Maryland Terrapins, Terrell Stoglin Poised for ACC Title Run Next Season

The bad news is that the Maryland Terrapins failed to meet expectations. The good news is the team graduates just three seniors heading into next season.

In spite of leading the Atlantic Coast Conference in points per game in the 2011-12 season, Terrell Stoglin and his Maryland Terrapins came up short when it was all said and done. The Terps finished at a solid 17-15 mark with a 6-10 conference record that dashed the team's hopes in the end.

Yet throughout the season, this was a team that showed resiliency under newly appointed head coach Mark Turgeon. Following Gary Williams was no easy task for the former Texas A&M head coach, yet Turgeon found a way to win basketball games.

The key was the team's defense. In their six conference wins this season, the Terrapins allowed just 63.3 points per game to opponents. The cohesiveness defensively was a big part of the team's success in the 2012 season.

Although boasting the best scorer in the conference and arguably the most versatile scoring guard in the nation in Stoglin—his 21.6 PPG ranked sixth best in the nation—the struggle for Maryland was its offensive consistency.

A major contributor to the problem were the injuries to point guard Pe'Shon Howard, as he was the one player that seemed to keep the offense fluid with ball movement and solid rotation in the halfcourt set. Howard only suited up for 14 of the 32 games this season, and the Terps saw major problems scoring the basketball as a result. The offense was stagnant and predicated on isolation plays and lack of ball movement.

Nick Faust, coming off what was his freshman season with the team, has still yet to prove just how productive he can be offensively. The Terps are certainly awaiting a breakout season from the star guard as well.

The offensive struggles had Turgeon pulling his hair out on the sidelines, to say the least.

With an offseason to recover for Howard and the team, as well as bringing back arguably the best scoring guard in the conference, this is a team that will make offensive improvements and be stronger contenders in 2012-13.

On the interior, the team brings back James Padgett and Alex Len, two big men which continue to improve with each game.

Padgett posted career-high numbers in rebounds with 5.8 per game. Len, heading into his sophomore season, averaged six points and 5.4 rebounds in just 21 minutes per game. He is a 7'1'' talent that has significant potential.

As last season will be the final one before both Syracuse and Pittsburgh join the ACC, this experienced, well-balanced Maryland team will inevitably have to make the most of next season. The competition will be steep, as Syracuse just recently was eliminated in the tournament's Elite Eight stage.

Considering the depth teams like Florida State and North Carolina State are set to bring back, Maryland know this next season will be a big time test for the team. Boasting a solid, proven defense and offensive talent that is undeniable, there is ACC championship potential in this team.

Add in a new head coach that has this team exceeding expectations and a top-notch talent in Stoglin, and there is more than enough promise for this Terrapins team to make noise in the ACC.