The UVA @ Terps game showed us a lot that is wrong with basketball at College Park and also why Tony Bennett is a really good basketball coach.
I expected this to be a matchup between Maryland’s size and power and the Cavs outside shooting. However, Maryland’s Coach Turgeon had other ideas. He went small with the Terps line-up, not exactly the Maryland strong suit.
Coach Bennett utilized the stellar defense of his team to make Alex Len a non-factor in today’s game. Or maybe Alex just did not get fired-up until later in the game. Whatever the reason, Maryland’s soon to be NBA lottery pick was non-existent on offense for 59 minutes of today’s contest.
For those that follow recruiting, one of Gary Williams prized recruits was Justin Anderson of Montrose Christian Academy in Rockville. When Turgeon took over, JA decided to go in another direction. I still don’t have the whole story, but Justin Anderson decided that Maryland was not the place for him and went to UVA.
Justin Anderson was the real deal today in College Park. The 6’7″ was impressive and appeared fearless on the court. After early chants from the students of “we don’t need you”, JA had a complete game. He even matched up at center against Alex Len and got the better of him.
I have been arguing in my own home the past few weeks and with my radio partner, Bruce Posner, that the problems in College Park are around coaching. The team is not getting the message that Turgeon and the guys are putting out. And that the constant line-up shuffling kills Terp momentum. All of the missed assignments and turnovers are as much a result of coaching as the players.
Today, as I stated above, instead of playing Maryland basketball we decided to mimic UVA. It did not work. Mark Turgeon has to figure out who he wants this team to be and then be that. The time for experiments is over.
On a lighter note, here is my favorite interview from National Signing Day – Testudo