Maryland coach Gary Williams believes there are two types of freshmen: those who adjust fairly quickly to playing major college basketball, and those who don?t see the court much during their first year.
Williams? group of six true freshmen seemingly has fallen into the latter of the two categories, while other Atlantic Coast Conference teams are relying heavily on first-year players, who are producing like upperclassmen.
Duke (23-3 overall, 10-2 ACC), which is atop the standings alongside North Carolina (26-2, 10-2), has gotten a major boost from freshman forward Kyle Singler, the ACC Preseason Rookie of the Year.
“He was more ready than the top percentile of kids coming in being ready to play,” Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. “One, he was a champion in Oregon, and really well coached. He also had a chance to play for the United States a couple of times.”
Singler is second on the team in scoring (14.4 ppg) and should benefit from the return of 7-foot-1, 260-pound center Brian Zoubek, whose return from a foot injury should allow the 6-foot-8, 220-pound Singler to play more on the wing.
Virginia Tech (16-11, 7-6) started the season slow, but has won two straight, including at Maryland last Wednesday, behind a youth movement led by former Towson Catholic standout Malcolm Delaney (9 ppg, 3 apg) and forward Jeff Allen (12.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg), who developed a bond by playing pickup games this summer.
“Our kids come in for summer school, so they develop a relationship,” Hokies coach Seth Greenberg said. “They immediately liked each other. With AAU basketball, the kids know each other. They develop relationships and rapports. But you never know what the chemistry will be like.”
Boston College coach Al Skinner said he has seen improvement from the Hokies, who enter tonight?s game against Boston College having won their past two games and five of eight.
“They?ve been playing from Day 1. They?ve kind of grown together,” Skinner said. “That?s the advantage. They might have paid for it early on with some of the games they participated in, but they?re reaping benefits of it now because of the season they?re having. They?ll continue to get better.”
The top scorers at fourth-place Wake Forest (16-9, 6-6) are freshmen forward James Johnson (15.1 ppg) and guard Jeff Teague (13 ppg), who the Terrapins will have to contain when the teams meet on Thursday night at 8 at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem, N.C.
But Williams has not been as fortunate as Wake Forest coach Dino Gaudio. Of Maryland?s six true freshman, just Cliff Tucker (4.1 ppg) and Adrian Bowie (3 ppg) average at least three points per game. Tucker has made six starts and Calvert Hall alum Braxton Dupree has started eight times, but All-Examiner first-team forward Dino Gregory of Mount St. Joesph has not played in the past 10 games.
So as Maryland?s frontcourt reserves watch senior starters James Gist and Bambale Osby try to lead Maryland to the NCAA Tournament, their counterparts on other teams are playing predominant roles.
“With this young team, we have a chance to go tothe NCAA Tournament,” Gaudio said. “That?s all you can ask for.”
Terrapins (17-11) vs. Wake Forest (16-9)
» Tipoff: Thursday, 8 p.m.
» Where: Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem, N.C.
» TV/Radio: RLF/105.7 FM, 1300 AM
