Seth Davis Loves Him Some Maryland, Thinks Terps Will Make the NCAA Tournament
by Ben Broman on Jan 3, 2012 5:32 PM EST
in Basketball
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PrintSeth Davis might've gone to Duke, but he's still a pretty well-respected and well-known basketball writer. He's been alright in my book ever since he called Debbie Yow's handling of N.C. State's coaching search "the worst performance of the decade."
He's also really bullish on Maryland.
A few days ago, from his massive Stock Report column, he had some very good words on the Terrapins.
The Terps haven't played horribly; they were competitive with Illinois before losing by nine, they beat Notre Dame by seven, and they're riding a six-game win streak (albeit against bad teams). But the real reason to buy this stock is the fact that Maryland just added two important pieces. Pe'Shon Howard, a 6-3 sophomore point guard who burst out of the gate as a freshman last year before fizzling, returned to the lineup on Dec. 23. (He missed the first nine games because of a foot injury.) An even more intriguing addition is Alex Len, a 7-1 freshman center who just finished serving an NCAA suspension for violating amateurism guidelines while playing in his native Ukraine. Most people probably don't realize that Maryland guard Terrell Stoglin is ranked sixth in the country in scoring (21.8 ppg). I'm sure the extra weapons will make Mark Turgeon's team more formidable in a weak ACC.
And now he comes out and predicts Maryland will make the NCAA Tournament on Twitter.
@SethDavisHoops
Seth davis I think they'll make the tourney. RT @EricGarment: With Len/Howard, can the Terps surprise in the ACC?
FavoriteRetweet
Obviously, a reasoned person would look at this, see that it's just him sort of spitballing around on Twitter, and realize that March is a very long time away during which anything can happen, while we've seen the Terrapins play only two games at full-strength. Maryland could make the tourney. Or they could not.
A non-reasoned person? We're making the tournament, everybody!
No, really, it's obviously forever away and I think he's being a little too bullish on the impact of a guy like Len. If he ends up being as good as his stats might indication, then Maryland might have a shot at making a run, but in all he's still a raw freshman and we have no idea how he'll stand up against ACC competition. I still see the NIT as more likely, and there's still a possibility everything just falls off entirely.
But if you told me two months ago respected national journalists would be referring to Maryland as a likely tournament team on January 3rd, I'd have taken it and run. Just curious: who here agrees with Davis on this point?
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I really dont see how anyone can still be saying this a terrible basketball team
or a bottom rung ACC team. We are at the VERY least better than BC (I think my high school team is better than them), Wake, GT, and miami. We are probably better than VT and FSU (Been a huge disappointment) and are right on par with NC State and UVA (yes they are ranked but if we were healthy all year, we might be too). The only team definitely better than us are Duke and UNC. No matter what you say, the ACC will NEVER EVER EVER get less than 4-5 teams in the tourny. it’s probably wrong and bad for the NCAA that this is the case, but its good for us.
last year the NCAA only selected 4 ACC teams
Plus VT got screwed over the past two seasons with a 10-6 record. (haha). If we have a similar season, we can get screwed over as well. With that said, I do believe this team can finish 5th or even 4th. With Peshon back, Faust looking like he is emerging, and Len anchoring the middle, this team can do some damage. 10-6 in ACC play is a real possibility. We may lose 2 game to worse ACC teams (not the ACC cellar teams) but I think we split UVA and Duke. UNC has NBA ready players that game will be tough. If we do that and win a few ACC tourney games we should have a shot at the tourney.
by nhlnflnba18414 on Jan 3, 2012 5:55 PM EST up reply actions
it would likely require a 4th place finish in the ACC
Which seems unlikely but not completely impossible. 6th place still feels like the most likely ceiling to me but perhaps Turge can catch some lightning in a bottle.
by Sephtical on Jan 3, 2012 5:43 PM EST via Android app reply actions
I think he is too bullish about this team. Remember how bad we were last year? It is hard for me to see how we could be that much better this year, given the similarities in personnel. But that said, it isn’t impossible. If we win tonight, and win the games we should win the rest of the way, all it will take is a few upsets to make the tourney. I still think it is just as likely that we implode and win 3 ACC games as it is that we make the tourney, but I use to think it was way more likely we win 3 ACC games than we make the tourney, so that’s an improvement.
Win tonight, get SM healthy, and steal one @ NC State and I will start to get a bit excited.
I actually think they'll dance
karma karma karma. Call me the eternal optimist, call me naive. I just think its going to happen. Its not reasonable in the eyes of many – and I KNOW the least about BB. I just love watching the game, and college BB is the best sport on the planet, and I think that MT will be dancing.
Everyone here knows more about BB than me. I only know the Terps and Hoyas. Really. My point is, pure layman, that the Terps have gotten there with a hell of a lot less. We won’t win all the games we expect to win but we will win a few that we did not expect. The script tends to run the same year to year. The players change, the coaches changed, but it is the same stuff and in a few years someone will be asking if Alex Len ever played with JW. But its always interesting. So this year, I think the script ends with a trip to the dance. 3030 has it right. This not a terrible team, a bad team, or an average team. This is a good team.
I am intentionally NOT bringing up other teams left on the schedule. They are merely the competition (except for UVA – enemy). I don’t need to figure out whether we can beat them – MT has to figure out HOW to beat them. And in that issue, I have faith, Faith that MT will keep this team focused on the opponent at hand and on executing well enough to beat that opponent. We hired a good coach. A coach who I guarantee will be beating himself up senseless if he does not get to dance THIS year. And he’ll figure out a way to do it, and the NCAA would chose us if we were at the bubble. Great story lines this year.
If there was a karma point to be earned, he earned it and differences, miniscule and unnoticed will key the wins he desires, deserves and will earn. And I plan on watching it happen and enjoying the ride. Don’t mess with me and my mancrush.
r-hgr
by HughGR on Jan 3, 2012 5:52 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Right on..
I wont be surprised with a run to the sweet 16. Solid PG, 7’1" center that can play, and a 20-25ppg scorer. Bruisers on the inside and sl;ashers on the wing. This teams gonna surprise.
I'm definitely higher on them with Len and Howard then without them
but this is still an NIT team. The ACC is down (thanks, BC!), and I would expect they would need ten ACC wins or nine and a win in the tournament to get in.
There’s also that Temple game sitting out there; win that one and then we can start seriously thinking about the tournament.
Whose job am I supposed to call for now?
Prior to the season,
I saw three distinct levels in the ACC: 1) The elites included Dook and UNC. They’re in a class by themselves; 2) The second-tier teams included UVA, FSU, VT and NCS; 3) The cellar dwellers were BC, GT, WF, Clemson, Miami & MD.
What appears to be happening is the second-tier teams have stumbled, creating, essentially, two distinct levels instead of three.
After the Illinois game, the Terps figured out a way to win every game. Before and after Pe’ and Len. That all bodes well for the rest of the season, IMO. If the rest of the ACC continues believing the pre-season banter, we’ll get some upsets, and I expect we’ll win at least the home games we’re expected to win. The game @ NCS will tell us a lot.
Joe Lunardi's latest bracketology
has 4 ACC schools; UNC, Duke, Virginia, and Virginia Tech (fighting with Marshall for a 12 seed). Maryland’s not in either of the other three categories: Last Four In, First Four Out, Next Four Out.
I know this isn’t breaking news, but it’s fun to follow Lunardi.
Disagree.
After Temple we will know a lot. At this point our defense as given me absolutely 0 confidence that we can win more than a handful of games in conference. And that number is high only because the ACC is replete with bad offenses.
We’ve seen some game-by-game improvement in the fundamentals of offense, especially in the last couple of games with the new additions. But the defense has neither looked nor performed well, and it was so much worse than the offense to start off with. So only time will tell if Pe’Shon and Len, plus coaching, can improve the defense.
Enjoy the ride
Worry about the tournament next month. Its a journey not a destination.
As I recall, Davis had Maryland out of the tournament in Jan last year, which I also thought was a little premature at the time.
by lockwood11j on Jan 3, 2012 6:36 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Davis likes the Terps....
…but he also said Maryland would finish 3rd in the ACC last season, in his midseason write-up I think. Didn’t quite work out that way. Nonetheless, hope he is right!
Terps Q&A with Seth Davis
Hi Ben,
Like I’ve said before, big fan of what you and Dave, etc. do here at Testudo Times. You guys are excellent.
I had the opportunity to interview Davis last week: http://baltimoresportsandlife.com/?p=3637
Cheers,
Chris
http://baltimoresportsandlife.com/
I just don't see it this year
Next year though.
And the good thing about being a Maryland basketball fan… is that you can say “next year” and it doesn’t sound like a Chicago Cubs fan’s “next year”
We need to go 8-8 with one big win.
Fear the Turgle!
Davis Sucks!!
Sorry can’t stand Davis!! His Puke colors always shine through. I remember a few years back when MD was doing pretty well, he came on the Junkies and slammed them and the junkies continued to kiss his ass. Disgraceful!
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