How do I feel about the Terps winning a real game in convincing fashion? Pretty Good.
Last night Maryland dominated Northwestern. This was the second time this season we have seen the Terps in a real game with a like-minded opponent. The opening game with Kentucky, a L, and now NU, a W.
The Terps started both contests slowly. In the 2nd half of both games, the Terps really turned up both the offense and the defense. Last night, the Maryland team seemed much more settled into roles then on opening night. Still, it took until the 2nd half to see results.
By the way, I love the shooting of Logan Aronhalt. He is the Terps designated zone buster.
Turnovers
Maryland has a tendency to throw away the ball at an alarming rate. Averaging 18 a game. I guess it is not the number, but the quality of the turnovers. Unforced errors for the most part. For example, losing the ball while throwing it from Dez Wells to Nick Faust with no defender applying pressure.
At first, I thought it was because we don’t have a “real” point guard. Neither Pe nor freshman Seth Allen are natural point guards. Next year Roddy Peters may be the guy at point.
What a real point guard is supposed to have the instinct to do, is know the flow of the game and when to look to score on his own or pass. Although that sounds easy, it is very difficult to do under pressure.
I thought Pe’Shon fit much better last night down the stretch. He still seems hesitant to take the ball to the basket, but the passing was good. When one has a serious knee injury, it usually takes a full year before it feels right. Pe is several months short of that mark right now.
The turnovers have gone away in the 2nd half of the game. The lost possessions are one reason why the Terps are in close games at the half. Then running the same plays with the same players and no turnovers look really good in the 2nd half.
Rebounding
After being the smaller team for the past few years, remember Dave Neal our 6′ 5″ center, it is nice to be the big guys. Last evening we gave up almost no offensive rebounds to NU. When the Wildcats missed, the Terps got the rebound.
Giving up easy baskets because we could not control a rebound has hurt Maryland for years. I think that problem is fixed.
Watching Len with Mitchell work down low is as good as it gets for rebounding. I am not sure who to compare Len to as a Terp. I think that he is so much more physical (and the game has changed) than my recollections of McMillen or Elmore. That is a short list of true NBA pivot men in Terps history.
Mitchell reminds me of Buck Williams in tenacity and Lonny Baxter in body type. My point is that they can really rebound the ball.
Padgett is an old school warhorse type. He has moves around the basket on offense and is a very good rebounder. He plays under the radar, while it is hard to miss the play of Mitchell and Len. Shaq Cleare is a work in progress. He will be better as the year goes on.
Overall
I still think that the Terps get to January with one loss and will be ranked by then. The only other game of note is George Mason on Sunday at Verizon Center at 2:30p.
The Terps are making me feel good about basketball.