Maryland-Longwood

Here's a quick look at the game. All I really have to say is Longwood is ranked below 320 for RPI and that should tell you everything you need to know about this game. Expect triple digits and hopefully Mychal Parker can get some, or a lot, of playing time in this one. Go Terps!

Duke gets in on 2012

Alex Murphy, the No. 15 overall player in the 2012 class, has committed to Duke and coach Mike Krzyzewski over Florida, Boston College, North Carolina, Kentucky, West Virginia and Villanova.

"I've had a feeling in my gut for a long time now and when I went down to Duke for my unofficial [visit] last month it just kind of solidified things," said Murphy who shortened his list earlier this fall. "When I talked to Coach K at the end of that trip I knew that was where I wanted to be. The reason I didn't do it right then and there was that I wanted to come home and talk to my family and the people close to me."

Well it's never good news when Duke gets another top 20 commitment, it's just to be expected because it's Duke though.Hopefully we can pick someone up for 2012 soon! I'm looking at you Justin Anderson!

Recent News and Notes

*Madieu Williams won the Walter Payton man of the year last night. Not surprisingly he wasn't able to attend the Super Bowl because he was in Afghanistan meeting with troops.

*Maryland hired Andre Powell for the RB coach job, he's the former Clemson RB coach, his most notable "achievement" is C.J. Spiller.

* Justus Pickett committed to Maryland today, possibly providing the home run threat that we have all wanted.( he ran a 4.32 40 yard dash apparently)per Terrapintimes.com

*And apparently, Randy Shannon is interviewing for the DC job.per Bruce Feldmen at ESPN. IMO this would be a good hire, has Florida ties and while he was at Miami he made sure his players graduated, something that was unheard of for Miami before him.

Maryland handles Wake easily, 91-70

Not so suprising that Maryland got this win, it was a game at home against one of the worst teams the ACC has seen in a while and for much of the game the score wasn't as widely spread, with Wake hanging in the 10-12 point range for most of the game. Jordan Williams was his usual double-double self, posting a statline of 27pts, 15reb, 2ast, 1stl, and 3blk. That's a pretty nice game in case you didn't notice. Hauker Palsson had 9pts. Wake's leading scorer was C.J. Harris with 17 points. J.T Terrell picked up a technical at about the 11 minute mark in the 2nd half and the game wasn't the same after that. Maryland picked up their three point shooting today, with Ersin Levent even hitting one at the end, the Terps went 8-17(47%) from behind the arc. All in all a good game and a much needed win. Next up Maryland plays Longwood and after that a crucial matchup with Boston College next Saturday, more on our tourny chances later.

Maryland-Wake Forest

Today the Terps try to bounce back from the home loss against Duke with a home game against Wake Forest, which really shouldn't be that hard. The only good thing this game gets us is an ACC win, but it probably hurts our RPI a little bit. The game is at 1EST but it's at 12 for me. For those of you that don't live in the D.C area, like me, ESPN gamecast is always an option. Lets go more into the game, WFU has a pretty good three point shooting team. Travis Mckie is their leading scorer with almost 13ppg and their leading rebounder with about 7rpg and he's only a freshman. J.T Terrell is WFU's 2nd leading scorer at 12ppg and he is a lot like Iman Shumpert in that he is really streaky and inconsistent. Jordan Williams should be able to handle Mckie and I would expect Mosley or Howard to be on Terrell. I see Maryland winning this game fairly easily, well really easily, 97-63. Jordan will have another double-double and I see Terrell Stoglin getting 15+ points and 5+ assists in this game. Go Terps!

Torrey Smith

Turn it too ESPN 2 if you can, Torrey Smith is about to show his skills in the hands competion!

More on Brown

Edsall says he talked to Brown this morning and Brown said "he just wanted to be closer to home." per twitter. Sounds intriguing and I kind've understand the move just a little bit now, not a lot. If family was the issue why accept the job in the first place? Maybe just to try it out? Not to bash on him or anything it was his first "big" coaching gig though.

Confirmed

Dan Brown has taken the DC job at Uconn. This according to insidemdsports and the Washington Post.

Don Brown Leaving?

According to Insidemdsports.com he is. Will have more on this later, but for now he's apparently taking the DC job at Uconn.

The Thin line the Terps are Riding. (or not?)

As you all know, Maryland recently lost to Duke. At home. By 18 points. Not really the score you were expecting huh? Well that loss has put Maryland in a very..well not a very good situation. As of now the "marquee" win that the Terps currently have is @Penn State by 23. This win actually looks pretty good considering Penn State is a top 50 RPI team, although that may not hold. Now most people are saying that the Terps need to go 7-1 or 6-2(IMO 6-2 would have to happen for us to get in). Now look at this, Penn State is receiving 14 votes in the top 25 poll, but Maryland is receiving none, Maryland has the better record and beat them by 23 at there home gym, yet they're rated higher then us. I know that Penn State has some good wins but Michigan State was considered one of their best wins and Michigan State just lost to Iowa by 20, yes the same Iowa that lost to Long Beach State.According to Kenpom, Maryland is ranked 21st in the country. Kenpom uses a variety of factors to determine the rankings and have had good results in the past. Also according to Kenpom we have a 35% chance of getting 10 wins and a 17% chance of getting 11 wins. We have the 53rd SOS and a projected record of 10-6 in the ACC, which may get us in but a win or two would probably get us into the tournament. We are also rated ahead of other bubble teams such as Marquette,Vanderbilt, St. Marys, and Florida. Kenpom isn't one of the items the selection commitee looks at but it is a good indicator for what they may look at. I know the first few games to start our run look pretty easy(well, the Longwood game is a gimmie)but the Wake Forest game may be a trap game, especially with all the talk that we may have to win out just to get in, it's not like the players aren't hearing this stuff because they are. I think this Wake Forest game will be a tougher game then the Boston College game, BC just got destroyed by North Carolina. The VaTech and UNC games are obviously tough but another tough game has to be the Miami game, their record is deceiving. Even through all of this i see the Terps going 7-1 and reaching the final in the ACC tournament, which more than likely would get us in. In Gary I Trust.

Maryland-Clemson Preview

On Saturday, The Maryland Terrapins head to Clemson to take on the Tigers, one of the Terps first real tests of the season. This game could also tell us if Maryland is for real or not. Right now Maryland is 1st in the ACC and Clemson is tied for 7th. Clemson currently sits at 3-4 in the ACC and 15-6 overall. Their top 3 scorers are Trevor Booker:16.0, Demontez Stitt:11.2, and Tanner Smith:10.1. Out of all of them I'm probably the most scared of Trevor Booker, the 6-7 senior from Whitmire, South Carolina who is averaging 16 points, 8 boards, and 2 assists( Pretty good for a big man). The dude is a manchild, if you dont think so just look at this . There is another video of him posterizing Maryland but I'd rather leave that out. He will be a guy we have to at least limit in this game, because it's almost impossible to stop him. If we can at least limit him, there is a good chance we can win the game. Another thing that could effect the game is whether or not Demontez Stitt plays or not. Stitt has missed time since Clemson played N.C. State and he is their #2 scoring option, look for him to probably play. Remember the game is at Clemson so that could also be a factor. I think Maryland will win by 6 in this one, 69-63. What do you guys think?

Fear the Turtle

Haha, Terps fans are goin to like this. ESPN.com recently came out with their power rankings and Maryland was ranked 25. Where do you see Maryland in the next power rankings if we win our next 2 games? I could see them possibly being in the 10-15 area.

Update

Maryland was recently added to Joe lunardi's bracket on ESPN.com. They are a 13 seed that plays Purdue. They are also receiving votes on the top 25 now.

Maryland Updates

Sorry, I haven't posted in a while my computer wouldn't work, here's what has gone on while I haven't posted.

* Maryland beat both Longwood and N.C. State in men's basketball.
* Men's Basketball is currently in a tie for first place in the ACC.
* Maryland Women have lost 2 in a row at home after winning 48 in a row.
* ESPN updated their basketball rankings, Mychal Parker was 44th, Terrell Stoglin 98th.
* Kenpom.com has the Terps ranked at 11th in the nation right now. Sorry the link isn't working.
* Quinn Cook went to the Maryland- N.C. State game and was impressed.
* Maryland got into Two recent mock brackets for the NCAA tournament, in one we are a 10 seed that plays Uconn and another an 11 seed that plays Butler.
* Duke loses to N.C. State, beats Clemson
* ESPN thinks Mike Leach will be the next head football coach at Maryland.
* Terps drop out of Rivals' top 25 recruiting classes.
Hope that covers it, if i missed anything just tell me.

Espn updates Football rankings

Today, Espn.com updated there football recruiting rankings. I can't post them because it's for insiders only, sorry. But I will tell you that Maryland wasn't in there.

Kearse Commits

2010 football recruit Desmond Kearse committed to Maryland today. Good pickup for the Terps.

Could Leslie be the All-American About to Commit?

You guys know that rumor that has been going around about a " sure-fire McDonald's All-American" committing to Maryland. Could that man be a certain C.J Leslie? From what I have heard it could be. Leslie is rumored to be visiting Comcast this month.With Terrence Jones seeming more and more like a Kentucky lean, that could push Leslie towards Maryland. Hopefully this is true!

2011 Recruits

This took me a while so I hope you guys like it. This will have my analysis and an Espn(an insidemdsports.com scouting report, but they are affiliated with espn) scouting report to go with it, I also rate our chances on getting each recruit.

1. Quinn Cook: Position: Point Gaurd. Height/Weight:6.0ft, 166 lbs.
Scouting Report: Cook was one of the major standouts (U16 Team USA Trials) due to his feathery shooting touch and surprisingly solid point guard play. He doesn't possess the ideal size for the Division I level, but he certainly has the game for it. Prior to seeing him at the trials, I envisioned Cook as an undersized 2-guard, but he definitely showed here that point guard is his projected position at the next level. The point guard crop wasn't special with the exception of Anthony Wroten Jr., but Cook was the best combination of scorer/playmaker of the bunch. Besides his tremendous shooting touch, Cook changes speed very well and threw some dynamite passes in transition. In addition, he executed the pick-n-roll very well and facilitated the offense on a high-level. When he didn't dish off to his teammates he has an innate ability to score amongst the bigs, including a soft floater.
My Take: Our chances weren't very good until we got Pe'shon Howard( Quinn and Pe'Shon are good friends). But since we have gotten Pe'shon are chances have improved quite a bit. I recently spoke to Quinn and he said he is intrested in Maryland. Right now I think our chances are pretty good.

2. Michael Gbinije: Position: Small Forward. Height/Weight:6'7. 180 lbs.

Scouting Report: This long and athletic wing does a great job running the lane in transition where he is a consistent finisher. Gbinije is a good ball handler when attacking from the wing with one or two dribbles and elevating into a smooth pull up jumper. He can also knock down the open three off the catch and can pull up over defenders off the dribble. H is a decent passer but needs to be more of a presence on the glass given his great size and strength for a player his age. Gbinije has a scorer's mentality and the skill to produce numbers. He is a capable of defending both wing positions and has continued to improve. Gbinije has great upside and was an easy selection for the all Underclassmen Team at the NBPA Top 100 Camp.
My Take:Looked him up but it doesn't seem like there is much intrest from him.( although terrell stoglin came out of nowhere)The kid is super athletic and I would love to have him, but I don't really like our chances.

3. Trevor Cooney: Position: Shooting Gaurd. Height/Weight: 6'4. 185lbs.

Scouting Report: Cooney has range that extends well beyond the 3-point line and will connect on jumpers with ease from distance. He also can hit 3s in transition on the break, but he needs to continue to improve his shot selection, as he sometimes tends to shoot ill-advised treys. He sometimes shoots the 3 off-balance and turns his shoulders away from the rim when he shoots jumpers, causing him sometimes to miss, though he has a high release and when he gets his feet set, the shot is usually money. He has decent quickness and can get into the lane off the dribble. When he plays the point, he has great size for the position, but he sometimes looks to shoot first when he initiates the offense. He has decent vision and can find open teammates for scoring chances.
My Take: This kid can shoot the basketball. He lights it up from the 3-point line. He reminds me of a less douchy J.J Reddick. I like our chances, I don't know why, but I think this kid is coming to Maryland.

4. Jordan Goodman: Position: Small Forward. Height/Weight: 6'8 1/2. 195 lbs.
My Take: Sorry, no scouting report here but you guys still get me. This kid is supposudly really, really good. He was a phenom coming into high school and was said to be the next kevin durant. Our chances are really good.( he almost committed to Maryland as a freshman)He might have problems with academics, so we'll have to wait and see with those, but overall I really want this kid.

5. Mikael Hopkins: Position:Power Forward. Height/Weight: 6'8. 215 lbs.

Scouting Report: Mikael is a skilled combo post player. He can be effective at either the high post or the low post. He has solid scoring skills from either position. Hopkins is a decent shooter with range to 15 feet. He is also good off the dribble for a 4 man. He is able to drive to the basket effectively from the mid post. Defensively he is solid. He can block shots though he should not be considered a shotblocker right now. He is a solid athlete and should be a solid defender in the future with more strength and effort on that end of the court. Hopkins is a decent rebounder that could easily improve with added effort. He has had issues with being inconsistent with his effort in the past. He has a tendency to disappear at times and can appear soft. He has the talent to be an elite player once he learns to let his motor run at all times.
My Take: Kid has got game, he is a beast. He shoots well for his size and has good range for his size. Good athlete. I don't really know what our chances are with him, but I'll take a guess and say they're OK.

6. Sterling Gibbs: Position: Point Gaurd/ Shooting Gaurd. Height/Weight: 6'0. 177 lbs.

Scouting Report: Gibbs started off very strong at the beginning of camp and then his play leveled off a bit as time wore on. He is a steady point guard prospect that "thinks" scoring first rather than setting up his teammates. He has a decent frame with adequate length and shows good speed and quickness, especially in transition. He advances the ball well on the break and he has definitely improved his half-court game management since the June mini-camp. He changes speeds very well to keep defenders off balance and he has the ability to get into the lane and make plays. He has a pretty potent floater and he will locate the open man, but he does have a tendency to leave his feet while passing in the lane-making him prone to charging into defenders. His jump shot is steady when he gets his feet set and he can knock down the 3-point shot, but he has a very low release which results in his shot being flat. Overall, Gibbs is a solid high-major point guard prospect that understands the game and has continued to progress as a playmaker.
My Take: He is really good, just look at his offers. He is deciding sometime soon, or at least cutting down his list. Our chances seem at east pretty good, I think we're in his top 3.
7. Cezar Guerrero: Position: Point Gaurd. Height/Weight: 6'0. 165 lbs.

Scouting Report: He competed at a much better level of prep competition as a sophomore than he did as a freshman (when he attended Bellflower/St. John Bosco, a member of the Trinity League that includes the likes of Santa Ana/Mater Dei and Rancho Santa Margarita/Santa Margarita). He was a prolific scorer for his high school team this past season but has seemed to be looking to become more of a "true point guard" on the traveling team circuit this spring. Guerrero's release and form on his jump shot are spot-on, with his range easily to the 3-point line. He's got high-level speed with the ball but needs to govern his acceleration at times and not force action quite as frequently. Defensively, he needs to focus on soundly containing dribblers and not reach or jump passing lanes as often.
My Take: Our chances aren't very good, but you never know. He has a Greivis swag to him. But again, I don't like our chances.

8. Desmond Hubert: Position: Center. Height/Weight: 6'8. 195 lbs.

My Take: No scouting report for these last three, sorry. Well, he's tall, and tall is good in basketball. Our chances are pretty good because we were on him fast.

9. Devin Langford: Position: Small Forward. Height/Weight: 6'5. 185 lbs.

My Take: He could be our first commit for the class, but I don't know. Im guessing our chances are pretty good.

10. Hunter Mickelson: Position: Power Forward. Height/Weight: 6'9. 205 lbs.

My Take: We just got on this guy in the last few months, he's pretty good, but he's getting intrest from some really good schools.

Sorry I don't have scouting reports for the last 3. I'm not a member to any premium sites except I'm an ESPN insider and I can't release the scouting reports. What do you guys think of the 2011 recruits?

Braketology

Well, Maryland wasn't actually in the bracket but we were on the first four out. Hey, at least it's progress. Oh, and this was according to Joe Lunardi, remember, Jay Bilas said we were in.

Duke could lose an Assistant

One of Duke's assistant coach's, Chris Collins, is supposedly a candidate for the DePaul head coaching job. Do you guys think this could hurt Duke in any way?