Maryland hopes going small leads to something big.
The Terrapins open Maryland Madness tonight at Comcast Center with an expected four-guard lineup. One big man, four little guys. The Terps will try to pester opponents into turnovers while outrunning them down the floor to average 80 points.
Forget the days of taller lineups. Just like technology, basketball is getting smaller. Memphis and Villanova were great small teams last year. Princeton has done it repeatedly. Maryland coach Gary Williams even did it when coaching American University 30 years ago.
The Terps graduated their two rebounders while two prominent players transferred over the offseason. Now they have a handful of guards, but really only one more than many teams now play. Center Braxton Dupree is the designated inside player at 6-foot-8.
Small forward has given way to a big guard. The Terps could flip Eric Hayes and Greivis Vasquez between point and shooting guard. Freshman Sean Mosley should get time as the big recruit from Baltimore. Adrian Bowie has a nice touch.
The Terps are flush with guards so Williams won’t resist the trend. You don’t win 604 games by being stubborn in a game that reinvents itself every few years.
“I’ve got a lot of new ideas this year,” said Williams with a grin that should send shivers down Tobacco Road.
But the real question is whether the new style returns Maryland to the NCAA Tournament after a missing “The Dance” three of the last four years and not even qualifying for the NIT last season. The Terps were only 19-15 while stumbling against Virginia Commonwealth, Ohio and American. Yes, AU reached the NCAAs, but it was the first time the Eagles beat the Terps. Those ugly losses haunted Maryland before the postseason selection committees.
Now it’s all about getting players to bend to a new system. The flex offense the Terps thrived using over the years will be supplemented. Maryland led the ACC in assistants and turnovers last year. Vasquez led the team with 17 points but took a lot of ill-advised shots. Vasquez and Hayes must blend together better.
“I’ve got to calm down a little more,” Vasquez said. “I’ll have a lot of responsibility. I’ll have to score more.”
Williams may scream towards Vasquez often during games, but he knows the guard is a gamer, too.
“I’ll take Greivis on my team anytime,” Williams said. “You don’t want to take away a player’s aggressiveness.”
It’s Williams’ 20th season at his alma mater. Some wonder if he’s retiring soon. It doesn’t seem likely. The passion is still there. Williams might scowl at look-a-like pretenders during a Madness contest to resemble the coach tonight. Nobody loves the game more than Williams.
“We’ve all seen examples of people that have stayed too long,” he said. “Hopefully, I don’t go senile before it’s time to get on that big boat and sail off.”
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at [email protected].
