Best-case scenario: Terrell who? Stoglin, the ACC's leading scorer in 2012, also owned the nation's...
Best-case scenario: Terrell who? Stoglin, the ACC's leading scorer in 2012, also owned the nation's third-highest shot rate. Without him, the court opens up, and promising players like Nick Faust, Pe'Shon Howard and 7-foot center Alex Len all find themselves enjoying better ball movement, crisper passing, and the added touches it creates. Freshman center Shaquille Cleare provides a one-two frontcourt punch on the glass, and Mark Turgeon gets Maryland back where its fans so desperately want it to be: In the ACC title mix. Or at least the NCAA tournament.
Worst-case scenario: Stoglin's I'm-suspended-for-a-year-so-I-might-as-well-go-pro-anyway departure proves to be every bit as devastating to Maryland's attack as his 2012 numbers imply. Without him, a merely mediocre offense takes a step back. Faust and Len prove unready to be go-to players yet, and Cleare, Jake Layman and Charles Mitchell don't make a real impact as freshmen. Impatient Maryland fans begin to ever-so-gently grumble.
ESPN's ACC Summer Shootaround
As much as I like some of the pieces for next year, I'm not sold even the best possible season will get Maryland in the ACC title mix, even if the conference is down next year again (as I expect it to be). But certainly the Tournament is a possibility if everything pans out just right. But other than that, fair enough.
Oh, and what's up with Justin Anderson making the "freshmen to watch" list ahead of Cleare?