no question we’re a much better team than last year’s.

So, while last year we had a big OOC win in pocket (Mich St) and another decent win against Michigan, it was obvious to most observers that our lack of a post presence would catch up to us in conference play. I feel MUCH better about our prospects this time around, and it sounds like the players do as well. Not to mention that the ACC is much less experienced, and slightly weaker overall, this year. Also, I disagree that the Gonzaga and G’town losses were not bad losses. Neither game was competitive, and in the latter case, the Hoyas didn’t exactly tear it up the rest of the year. All three of our losses this year were competitive and all three can be chalked up to poor/slow starts against quality teams. Taking care of business the rest of the year (win out OOC and 10 ACC wins) will remove us from any bubble talk.

by jellisjenius on Dec 15, 2009 1:17 PM EST reply actions

agree with you on all points, except...

the committee doesn’t care if a loss “can be chalked up to poor/slow starts.” a loss is a loss to them. wisconsin and cincinnati, who will likely be on the bubble, would be bad losses if we end up in a position similar to last year

by kckb8 on Dec 15, 2009 2:01 PM EST up reply actions

niether wisconsin or cincy are bubble teams right now

both are poised to be comfortably seeded at the moment…wisconsin really impressed people in maui…as did cincy who has followed that performance up with some nice wins…

by tiimbitz4786 on Dec 15, 2009 3:09 PM EST up reply actions

key word

“right now”

by kckb8 on Dec 15, 2009 6:56 PM EST up reply actions

True...

Cincinnati plays in the Big East, so they have a tough road ahead. The jury is still out.

On the other hand, I would be very surprised if Wisconsin became a bubble team by the end of the year. I would be surprised if they lose a game at home, they are VERY tough there (ask Duke).

by jellisjenius on Dec 16, 2009 1:19 PM EST up reply actions

I think the season is fine

we need 9 wins in acc play unless we happen to knock off a top 5 team in acc play in which case 8 probably gets us in….

other than that….i totally agree with what jellisjenius said…we had a mixed bag in terms of out of conference last year…if we beat all the cupcakes…we will pick up our marquee win in conference play and be in the same or better position with the committee come march…

And…..YES you are a pessimist…very draining on us optimists

by tiimbitz4786 on Dec 15, 2009 1:58 PM EST reply actions

oh...don't underestimate winning in indiana

they will be competitive in big ten play….and knock off a top 20 team or two…plus they already beat Pitt…

are they a tourney team…probably not…but they have a shot at the NIT and that was a nice confidence builder…anytime you win in Indiana that’s a nice OOC win that the committee will count in our favor if we are able to have a nice acc season…

by tiimbitz4786 on Dec 15, 2009 2:00 PM EST up reply actions

you optimists are very draining on we pessimists

But remember that OOC play isn’t over yet. The Morgan St. loss hadn’t happened yet at this point last year. At this time last year, we had two losses to 2 ranked teams and beat MSU and Michigan. This year, we have 3 losses to 2 ranked teams and our big win is Indiana. I definitely think stats-wise, we’re in a worse spot, though not by all that much.

If we get through the rest of OOC play without a loss, I agree that we’ll probably be in about as good of a spot as I was last year.

by Ben Broman on Dec 15, 2009 3:35 PM EST up reply actions

i think all three teams we lost to are top 25 teams

also remember if we do much better with Dino…that will play in our favor BIG TIME…torunament comm. looks at things like injuries as excuses as long as they play better when the guy comes back

by tiimbitz4786 on Dec 15, 2009 5:22 PM EST up reply actions

Actually

Cincy is 25 in the coaches, unranked in AP. Wiscy’s unranked in both. That’s not to say they won’t be top 25 by the end of the year, but they aren’t right now.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/rankings

by Ben Broman on Dec 15, 2009 8:16 PM EST up reply actions

We still have to play William & Mary. We have a talent for making average perimeter shooting teams look like they have 5 Jack McClintons on the floor. W&M is the best in the country from beyond the arc, and they’ve already beaten Wake on the road.

Let’s take it one at a time :)

by ivan24 on Dec 15, 2009 4:02 PM EST reply actions

see that is the negativity that i don't understand ^^^^^^^^^

yeesh

by tiimbitz4786 on Dec 15, 2009 5:21 PM EST up reply actions

WM is legit

Don’t laugh them off. Only lost to UConn by 9, beat a good Richmond team, beat WF on the road. Local 11 has them ranked higher than Maryland. That game will be tough, though if Maryland loses it won’t look nearly as bad as Morgan State did.

They have the most efficient offense in the entire country, actually.

by Ben Broman on Dec 15, 2009 8:21 PM EST up reply actions

You're right

But this has come out of nowhere (they were horrible offensively last year and didn’t add any big pieces). I don’t think they can keep it up. And I don’t think they can switch things up and outsmart us at times the way EKU did.

I think EKU was the tougher matchup, and we survived that. I guess we’ll see…

by jellisjenius on Dec 16, 2009 1:21 PM EST up reply actions

haha

its true though. our 3 point D is pretty mediocre/bad.

by kckb8 on Dec 15, 2009 6:58 PM EST up reply actions

I think it will get better...

The biggest problems we’ve faced defensively are quick little PGs who penetrate and draw the defense, then kick out (Cincy, Wisconsin, Nova) and post players who play on the perimeter and shoot the 3 well (Wisconsin, EKU). The ACC is not super heavy on either of these, so I think we’ll be ok down the road.

by jellisjenius on Dec 16, 2009 1:24 PM EST up reply actions