Freshmen guards key in ACC matchup
A month ago, Kendall Marshall seized the starting point guard job at North Carolina without a hitch. Terrell Stoglin recently ascended to the same position at Maryland after some trial and error.
The timelines and circumstances of their promotions have differed, but Sunday finds the two freshmen similarly emerging as they meet for the first time.
While Marshall has already helped fuel a surge that has assured No. 19 North Carolina (21-6, 11-2) a berth in the NCAA tournament, Stoglin and Maryland (18-10, 7-6) have more work to do to reach the same goal.
A Terps win at UNC, which has an RPI of 11, however, would be a giant step. Maryland (RPI 81) has an 0-7 record against teams in the RPI top 50.
“It’s all about North Carolina now,” Maryland coach Gary Williams said.
The fortunes of the Tar Heels have risen with Marshall, a 6-foot-3 graduate of O’Connell, who supplanted two-year starter Larry Drew II after a 78-58 loss at Georgia Tech. Since then, North Carolina has gone 9-1.
| Up Next |
| Maryland at North Carolina |
| When » Sunday, 7:45 p.m. |
| Where » Dean E. Smith Center, Chapel Hill |
| TV/Radio » Comcast Sports Net/980 AM |
Drew was thriving as a backup to Marshall. But four games after he was removed from the starting lineup, Drew left school. He hasn’t been missed.
Since Drew departed, Marshall has averaged 10.5 points and 7.5 assists a game, facilitating better ball movement and sparking improved play from 6-foot-8 freshman wing Harrison Barnes. After averaging 11.7 points alongside Drew, Barnes has averaged 16.6 with Marshall.
“They’ve changed their backcourt and they’re a lot more confident now,” Williams said.
The same can be said for Maryland, with Stoglin thriving in his third trial as a starter.
In his first stint, which lasted four games, Stoglin hit 9 of 36 shots (25 percent) and averaged 5.7 points and 5.0 assists. In his second, Stoglin made 10 of 24 shots (41 percent) and averaged 8.7 points and 2.0 assists.
In the last five games, however, including the last two as a starter, Stoglin has blossomed, hitting 31 of 52 shots (60 percent) and averaging 19.2 points and 6.0 assists.
