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The Big Ten announced its all-freshman team on Monday, and Maryland basketball didn’t have any representatives on the list. Head coach Mark Turgeon is heated.
Maryland relied on a combination of Anthony Cowan, Kevin Huerter, and Justin Jackson to step in after the team lost four of five starters to graduation or the NBA Draft. Those three started 90 combined games this season, except for Jackson coming off the bench in the first two games and on Senior Day. The Terps exceeded all expectations, and the freshmen a were a big reason why.
Turgeon rarely gets the Twitter fingers, but that’s where he vented his frustrations with the league’s perceived snub.
I guess 24 wins, 12 league wins & 8 road wins while starting 3 freshman doesn't result in anyone being on the @bigten all-freshman team...
— Mark Turgeon (@CoachTurgeon) March 7, 2017
Turgeon probably has a case, too. Cowan took over at point guard and averaged 10.4 points per game, also contributing 3.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. Huerter held down the small forward spot putting up almost nine points a game, shooting 37 percent from three-point land, to go with five rebounds. He also saved Maryland early in the season with a block to secure a wild 76-75 comeback win over Georgetown. To make his case for the freshman team, Justin Jackson was Maryland’s second-leading scorer and finished the regular season leading the Terps in rebounding with 6.2 per game, along with 11 points. Jackson also led the Terps in three-point percentage, hitting 44 of 100 shots from behind the arc.
I thought winning was the most important factor
— Mark Turgeon (@CoachTurgeon) March 7, 2017
After venting his own frustrations with the snubs on Monday, Terps guard Jaylen Brantley assured fans that he’ll get the freshmen ready to make their case in the Big Ten Tournament.
I think it's disrespectful to not have any of our freshman on the all freshman team. Smh. Unreal.
— Jaylen Brantley (@Jaybrant2) March 6, 2017
Don't worry I got my young bulls fired up for this weekend !!
— Jaylen Brantley (@Jaybrant2) March 6, 2017