At Maryland’s media day, basketball coach Mark Turgeon joked that coaches often set low expectations. At least this year, Terrapins fans aren’t laughing. “I know it’s not all rosy days,” Turgeon said Wednesday. “I’m not naive to think they all will be.”
The Turgeon era begins Friday with Maryland Madness, the 40th anniversary of former Terps coach Lefty Driesell creating the midnight practice to kick off a season. The night will feature an alumni game that includes Juan Dixon, Steve Blake, Greivis Vasquez and Chris Wilcox. That could be the highlight of the season.
“We want to create a buzz,” Turgeon said of an expected capacity crowd at
Comcast Center. “I’d rather create a buzz in January and February.SDRq
That’s not happening. This may be the worst year for the two major sports in College Park since 1992-93. New football coach Randy Edsall is 2-3 and a lot closer to 0-5 than 4-1. Turgeon’s first year will depend on too many fresh faces.
Maryland will take some beatings this season. It will make some of its underachieving squads from recent years look like NCAA tournament teams. Turgeon plans to replicate predecessor Gary Williams’ man defense but will go with a softer motivational style, hoping to muster as much he can from a roster that includes six walk-ons.
“There’s a chip on their shoulder,” Turgeon said. “There’s a chip on my shoulder.”
But how fast can Turgeon turn the Terps around? Fans will accept one bad season considering Williams’ abrupt retirement and Jordan Williams’ departure to the NBA. But their patience won’t last long.
There is some precedence for a quick reversal. In 1992-93, Maryland was 12-16 in Gary Williams’ fourth season. But the Terps reached the Sweet 16 the following year and four times in six years before winning the 2002 national championship.
Driesell was only 13-13 in his debut in 1969-70 but two years later won the NIT at 27-5.
Conversely, Bob Wade was 9-17 in 1986-87 following Len Bias’ death, including 0-14 in ACC. Two years later, Maryland was 9-20 and 1-13 in the conference. Wade was fired, and the Terps were soon under NCAA sanctions.
Maryland must win a few games during its traditionally soft December schedule or it could face a gruesome 8-23 year. That’s the sweet spot in the schedule after three games in Puerto Rico and two against Illinois and Notre Dame.
Maryland is even hoping to use Williams’ legacy to fuel one last Duke upset when it dedicates the floor to the former coach before the Jan. 25 game. That might be worth four minutes but not the last four minutes when it matters.
Turgeon seems to think the Terps will be much improved once Russian center Alex Len is cleared to play. Turgeon hopes the NCAA Clearinghouse committee will rule on the 7-foot-1 freshman on Friday, but these things are a process. If Maryland can get Len by Christmas, it will be a gift.
In any case, it will be a transition year. Terps fans just hope it’s not an awful one.
Examiner columnist Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more on Twitter @Snide_Remarks or email [email protected].
