47 replies to this topic

[BSLRoseKatz]

Obviously a lot of basketball left to play but wanted a vibe check after yesterday's rough loss. I think 10-10 or 9-11 in B1G play gets them in given they have no bad losses (in terms of opponent quality) and have a blowout win on a neutral court against the current #14 Miami as a modest resume booster. 

[BSLChrisStoner]

MD is 51st in the NET Rankings. 

 

1-2 on the road.

2-1 neutral.

7-1 at home.

1-3 vs. Quad 1.

2-1 vs. Quad 2.

0-0 vs. Quad 3.

7-0 vs. Quad 4.

 

10-4 overall, 1-2 in Conference. 

 

17 remaining Conference games: 

 

@Rutgers
Ohio State
@Iowa
Michigan

@Purdue
Wisconsin
Nebraska

Indiana
@Minnesota

@Michigan State
Penn State

Purdue
@Nebraska
Minnesota
Northwestern
@Ohio State
@Penn State

 

Best path to 9 additional wins...  

Ohio State, 2 of 3 vs. Wisconsin, Nebraska, Indiana, @Minnesota, Penn State, @Nebraska, Minnesota, NW, @Penn State... 

8 Expected losses:
@Rutgers, @Iowa, Michigan, @Purdue, 1 of 3 vs. Wisc, Nebraska, Indiana, @Michigan State, Purdue, @Ohio State

 

 

That would have them 19-13 overall, 10-10 in conference... Wins vs. Wisconsin, and Indiana would really help and coupled with the wins vs. Miami, and Illinois... would probably have them in, but not definitively. 

 

Sweeping Minnesota, Nebraska, and Penn State won't be easy either.  If you lose one of those games, you have to steal a win in a game you'd currently expect to lose.

There's a path to getting to the dance, but voting today I'll say no.

[You Play to Win the Game]

No. Instead of figuring things out after getting their asses handed to them, they keep getting worse IMO. I’ve lost faith this season and even if they did squeak in, it would be on the backs of the great start to the year and they would likely have a similar performance as Seton Hall did in the tournament last year, when they lost 69-42 to #9 seed TCU.

[Mike in STL]

I don’t know what to make of yesterdays game. UCLA game you can chalk up to it just happens sometimes. But twice in a couple weeks? That’s worrisome.

But their strength of schedule should help. Experience with each passing conference game should help. The Big Ten physicality probably takes some adjusting to even from Willard. Aren’t all these guys from the transfer portal? So there needs to be some team chemistry built. That will happen with each passing game. I think they get in in the 8-10 seed range, maybe an 11 seed play in.

I hope going forward they build a grass roots team and only need to make one or two portal acquisitions to bolster the team. A roster full of new names each year isn’t how you win consistently.

[CantonJester]

No two ways about it: losing by 35 to a 5 loss, unranked Michigan team ranks as a bad loss. Maryland’s showing a propensity against even decent programs to get run out of the gym before the ten minute mark of the first half. That’s troubling. 

[BSLRoseKatz]

No two ways about it: losing by 35 to a 5 loss, unranked Michigan team ranks as a bad loss. Maryland’s showing a propensity against even decent programs to get run out of the gym before the ten minute mark of the first half. That’s troubling. 

Sure but I really don't think that and the UCLA loss will be what puts them on the wrong side of the bubble if they finish conference play .500 more than if they had lost to Saint Peter's or whoever  

[Mike B]

I try to be an optimist, but I would have to say no.

 

Their only big man (Reese), is just over matched against physical players.  Reese is soft in the post and on defense, and given the fact, that he does not have an outside shot is really limited offensively.

The point guard Young, can be very good, and at times be very bad.  In the blowouts to UCLA and Michigan, he was awful.

Scott, also seems lost.  He lost a lot of weight and is in great shape, but maybe not as strong.  He is undersized, but needs to help guard guys much bigger than him.  He looked frustrated yesterday.

I think there will be some high points, but unless the shooting improves dramatically, I think they struggle in conference.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

I dont know the rest of the B10 very well but it feels like we are too small and will get beat up too much.

[You Play to Win the Game]

I dont know the rest of the B10 very well but it feels like we are too small and will get beat up too much.

I mean the lack of heart is the bigger issue. And what else can it be when you go and play like a high school team twice in a few weeks? Those types of blowouts are completely unacceptable and don’t come down to mismatches.

[Pedro Cerrano]

Team inspires very little confidence. The shooting is abysmal.

[Pedro Cerrano]

5-25 from 3. Gross

[Mackus]

I'll vote no. Feeling pretty pessimistic after these two dumpster fires. Something's awry.

[Pedro Cerrano]

They can’t shoot. If you can’t shoot and have no real inside presence you’re going to struggle

[Mike B]

I think what we all need to keep in mind, is that this team was put together in about 5 weeks.  I saw some, silliness yesterday in the game thread about Willard, and I think it is about 2 years premature.  I think we all got excited with the first 8 games, but this year IMO, is just about getting through the year and getting another recruiting class through the door.  

[SonicAttack]

The NCAA tournament - no

 

The NIT - no

 

The CBI - no

 

Not this year.  Next year, depends on the class that comes in, we will see.  I am not expecting Willard to improve on what Turgeon did during his tenure. 

[You Play to Win the Game]

The NCAA tournament - no

The NIT - no

The CBI - no

Not this year. Next year, depends on the class that comes in, we will see. I am not expecting Willard to improve on what Turgeon did during his tenure.

How did you feel about Turge?

[CantonJester]

The beatings will continue until morale improves. 

[Pedro Cerrano]

The beatings will continue until morale improves.

Sad but true

[SonicAttack]

How did you feel about Turge?

    Meh - pretty much from get go.  I really wanted Sean Miller as the new HC.  I also would have liked to have Sarunas Jasikevicius (yes, I looked up how to spell his name) give a go as HC for the Terps - as I think he can crossover well - an excellent coach is an excellent coach - no matter where/who they are coaching.   The current HC at Arizona is a Sarunas clone.  

[Mike B]

I think Willard will be fine...He has a team that is greatly flawed.  I have a hard time blaming him so soon.