42 replies to this topic

[BSLZackKiesel]

Following their first loss of the season on Friday night, Maryland will face off against UAB on Sunday afternoon. The Blazers suffered a one-point loss to Clemson in their first game in Asheville, 77-76. They're still winless on the year, losing their first game to Bradley in overtime. Andy Kennedy is in his fourth season as their head coach, and led them to the NIT Championship game last year where they lost to North Texas.

 

KenPom Rankings

• Maryland: #41 (#50 AdjO, #38 AdjD; #337 AdjT)
• UAB: #91 (#90 AdjO, #105 AdjD; #155 AdjT)

[BSLZackKiesel]

Maryland enters this game as 5.5-point favorites. ESPN gives them a 68.5% chance to win.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Ride your experience until the youth catches up. 

 

Reese wants to be a pro? Show you can consistently dominate. 

[BaltBird 24]

Hard to get mad at Reese when had a double double when your 5th year senior and proverbial leader had as many fouls as points.

Hopefully Geronimo isn't long for the starting role, but I guess Willard doesn't want 2 freshman starting together to start the season.

[You Play to Win the Game]

I don’t think anyone is mad at Reese - but it’d be nice if he looked like a pro more consistently. It would help. It’s only 2 games, but hoping for a big year from him.

Scott is just a frustrating player. Equally capable of being a key contributor and leader, and the reason you lose. I’m still a big fan though. Rooting for him. I’m expecting a bounce back performance from him today.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Hard to get mad at Reese when had a double double when your 5th year senior and proverbial leader had as many fouls as points.

Hopefully Geronimo isn't long for the starting role, but I guess Willard doesn't want 2 freshman starting together to start the season.

 

Willard has been very enthusiastic about Geronimo.  Loves the athleticism.  Even if he falls out of the starting 5, he's likely to stay in the regular rotation.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Scott is just a frustrating player. Equally capable of being a key contributor and leader, and the reason you lose. I’m still a big fan though. Rooting for him. I’m expecting a bounce back performance from him today.

Awful lot of experience for Scott.  He's a good college player.  I think the limitations for him are that he really has the skill set of a 4, but wants to play like a 3.  The wings are too quick for him to defend. The real bigs can also be issues for him to defend.  Still, I'd rather see him banging away using his 230 lbs on taller guys vs. seeing him chasing wings.     

Same thing offensively... he's much better when he plays inside out, and looks to get to the basket, get fouled...  vs. settling for 3's. Shot well as a Soph, the last two years have been poor.   Haven't looked to see where he is on various all-time MD lists, but he's already played in 131 games, started 116.  

 

Will be interested to see how Willard uses him this year.

[BSLZackKiesel]

Starting Five: Young, Harris-Smith, Batchelor, Scott, Reese

 

Geronimo is out of the starting lineup, replaced by Batchelor. Scott slides down to the PF spot to begin the game.

[BaltBird 24]

Not high on Batchelor but he can't be worse than Geronimo.

[BaltBird 24]

Is this just a team with very poor depth?

What is there for a big man behind Reese?

You've got Young and Harris Smith. Hopefully Kaiser can contribute as a freshman. Lamothe seems like a non factor so far.

Scott as a 3/4 swing.

Seems like a poorly constructed team.

[BSLZackKiesel]

The 3-point shots are falling more often today, so that’s a promising sign.

[BaltBird 24]

Glad the Ravens play soon because this is not a good team to watch right now.

[BSLZackKiesel]

Swanton-Rodger asserting himself well down low.

[BSLZackKiesel]

11-0 run for Maryland.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Is this just a team with very poor depth?

What is there for a big man behind Reese?

You've got Young and Harris Smith. Hopefully Kaiser can contribute as a freshman. Lamothe seems like a non factor so far.

Scott as a 3/4 swing.

Seems like a poorly constructed team.

Should be enough useable depth.
Is important for Willard to figure out 6 to 9, and have some defined roles imo.

[BSLZackKiesel]

First half shooting not terrible. 44% from the field, including 33% from the field. Turnovers still an issue though, 9 already.

UAB shooting just 33% from the field and still haven’t made a 3.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Reese has zero boards? Come on.

[Mackus]

Is this just a team with very poor depth?

What is there for a big man behind Reese?

You've got Young and Harris Smith. Hopefully Kaiser can contribute as a freshman. Lamothe seems like a non factor so far.

Scott as a 3/4 swing.

Seems like a poorly constructed team.

That's what I was thinking on Friday.

Reese and Young are perfectly acceptable as your two best players. Scott is fine as your 4th best guy.

Can Harris-Smith be good enough as a frosh to be a worthy third option? I think it's plausible but it's a big ask. We'll see. I certainly think he's gonna be good enough to start, but major impact is a bit harder to project.

After that it's a weak roster. Geronimo is a solid defender but useless elsewise. Long same thing. Can Kaiser or Batchelor step up? We'll need one of them for offense off the bench. Swanton-Rodger is not good enough to be your primary interior depth, but that's what he is here.

[You Play to Win the Game]

Just an embarrassing weekend. Work harder.

[BSLZackKiesel]

This is starting to get pretty ugly. Seriously unacceptable to follow up the loss to Davidson with another pathetic performance like this.