2022-23 Terps Basketball

[Mooreisbetter27]

17 minutes ago, Tony-OH said:

I have really never seen such a bipolar team as MD when it comes to home and away. I don't know if it's a poor away routine by Williard, a group of players that have issues flying, or just players who can't handle away crowds. I've never seen anything like it honestly.

This team is a sweet 16 team at home and AAU level team on the road. At this point, no use even watching them when they are on the road. They are awful there.

I honestly believe the ball has a fair amount to do with it.  They should just do away with having the Under Armour ball at home: it’s like when they use the other balls suddenly they can’t hit shots to save their lives.

They lost at Purdue by 3, at Michigan State by 5 (really 3) and neutral court to Tenn by 3. In those 3 games they shot 5 of 67 from 3. 

Today they shot better from 3 but still have be clanging off the rim all night.

Too bad none of the NCAA games will be played at home!

[Finisher]

14 hours ago, Mooreisbetter27 said:

I honestly believe the ball has a fair amount to do with it.

Yeah I'm thinking you might be right on that. There's gotta be SOMETHING to this home/road split. Can't lose at home, can't really win on the road. Like what the hell. And whenever they get ranked you KNOW a letdown is coming. Probably should've been betting hard all season on this home/road split but hate betting against my teams.

Anyway, so are we screwed in the tournament by virtue of it not being at home? Young/Reese/Scott/Hart is too good a foursome to not at least make the Sweet 16. "Bipolar" really is the best word to describe this team, Tony. Don't think I've seen anything this severe ever.

[Mooreisbetter27]

That was a Turgeon esque meltdown. I put 5 bucks on PSU when Terps were up 13… having a feel I knew how this would play out.  
 

So yay for being $22.50 richer? 

[Oriole4Life]

Hart knocked the damn rebound away from Young at the end. Would have had the win. 

Couldn't score the final 5 minutes basically. Horrible. Lack of road wins hurts, team is headed the wrong direction at the wrong time.

[Oriole4Life]

We are going to see how good of a coach Willard is during these next few weeks.  If this team flames out with consecutive losses in the B1G and NCAA tournament this season will be considered kind of a failure imo.  Donta Scott needs to figure out his game, he has been forcing lots of bad shots the last several games.  Luckily Reese has stepped up in his absence. 

As far as next season, I am hoping at least two of the Young/Scott/Hart/Carey quadrant get a Covid exemption and return for another season.  At least either Young or Scott.  The incoming freshmen (Harris-Smith, Kaiser, Lamothe) can all make an impact, but they are freshman obviously and need some time to find their games.  Braden Piere a seven footer will also be coming in, but I don't see him getting much playing time.  Martinez, Batchelor, Cornish, and Long will likely be seeing many more minutes.  I am guessing there might be a transfer somewhere, both leaving and incoming, because there always is.

This is their year to make some noise, guessing next year will be a bit of a downturn.

[JR Oriole]

Just a very bizarre season.  At home, other than against a UCLA team that is as good as anybody in the country, the Terps are unbeatable.  On the road, they are awful.  One win away from College Park since November.  Literally, ONE (at Minnesota).  10-0 at home in conference and 1-9 on the road.  That has to be some sort of record. 

They might be out of the NCAAs if they lose on Thursday.  Not sure how the committee could look favorably on a team when they can only win home games.  Must be mental at this point.  Even Nebraska won at Iowa today.  

[Mooreisbetter27]

16 hours ago, JR Oriole said:

Just a very bizarre season.  At home, other than against a UCLA team that is as good as anybody in the country, the Terps are unbeatable.  On the road, they are awful.  One win away from College Park since November.  Literally, ONE (at Minnesota).  10-0 at home in conference and 1-9 on the road.  That has to be some sort of record. 

They might be out of the NCAAs if they lose on Thursday.  Not sure how the committee could look favorably on a team when they can only win home games.  Must be mental at this point.  Even Nebraska won at Iowa today.  

Virtually no chance they're out of the NCAA's.  Andy Katz still has them as 24 in his Power 36 rankings.  They are 39 on SOS from what I can tell.  50 in RPI.  And 8 Quad 1 and Quad 2 wins.  Even if they lose, I'm guessing they're an 8 or 9 seed. 

[Tony-OH]

It's really hard to judge Kevin Williard before he gets his real recruits in, but his awful away record and then watching his team utterly, in every single fashion, shit the bed in the middle of the Indiana game makes me have some initial concerns.

Now again, I need to see another season with more of his real guys, not these 5th year senior guys who show why they were nobodies when the pressure gets going. 

Either way, I had to turn off the game because of the 2nd stretch where his team no only forgot how to play the game of basketball, but fell into the trap of trying to play street basketball instead of trying to get things under control.

We know this group of players can't handle a hostile crowd, but we won't know if it's a misjudge in character from a scouting standpoint, or just this group because they were thrown together. 

Either way, I have no desire to watch this team anymore this year. They will make the tourney, but will lose if they are any situation where the crowd becomes hostile. 

This group really over achieved a bit, but there lack of ability to handle tough times or hostile crowd really takes away any legacy they might have accomplished.

[Can_of_corn]

It's less embarrassing to have kids that can't handle a hostile road crowd than a head coach who can't handle a hostile home crowd.

[JR Oriole]

Since Dec. 1, the Terps are 12-1 at home (the only loss to UCLA in early December), 2-0 against Minnesota in neutral/road venues, and 0-11 against everyone other than Minnesota in neutral/road venues. 

So they have proven that they can beat Minnesota regardless of venue.  But literally ANY other opponent is going to be a major problem in the tournament.  Regardless of seeding or opponent, given the numbers above, it is very hard to imagine them winning a game in the tournament.  Mentally, they seem to be much weaker than typical teams that steal some road wins here and there.  

[Oriole4Life]

Young and Scott carry the team.  When they aren't scoring they don't win, plain and simple.  Scott in particular has been erratic all year, started hot then gradually faded.  As I said way back at the beginning of the year, the team isn't deep enough to really challenge.  Hart and Carey aren't top tier players, and their bench is thin.  That Penn State loss last week really pissed me off, because that is a game they should have won and it would given them an extra round bye.

Rest up, come into the NCAA tournament with a fresh perspective, who knows what can happen.  No expectations.

[JR Oriole]

Unless they can overcome what looks to be a very big mental hurdle, they will be one and done in the tournament no matter who they play.  Matchups, injuries, referees....none of that matters.  The games are not in College Park and the opponent is not Minnesota.  

[Mooreisbetter27]

8 seed playing WVU. No favors as if we win we get Alabama.

WVU beat us in 2015 when we were a 4 seed. Would be nice to knock at least them out. 

[Finisher]

KenPom has WVU at 17. 15 in offense and 52 in defense.

But they only won 2 conference road games.

So this seems pretty even. Issue lately is Reese getting into foul trouble. I think he's our most talented player and when he's forced out there's a dropoff. Indiana took the lead in the second half with him out of the game. So that plus Young being on offensively are really the keys. Young is really our only consistent scorer.

[Mooreisbetter27]

First team to advance (discounting the last 4 in).  Nerve-wracking game.

Where has Jahmir Young gone?  He has been rough the last couple of games.

Our reward, Alabama in Alabama.