11 replies to this topic

[BSLPatDonohue]

BSL: Examining Maryland's OOC Schedule

https://baltimorespo...s-ooc-schedule/

[Mackus]

This is perhaps only the second year under Turgeon the out-of-conference slate isn't thoroughly embarrassing.  Four top-50 games seems pretty solid.  But still might not lead to a particularly highly rated strength-of-schedule.

 

Going backwards, the non-conference SOS according to KenPom has been:

 

20-21: 236

19-20: 192

18-19: 299

17-18: 293

16-17: 188

15-16: 218

14-15: 258

13-14: 103

12-13: 344

11-12: 252

 

It was similarly weak for the last several years of Gary's tenure, so it's not just a Turgeon problem.  I wouldn't care as much about the weak conference schedule (aside from preferring that there were better games to watch) if Turgeon's teams got better or held serve as the season went on.  But they almost always do the exact opposite.  It's just a theory, but I imagine that playing exclusively cupcakes in the first half of each season is a big part of why the teams aren't able to get better throughout the second half.

[You Play to Win the Game]

Not really on the topic of OOC schedule, but I’ll defend Turgeon a bit here. Which feels odd, because you all know how I feel about him-great guy, real good recruiter, mediocre in game coach. That said, his teams have come on strong as the year went on the past two seasons. I was also very impressed at the aggressiveness and boldness last season, and how he finally unlocked Wiggins potential, I think he deserves a lot of credit for that, just as he did for J. Smith closing out his College Park career so strong.

Just a theory, but I think he has heard the criticism loud and clear, and I think the University has likely put pressure on him in some way over the past few years, and it has helped him find that extra gear.

I’m really looking forward to this season, and am hopeful Turgeon can let it rip with this roster. Should be fun. If he regresses back to boring, Big Ten staple BS I’ll be really annoyed.

[You Play to Win the Game]

BSL: Examining Maryland's OOC Schedule
https://baltimorespo...s-ooc-schedule/

Nice write up. Now I’m excited for the Thanksgiving Day matchup against Richmond.

[Mackus]

Two years ago definitely felt different, they went on a huge winning streak in January and February, but still lost a few games in March.  Who knows how things would've gone in the postseason.  Could've been a huge opportunity for Turgeon to finally make some noise in the conference and NCAA tourneys.  Or could've been another disappointing finish.

 

Last year seemed more like a normal Turgeon year with a weaker finish than middle/3rd quarter, though the win against UConn in the tourney was very nice.  Getting completely boat-raced out of the 2nd round doesn't erase the nice first-round win, but it was a big bummer.

[hallas]

Not really on the topic of OOC schedule, but I’ll defend Turgeon a bit here. Which feels odd, because you all know how I feel about him-great guy, real good recruiter, mediocre in game coach. That said, his teams have come on strong as the year went on the past two seasons. I was also very impressed at the aggressiveness and boldness last season, and how he finally unlocked Wiggins potential, I think he deserves a lot of credit for that, just as he did for J. Smith closing out his College Park career so strong.

Just a theory, but I think he has heard the criticism loud and clear, and I think the University has likely put pressure on him in some way over the past few years, and it has helped him find that extra gear.

I’m really looking forward to this season, and am hopeful Turgeon can let it rip with this roster. Should be fun. If he regresses back to boring, Big Ten staple BS I’ll be really annoyed.

To be honest, I was confused when you said J. Smith because the first name that came to mind was Joe.

Wild that Jalen isn't the best J. Smith to play ball at Maryland.

Ive been arguing for a while that last year was Turgeon's best coaching job in his tenure here. But of course that doesn't absolve him of the dogwater roster construction.

[You Play to Win the Game]

To be honest, I was confused when you said J. Smith because the first name that came to mind was Joe.

Wild that Jalen isn't the best J. Smith to play ball at Maryland.

Ive been arguing for a while that last year was Turgeon's best coaching job in his tenure here. But of course that doesn't absolve him of the dogwater roster construction.

My bad. Of course I know all about Joe Smith, but I started watching the Terps at 10 years old, his first year in the NBA.

[BSLRoseKatz]

I feel like you should always try to play at least one true road game in OOC play but otherwise I think this is fine, I like them willing to do a neutral site Thanksgiving weekend tournament like they did at Disney back in 2019 because it feels like it gives a pretty good equivalent to the NCAA tournament in terms of playing multiple days in rapid succession at a neutral site  

[hallas]

I feel like you should always try to play at least one true road game in OOC play but otherwise I think this is fine, I like them willing to do a neutral site Thanksgiving weekend tournament like they did at Disney back in 2019 because it feels like it gives a pretty good equivalent to the NCAA tournament in terms of playing multiple days in rapid succession at a neutral site

I honestly can't remember the last time the the terps played a true road game that wasn't either for the acc/big10 challenge or against a team in the Washington area.

[Mackus]

I honestly can't remember the last time the the terps played a true road game that wasn't either for the acc/big10 challenge or against a team in the Washington area.

 

I couldn't remember either.  They played at Oklahoma State in December of 2014.  They won!

 

Also a couple local road games as you mentioned since then, Georgetown and Navy.  Would love to see more home-and-homes like that.

[Mike in STL]

Don’t sleep on Vermont. If that was a tournament game it’d be like a 4v13. MD should win by double digits. But I wouldn’t be shocked if Vermont gives them a scare either.

[You Play to Win the Game]

Don’t sleep on Vermont. If that was a tournament game it’d be like a 4v13. MD should win by double digits. But I wouldn’t be shocked if Vermont gives them a scare either.

We will see after a few games. Vermont is #105 in the pre-season KenPom rankings (124th adjO, 107th adjD). But a profile like that doesn’t scare me much. It’s those smaller teams that either defend great or play a really efficient system offense that scare me. But pre-season models and rankings are far from perfect.