Post by mhbruin on Mar 26, 2024 9:16:06 GMT -8
CHANGES
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Next, we look the Marylands Terrapins. They finished tied for 12th in the 14-team league.
They are coached by Kevin Willard, who has just finished his second season in College Park. In 17 years as a head coach, he has never won more than 50% of his conference games so it may not be surprising that he as only won 45% of his B1G games. He made the NCAA tournament in his first season with the Terps and won a tournament game, but then dropped off a lot in his second season.
Last season, Maryland was very good at defense at #14 in defensive efficiency, but their offense was bad. They were #347 in three-point shooting. Their two-point shooting at #247 was nothing to write home about.
GRADUATING
| Player | Games | Starts | Minutes | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Notes |
| Jahmir Young | 32 | 32 | 35 | 20 | 3.9 | 4.2 | |
| Donta Scott | 33 | 32 | 30 | 11 | 4.7 | 1.1 | |
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Jahmir Young was their best player, leading the team in minutes, points, assists, and steals. Any time you lose a 20-point scorer, that's a big loss. He was first-team All-Big-Ten.
Scott was their third-leading scorer and second-best three-point shooter at a rousing 34%.
IN THE DRAFT OR TURNING PRO
| Player | Games | Starts | Minutes | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Can Return? |
| - None - | |||||||
TRANSFERRING OUT
| Player | Games | Starts | Minutes | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Notes | Destination |
| Noah Batchelor | 26 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | Buffalo | |
| Caelum Swanton-Rodger | 31 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 1.7 | 0.1 | ||
| Jahnathan Lamothe G | 16 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0.7 | 0.3 | North Carolina A&T | |
| Jamie Kaiser, Jr. | 33 | 5 | 20 | 4 | 2.0 | 0.2 | Butler | |
| Mady Traoré | 12 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 1.2 | 0.2 | ||
The Terps lose quite a few players to the portal, but Kaiser seems to be the only one who played a decent amount. Kaiser was more than a roll player.
RETURNING
| Player | Games | Starts | Minutes | Points | Rebounds | Assists | FG% | 3Pt% | A/TO | Class | Recruiting Stars | Recruiting Rank |
| Julian Reese F | 32 | 32 | 32 | 14 | 9.5 | 1.3 | 56% | -- | 0.5 | Sr | 4 | 60 |
| DeShawn Harris-Smith G | 33 | 30 | 30 | 7 | 4.3 | 2.2 | 37% | 20% | 1.3 | So | 4 | 32 |
| Jordan Geronimo F | 31 | 26 | 23 | 5 | 3.9 | 0.5 | 42% | 17% | 0.5 | Sr 5 | 4 | 105 |
| Jahari Long G | 30 | 3 | 19 | 5 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 42% | 35% | 1.5 | Sr 5 | 3 | 252 |
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Maryland doesn't return a lot of players, but they do start with a core of three returning starters, all of whom were 4-star recruits. In addition, Long gives them a bit of badly-needed three point shooting, although 35% isn't that great.
Julian Reese is the best of the returning guys. He led the team in rebounds, steal, and blocks, and was #3 in scoring. At 6-9, he was #32 in the country in rebounds per game.
DeShawn Harris-Smith was voted to the Big Ten All-Freshman team.
Overall they return around 42% of their scoring from last season.
RECRUITS
(#38 class, #7 in BiG)
| Player | Size | Position | Recruiting Stars | Recruiting Rank | Offers |
| Derik Queen | 6-10 240 | C | 5 | 13 | Houstan, Indiana, Kansas |
| Malachi Palmer | 6-5 185 | CG | 3 | 125 | Arizona St, Creighton, DePaul |
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A big reason Maryland is considered a Top 25 tean is five-star center Derik Queen, who was name co-MVP at the McDonald’s All-American game. He finished that game with game-highs in points (23), rebounds (eight), assists (five) and steals (three) to go along with two blocks. He looks like a potential star.
TRANSFERRING IN
(#17 class, #7 in BiG)
| Player | Size | Games | Starts | Minutes | Points | Rebounds | Assists | FG % | 3-Pt % | A/TO | From | Class | Recruiting Stars | Recruiting Rank | 247 Transfer Rank |
| Rodney Rice | 6-4 195 | 8 | 0 | 20 | 7 | 3 | 0.9 | 32% | 33% | 1.2 | Virginia Tech | So | 4 | 104 | 142 |
| Ja'Kobi Gillespie | 6-0 175 | 25 | 24 | 31 | 17 | 4.2 | 2.4 | 56% | 39% | 1.7 | Belmont | Jr | Unranked | 39 | |
| Selton Miguel | 6-4 210 | 33 | 29 | 22 | 15 | 3.2 | 2.2 | 41% | 39% | 1.2 | South Florida | Sr 5 | 3 | 168 | 194 |
| Tafara Gapare | 6-9 206 | 29 | 15 | 18 | 5 | 3.5 | 0.8 | 35% | 17% | 0.9 | Georgia Tech | Jr | 4 | 123 | Unranked |
Rodney Rice was injured a lot at VT and sat out most of the 2023-24 season. If he
Ja'Kobi Gillespie seems to be the highlight of this transfer class. At 56% he has a very high shooting percentage for a 6-foot guard.
Selton Miguel played 2 years at Kansas State and then transferred to South Florida. He is the reigning American Athletic Conference’s Most Improved Player and Sixth Man of the Year. He has his name in the NBA draft, but isn't likely to stay in.
Tafara Gapare played a year at UMass, a year at Georgia Tech, and now is on to his third school.
At this point Maryland seems 1 ride left to give out.
CONCLUSION
Maryland's problem last season was shooting and particularly three-point shooting. Now their lose three of their four best three-point shooters. Their best returning shooters shoot 35% and 20%. It is not clear where they will find the shooting. Incoming transfer Ja'Kobi Gillespie was a 39% shooter in the Ohio Valley Conference. Perhaps he can equal that in the B1G. Selton Miguel also shot 39%, in the AAC.
If Derik Queen turns into a force at the post, this may open up some outside shots.
Maryland has a pretty good roster going into the season. They return experience. They have talent with a 5-star player and five 4-star players. Incoming transfer Gillespie might give them more outside scoring punch. If Derik Queen has a breakout freshman season, the Terrapins could be one of the best teams in the B1G.
If I have a question, it is about Kevin Willard. In 12 seasons at Seton Hall, he had a 48% conference record. In two seasons in College Park he has averaged 45% wins in conference. I suspect the turtles will end up somewhere in the middle of the pack.
Torvick projects Maryland as #37 in the country and #10 in the B1G. That looks like a bubble team to me.