Maryland Basketball Season Preview

2007-08

Overall Record: 19-15 

Conference Record: 8-8

Highlights: Beat No. 1 North Carolina

Lowlights:  Non-conference losses to American, Ohio; Loss to Clemson after leading by 20 in the second half

Key losses:  F James Gist, C Bambale Osby

Key additions:  G Sean Mosley

Frontcourt

With the departures of seniors Gist and Osby, Maryland’s frontcourt is looking bare.  They return senior Dave Neal, who is no better than a reserve off the bench, as well as junior Landon Milbourne, and sophomores Jerome Burney, Braxton Dupree, and Dino Gregory. 

Milbourne is the only frontcourt player to start last year, and he is really more of a wing player and at 6-7 is not going to give you a strong inside presence.  Milbourne played well at times last year, but also disappeared in games frequently.  Braxton Dupree saw limited minutes early last season, but those waned as the year went on. 

Dupree has lost 20 pounds over the summer and is much better condition, and should be ready to come in and contribute some minutes.  Jerome Burney earned some minutes at the end of the last season, and he showed flashes of his athleticism with a few powerful blocks and thunderous dunks. 

Dino Gregory, who barely played at all last season, looks like he is playing with more confidence and has improved his mid-range jumper.  Maryland’s other frontcourt player is true freshman Steve Goins from Chicago.  At 6-10, he is the most size the Terps have up front.  With very little experience in the frontcourt, we will probably see a lot of four-guard lineups from Maryland.

Backcourt

Maryland returns junior guards Eric Hayes and Greivis Vasquez, as well as sophomores Adrian Bowie and Cliff Tucker.  Freshman Sean Mosley joins the backcourt, who was last season’s Baltimore area high school player of the year. 

Mosley is expected to contribute defense and scoring right away.  Eric Hayes will be moved back to the point, with Vasquez playing off the ball.  Hopefully this will cut down on the turnovers, as Vasquez tends to get sloppy with the ball. 

Hayes is going to have to play tougher and more aggressive than he has the past two seasons though, or point guard duties will probably go back to Vasquez or to Adrian Bowie. 

Bowie had some productive minutes off the bench last season, where he showed quickness and solid defense.  The backcourt returns a lot of experience in Vasquez and Hayes, but all of Maryland’s guards need to have improved in the off-season for Maryland to be successful.

Season Outlook

Most projections for the Terps this season are pretty bleak.  The Sporting News even picked them to finish dead last in the conference.  It would not surprise me to see them finish in the top half of the ACC. 

Gary Williams consistently is able to win with less heralded, many times less talented players.  With much criticism this off-season, especially directed at his recruiting, Gary Williams will be coaching with an enormous chip on his shoulder, and he is never more dangerous. 

This squad has many members of last year’s team, who hopefully will be out to redeem themselves after a disappointing season, as well as to prove their critics wrong.  Maryland has a tough nonconference schedule, with games against Bucknell, Michigan State, and Michigan, as well as either Gonzaga or Oklahoma State, and a possible match up with Georgetown. 

The ACC schedule is always tough, especially with home and away games versus national title contender North Carolina and rival Duke. 

I look for Maryland to finish with around 22 wins, and to go 9-7 in conference.  They will be right on the bubble once again, sneaking into the NCAA tourney.