396 replies to this topic

[Mike B]

I don't know one thing about the kid, but I think the roster is deep enough, especially inside, that the Terps could take a flyer on a 6'!0" player who seemingly has skills.  He would be the 15th player on the roster so take a shot.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Big O Jr or Edema would have gotten regular time, and the Front Court would have been stacked if either one was added. 

 

But Payne, Buljan, Jennings, Tambedou is pretty good depth wise.  

As Mike said, if this kid can be the 15th guy and give you anything (shot-blocking, 5 usable fouls if needed), that's cool. 

 

Would still like to hear that Payne is official. 
 

[Mike B]

Big O Jr or Edema would have gotten regular time, and the Front Court would have been stacked if either one was added. 

 

But Payne, Buljan, Jennings, Tambedou is pretty good depth wise.  

As Mike said, if this kid can be the 15th guy and give you anything (shot-blocking, 5 usable fouls if needed), that's cool. 

 

Would still like to hear that Payne is official. 
 

I don't trust the NCAA.  They certainly play favorites and Maryland is not one of their favorites.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

I don't trust the NCAA. They certainly play favorites and Maryland is not one of their favorites.

I think the hard pursuit of Ekezie should make MD fans at least wonder if there is some discouraging news on Payne

[makoman]

I think the hard pursuit of Ekezie should make MD fans at least wonder if there is some discouraging news on Payne

Eh that’s the kind of guy you have to make a strong run for, top of the class, alumni’s kid, showed interest, If not what are you even doing?

[TwentyThirtyFive]

I agree and thats probably all it is. But when youre snakebitten you fear the worst case scenario

[Mike B]

I think the hard pursuit of Ekezie should make MD fans at least wonder if there is some discouraging news on Payne

I know I have been thinking about that.

[BSLZackKiesel]

ESPN: Players Era Men's Championships hoops event expands to 24 teams

https://www.espn.com...anding-24-teams

 

The week of November 16 will feature The Players Era Eight, with potential preseason No. 1 Florida highlighting a field that also includes Houston, Kansas, Auburn, West Virginia, Notre Dame, Rutgers and UNLV.

 

Thanksgiving Week will feature The Players Era Sixteen. Reigning champion Michigan is the headliner, with the Wolverines joined by Alabama, Gonzaga, St. John's, Louisville, Tennessee, Iowa State, Miami, Texas Tech, Baylor, Maryland, TCU, Oregon, Creighton, San Diego State and Kansas State.

[BSLChrisStoner]

A game vs. Louisville and Big O Jr seems likely. 

 

Gonzaga straight murdered MD this past year.  Could happen again, but I'd like another game vs. them.

[CantonJester]

I don't know one thing about the kid, but I think the roster is deep enough, especially inside, that the Terps could take a flyer on a 6'!0" player who seemingly has skills.  He would be the 15th player on the roster so take a shot.

 

The goal for guys 'down-bench' should be years of eligibility and to increase competition in practice for game minutes. 

 

A 6' PG can see the court and make plays so long as he's fluid. 

[JeremyStrain]

The goal for guys 'down-bench' should be years of eligibility and to increase competition in practice for game minutes. 

 

A 6' PG can see the court and make plays so long as he's fluid. 

Stupid portal has changed so much of that behavior these days. There might be a few that are still like, ok, let me earn my stripes and I'll get my time when so and so leaves next year. Most of them though, players 7-14 are like I should be starting, I'm transferring next year, let me scout where I wanna go while I'm sitting on the bench. 

 

It's a little bit different for each sport, Basketball probably has the highest percentage of starters that transfer. In other sports, its USUALLY the bench players, the 2nd and 3rd rotation players, and the number of freshman is higher than anyone else, by a lot I'm told. It's that whole, oh come here and play, you're going to get minutes as a freshman. Then when they don't or don't get as many as they think they do, they are out. They tend to make up their mind to hit the portal early in the season too. The few answers I've heard personally are: "Meeting a coach in recruiting, and a coach once practice starts are two very different things". I get that one, and not everyone is going to get along with every coach/style. and "I was told A was happening, I get here and the story has changed", or "Oh yeah I knew back in week 1 it wasn't going to work out there". 

 

I think it's a little bit TOO wild west out there right now, but I think they still need some protections. One free transfer, and after that have to sit a year, with a process for special exemptions. And in the event of a coaching change they should all get a free transfer. Seems both fair and holds them a little accountable at the same time. 

[BSLZackKiesel]

ESPN: 2027 March Madness Men's Field Predictions

https://www.espn.com...eld-predictions

 

Joe Lunardi's first Bracketology predictions have Maryland missing the new 76-team field as the last member of the "First Four Out".

[BSLChrisStoner]

ESPN: 2027 March Madness Men's Field Predictions

https://www.espn.com...eld-predictions

 

Joe Lunardi's first Bracketology predictions have Maryland missing the new 76-team field as the last member of the "First Four Out".

That would be disgusting. 

[BoomerFT]

ESPN: 2027 March Madness Men's Field Predictions
https://www.espn.com...eld-predictions

Joe Lunardi's first Bracketology predictions have Maryland missing the new 76-team field as the last member of the "First Four Out".

With a 104 ranking over the past 5 yrs, it's not worth worrying about what he thinks.

https://www.bracketm...m/rankings.html

[CantonJester]

Stupid portal has changed so much of that behavior these days. There might be a few that are still like, ok, let me earn my stripes and I'll get my time when so and so leaves next year. Most of them though, players 7-14 are like I should be starting, I'm transferring next year, let me scout where I wanna go while I'm sitting on the bench. 

 

It's a little bit different for each sport, Basketball probably has the highest percentage of starters that transfer. In other sports, its USUALLY the bench players, the 2nd and 3rd rotation players, and the number of freshman is higher than anyone else, by a lot I'm told. It's that whole, oh come here and play, you're going to get minutes as a freshman. Then when they don't or don't get as many as they think they do, they are out. They tend to make up their mind to hit the portal early in the season too. The few answers I've heard personally are: "Meeting a coach in recruiting, and a coach once practice starts are two very different things". I get that one, and not everyone is going to get along with every coach/style. and "I was told A was happening, I get here and the story has changed", or "Oh yeah I knew back in week 1 it wasn't going to work out there". 

 

I think it's a little bit TOO wild west out there right now, but I think they still need some protections. One free transfer, and after that have to sit a year, with a process for special exemptions. And in the event of a coaching change they should all get a free transfer. Seems both fair and holds them a little accountable at the same time. 

 

Yeah CBB is in a precarious state of affairs. There are probably a half dozen teams that, in theory, should be able to hold onto their players, but as you said, if things don't roll right for a player (who has handlers in his ear), he's going to start looking elsewhere, again as you said, in-season. IMO that happened with UConn's Eric Reibe. He's apparently been told he should be looking for a program that will let him play facing the basket. Well, if you think he's going to be the next Dirk Nowitzki, then yeah, give him a scholarship. 

 

So no team is impervious to 'roster drain', but the worst of it is the lower and mid-majors. Cuz those are the programs that are most vulnerable to losing a 'diamond in the rough' player who elevates his game as a freshman, and then two dozen P4 programs are knocking on the kid's door. 

[BSLChrisStoner]

[BoomerFT]

ESPN: 2027 March Madness Men's Field Predictions
https://www.espn.com...eld-predictions

Joe Lunardi's first Bracketology predictions have Maryland missing the new 76-team field as the last member of the "First Four Out".

Andy Katz has Md as an 11 seed, 43rd overall. CBS sports also has Md as an 11 seed.
I think both of those predictions are on the conservative side, but we will see how it plays out.