I heard the last few minutes of Keith Cavanaugh (Terrapin Times) on with Bob Haynie (105.7 The Fan) yesterday. Cavanaugh ended by saying the Terps were now playing better than anyone could have expected, and may now be possibly be able to be an NIT team.

I don't think anything we have seen out of MD so far this year is a real surprise.

We knew the beginning of the year was going to be very difficult when the Terps were playing with just 7 scholarship players.

We thought the front-court was going to be the biggest issue facing MD, but that with Padgett, Pankey, Weijs, and eventually Len; that MD had 4 good athletes that would be able to at-least help on the glass, run the court hard, and provide some shot-blocking presence.

We knew that playing 3 games in 4 days in PR was going to be a problem with that lack of depth. We knew that MD had to get at-least 1 win there.

We knew that MD had to at-least split with Illinois and ND.

We knew that MD would look better when Howard, and Len returned, the depth improved, people went back to more natural minutes, and walk-ons were not playing 16 minutes a game.

We know now that a path exists for the Terps to get to the NCAA's.

Maryland is 11-4 overall, and 1-1 in the ACC. The remaining schedule is:

1/15 Georgia Tech
1/17 @FSU
1/21 @Temple
1/25 Duke
1/28 VaTech
2/1 @Miami
2/4 UNC
2/7 @Clemson
2/11 @Duke
2/16 Boston College
2/18 @UVA
2/21 Miami
2/25 @Georgia Tech
2/29 @UNC
3/4 UVA

I look at these remaining 15 games in 3 categories:

Expected losses: Duke (2), UNC (2)
Swing: @FSU, @Temple, @Miami, @Clemson, @UVA, @GaTech
Expected wins: GaTech, VaTech, BC, Miami, UVA

With the 4 expected losses, and 5 expected wins; Maryland would be 16-8, 6-5.
You win two of the five road league swing games; Maryland would be 18-11, 8-8.
You win at Temple, MD would be 19-11, 8-8.

I think the Terps would be on the right side of the bubble with that resume, but it would be close. If everything above was the same, and you lose at Temple; you might need 2 wins in the ACCT.

Either way, there is no reason right now to think that things have to go right for the Terps to end the year in the NIT. You can easily craft a realistic path for Maryland to be part of March Madness.

I wouldn't put a win against Virginia at home as a lock. They know how to play. The ACC is only going to get a maximum of 5 teams in the NCAA tournament more likely only 4. It is going to be difficult for this team to make the tournament.
I don't think a goal of the NIT is real bad at this point. Maryland also hasn't beaten anyone either. Notre Dame probably won't be a tournament team either.

I wouldn't put a win against Virginia at home as a lock. They know how to play. The ACC is only going to get a maximum of 5 teams in the NCAA tournament more likely only 4. It is going to be difficult for this team to make the tournament.
I don't think a goal of the NIT is real bad at this point. Maryland also hasn't beaten anyone either. Notre Dame probably won't be a tournament team either.

You make some fair points, guess I should have clarified some.

Pretty much each of those 'expected wins' could be a loss. If the Terps lose one of those games, they will have to make it up by winning another one of those 'swing' games.

UVA did look pretty good last night vs. Duke. Certainly don't think consider any of those expected wins a 'lock'. Just think MD should win those games at home.

With ND having lost Abromaitis, I agree they will finish in the bottom half/third of the Big East. Still, if MD can beat Temple, I think MD will have a decent OOC resume with wins over BE, Pac 12, and A10 teams.

I also agree that the ACC figures to get no more than 5 teams. MD might wind up in the NIT, but saying that things have to go right for the Terps to reach that level is wrong.

As well you make some good points, but right now if you were selecting the tournament MD isn't in right now. They will have to play there way in from this point. I think Keith was being pretty realistic in his assessment at this point in time. Certainly with the addition of Len and the return of Howard gives them a chance where before they had very little to no shot.

You are a glass half full kind of fan and there is nothing wrong with that but coming from a neutral observer I think you may want to temper your expectations. I think Maryland is two years away from the NCAA tournament. However they are definitely on the right track, but it is going to take some time to rebuild this program. Besides Len there isn't much future NBA talent on this team. The recruiting in the last few years has been subpar. Turgeon is really a good X and O guy and is getting as good as can be expected from this group of players.

I am not going to say they can't make the tournament this year or next but that is more of a reflection of the ACC being not that good which gives them a shot at some wins they wouldn't have had in years past. Just like Maryland's recruiting has stepped up this year so has the rest of the ACC's as well in the case of next year.

All that said this is an enjoyable team to watch compete because of Turgeon's ability to coach. They aren't going to get blown out many nights. They really know how to compete. There is nothing wrong with ending up a NIT team considering this is a whole new coaching staff. Most teams go through what Virginia and Wake Forest have gone through the last few years. I think the next 10 or so years will see much more good years then bad. I expect them to be pretty consistently good as well. It is all about recruiting and these guys can recruit. The head man understand this and is crossing all his "T"' and dotting all his "I"s out there off the court.

I agree that Turg is a very good X's and O's guy. Basically, he's Gary Williams with the desire and willingness to recruit. That only bodes well for the future of the program. I'll say again, the Turg hire has rejuvenated my passion for MD basketball.

I've been saying this for the last few weeks. While it may still be a bit of a long shot, this team could make it to the NCAAs. But I will say this: Whether we make it or not, look at what this team has done so far. Turgeon has done great things with this team. Guys like Pankey, Parker, Len, etc. will be here for years to come, plus we have what will at least be a top 20 recruiting class coming in. This team will only get better, and it's all thanks to Turgeon and his staff. Good things are to come, and they're not far off.

I've been saying this for the last few weeks. While it may still be a bit of a long shot, this team could make it to the NCAAs. But I will say this: Whether we make it or not, look at what this team has done so far. Turgeon has done great things with this team. Guys like Pankey, Parker, Len, etc. will be here for years to come, plus we have what will at least be a top 20 recruiting class coming in. This team will only get better, and it's all thanks to Turgeon and his staff. Good things are to come, and they're not far off.

Again not impossible but still not likely for them to reach the Tournament. The ACC is getting a maximum of 4 or 5 teams in the big dance. Right now UNC, Duke, FSU,NC State, and UVA are better teams then Maryland. MD has a pretty tough schedule coming up. The next 7 games are going to tell a decent tale. Only VA Tech at home I would say is a game they will be favored to win out of the next 7.