17 replies to this topic

[BSLChrisStoner]

Baltimore Sun: Replacing Len, Dodd's Prospects
http://www.baltimore...story?track=rss

[Mackus]

We can replace Len offensively, but I think it's going to be really tough defensively.  I would really like Turgeon to go out and uncover some surprise 6'8" leaper in the front court who can defend and rebound.   Don't really care about the offense.  I think both Mitchell and Cleare are solid post defenders, but they aren't nearly the type of shot-blockers that we'll need to play the aggressive perimeter defense that Turgeon likes to play.  Nor are they athletic enough to really flash high on the ball screens like Alex did but get back in time to prevent an easy lay in.

 

I've got very low expectations for Dodd.  At best I think he's a replacement for Padgett.

[glenn__davis]

Agree with Mackus, as usual. 

 

Replacing Len's offensive production will not be that big of a deal.

 

Defensively he will be sorely missed.  Having him be able to hang back there and essentially play "safety" around the rim was invaluable, and we have no one to duplicate it. 

[Chris B]

Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojYahooNBA 51s

Maryland sophomore center Alex Len will enter the NBA Draft, source tells Y! Sports. Len will hold a mid-week news conference at Maryland.

[Oriole85]

Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojYahooNBA 51s

Maryland sophomore center Alex Len will enter the NBA Draft, source tells Y! Sports. Len will hold a mid-week news conference at Maryland.

Good move for him. I've said my piece on this so I won't bore everyone too much. I'll say this though: I think just about anyone in his position would be doing what he's doing here.

[glenn__davis]

Obviously this was expected, but I will legitimately miss Alex, he was a joy to watch when he was on, and pretty much always a joy to watch defensively.

 

I think strictly from a mental standpoint another year at CP would have benefited him, but I certainly don't blame anyone for making the decision he is.  Just hope he goes to a place where he can be comfortable and develop his game well.

 

Let's hope some freshmen take some big steps forward next year.  Looking right now like a mighty bubbliciious team again.

[Mackus]

Let's hope some freshmen take some big steps forward next year.  Looking right now like a mighty bubbliciious team again.

 

I'm thinking worse than last year, in fact.  Hopefully Turgeon can find a couple late additions that will help us get over that hump, though.  He has shown so far that he's pretty good at pulling rabbits out of hats.  Len, Wells, and Aronhalt were all late acquisitions.

[BSLMikeLowe]

Agreed. You can find other ways to score. But there is no replacement for 7'-1" in the paint defensively. At least not on the current roster. Which means they really should try to play more of a full-court game next season.

 

We can replace Len offensively, but I think it's going to be really tough defensively. 

[You Play to Win the Game]

I'm thinking worse than last year, in fact.  Hopefully Turgeon can find a couple late additions that will help us get over that hump, though.  He has shown so far that he's pretty good at pulling rabbits out of hats.  Len, Wells, and Aronhalt were all late acquisitions.

 

Sorry to steer the conversation in this direction, but if we're worse than last year, I worry about Turge's future. I don't think that'll have him canned yet, but his seat will officially be warm at that time, IMO.

 

You never know, I have to think that he can do a much better job coaching the team up and having them gel as a unit next year. We'll see how it shakes out. Len is a very tough loss though.

[Mackus]

Sorry to steer the conversation in this direction, but if we're worse than last year, I worry about Turge's future. I don't think that'll have him canned yet, but his seat will officially be warm at that time, IMO.

 

You never know, I have to think that he can do a much better job coaching the team up and having them gel as a unit next year. We'll see how it shakes out. Len is a very tough loss though.

 

Agreed.  Even if we miss out next year again, I don't think he would or should be fired.  But I do think he'll start being under much more pressure.  He's definitely gonna be on the hot seat heading into that 4th year if we miss the tournament again next season.  Hopefully we get better and can make the dance though, we definitely will have some talent, but thre are obvious weaknesses as well.

[Oriole85]

Sorry to steer the conversation in this direction, but if we're worse than last year, I worry about Turge's future. I don't think that'll have him canned yet, but his seat will officially be warm at that time, IMO.

 

You never know, I have to think that he can do a much better job coaching the team up and having them gel as a unit next year. We'll see how it shakes out. Len is a very tough loss though.

I think you're probably right. As I've said third year is critical, if they made the tournament next year, that will have been four straight years with no NCAA appearances(three under Turge). I think he has to make the NIT at minimum to keep his job barring unforeseen circumstances. You clearly want to see improvement.

 

Not sure how long people can keep saying it's a "young team." 

[Mackus]

I think you're probably right. As I've said third year is critical, if they made the tournament next year, that will have been four straight years with no NCAA appearances(three under Turge). I think he has to make the NIT at minimum to keep his job barring unforeseen circumstances. You clearly want to see improvement.

 

Not sure how long people can keep saying it's a "young team." 

I don't think there is any chance he's fired unless the team completely implodes and has a Doughterty-led UNC finish at well below .500 or there is some sort of external scandal.  A 18-15 season that leads to a CBI game won't get him fired, although he'd certainly be under a lot of justifiable scrutiny.

[bnickle]

Sure, it won't be that difficult to replace Len's offense from pure statistical standpoint but it's what he opened up for his teammates around him. He was double teamed a lot and also ran the high post screen and roll-pops fairly well. It's not his fault he had no teammates who could shoot the ball or get him the ball enouh at the right time and right spots on the floor. Thtas what you'll miss because Mitchell and Cleare aren't running those high top of the key plays as well as Len and will also have to prove capable scorers to be double teamed on the block. Len opened up the halfcourt offense for the team this year, the players around him couldn't take advantage of it.

[glenn__davis]

I actually thought a lot of his high post screens were fairly poor.  And while technically the attention paid to him should have opened up more for others, he generally did a very poor job of recognizing double-teams and finding the open man.  Which shouldn't be an issue in the NBA, actually I would be pretty surprised if he didn't look much better offensively in the NBA, where he'll be able to go 1 on 1 more often, than in the college game.

 

None of which is to bash Len.  He's pretty raw offensively, but whoever takes him will know that.  Like I said, I just hope he gets to a place where he can be allowed to comfortably develop.  I don't ever see him being a big star, but I hope he surprises me in that regard.

[Mike B]

Sorry to steer the conversation in this direction, but if we're worse than last year, I worry about Turge's future. I don't think that'll have him canned yet, but his seat will officially be warm at that time, IMO.

 

You never know, I have to think that he can do a much better job coaching the team up and having them gel as a unit next year. We'll see how it shakes out. Len is a very tough loss though.

The Terps are only worse if none of the freshman improve,  I think Allen is a very talented player and if he slows down based on this years expierience, he could be a very effective player.  In general a player improves the most between year 1 and 2.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Testudo Times: Preparing for life without Len
http://www.testudoti...ithout-alex-len

[BSLZackKiesel]

BSL: Moving On After Len

 

http://baltimorespor...g-on-after-len/

 

In this article, I take a look back at how far Alex Len progressed as a member of the Maryland Terrapins, and who fans can expect to fill the void he left when he decided to enter the NBA Draft.

[Mackus]

Good layout of the internal options for replacing Len, which aren't many.  I do think we can replace his offense, but we've got zero depth to replcae his defense.  Mitchell and Cleare simply aren't intimidating defenders, as neither can protect the rim.  They are both wide-bodied below the rim players.  I think they can handle the defensive rebounding at a similar level to what Alex provided, but there is no hope for them to ever be the type of shot blocking and shot alternating threat at the back of the defense.  That doesn't just impact the half-court defense, but the press as well, as you need a good shot blocker waiting at the back of the press to clean up any fast breaks that occur when the press is broken.  Point guard is obvioulsy the #1 priority, but #2 behind that and clearly ahead of anything else is a very athletic big man who can play above the rim and block shots.  Offense is secondary.  A long and lean leaper in the mold of an Ibekwe or Gist or Smith would be ideal, I just don't know if anyone like that is available at this point in time.

 

Just a note, but you say the 2014 NBA draft in your first sentence, when you mean the 2013 draft.  Also, in the second paragrah you say Williams recruited Len, but Turgeon became his coach.  That's all true, of course, but Turgeon was actually already the coach before Len signed (very late, btw), so he knew who his coach was when he made the decision.  Similar to Cleare this year, Maryland had been recruiting him before Turgeon took over for Gary, and Turgeon was able to complete the deal.

 

I'd love to hear more news about Maryland recruiting and if they are making any plans to add to their class with a late-addition, either a late-signing frosh, JuCo transfer, or D1 transfer who's eligible to play right away.  We sorely need a couple of additions to the team if Turgeon can continue his trend of adding legit talent late in the cycle.