The last 48 hours have seen a seismic shakeup in college basketball and the Maryland Terrapins find themselves as close to the epicenter as possible. Yahoo Sports released an article detailing the dealings of Christian Dawkins, an associate of sports agent Andy Miller and his agency ASM Sports. Dawkins has been a part of the FBI investigation into corruption in college basketball, and his dealings are at the center of the FBI's investigation into the illegal misappropriation of Adidas funds to assistant coaches at Auburn, Arizona, Oklahoma State, and Southern California. Yahoo also released other documents that allude to Dawkins' financial dealings with other players from over 20 other teams. It is unclear at this moment whether or not these players were involved with the Adidas scandal, but one name on that list should have Terps fans very worried about what the future holds for the Maryland Men's Basketball Program. That name is Diamond Stone.
The documents released by Yahoo Sports show that Diamond Stone allegedly received $14,303 from Dawkins as of December 31, 2015. It is unclear when or how this money was given to Stone, but in other documents it is reveled that Stone allegedly received ATM Witdrawal Advances of $1100 on February 11, 2016 and $1000 on March 21, 2016. The documents also detail that Dawkins allegedly paid $53.94 on March 11, 2016 for a "Ride for Diamond Stone to Meeting". In total, the documents provided by Yahoo allege over $16,000 were given to Diamond Stone by someone who is involved in a federal investigation. Terps fans have pleaded for reason in that these are just pieces of paper without any corroboration, and that it is foolish at this point to make any assumptions about what could happen in the wake of this information being made public. It could be that this information is unsubstantiated, but that is looking less likely due to the events unfolding at Arizona.
Here is Mark Turgeon's response to Diamond Stone's name being involved with the ASM investigation (Thank you to Testudo Times for the quote):
“Late last night we were alerted of a report associating one of our former student-athletes with an agent. We are extremely disappointed, and we will fully cooperate with any investigation. I do not have a relationship with Andy Miller or anyone from his agency, and at no time have I ever had a conversation with Andy Miller or his agency regarding any Maryland basketball player. We remain steadfast in upholding a program of integrity that reflects the values of our University community.”
Now here was Sean Miller's response in October 2017 to the information that one of his assistants, Emanuel Richardson, was arrested on federal bribery charges (Thank you to AZcentral for the quote):
“I was devastated to learn last week of the allegations made against Emanuel Richardson. I have expressed to both (University of Arizona President) Dr. Robbins and our Athletic Director Dave Heeke that I fully support the University’s efforts to fully investigate these allegations. As the head basketball coach at the University of Arizona, I recognize my responsibility is not only to establish a culture of success on the basketball court and in the classroom, but as important, to promote and reinforce a culture of compliance. To the best of my ability, I have worked to demonstrate this over the past 8 years and will continue to do so as we move forward.”
Are you worried yet, Terps fans? Miller's comments were made in October, and just this weekend it was revealed that Miller had been recorded on the phone dealing directly with Dawkins about how much money to give to star recruit Deandre Ayton in order to secure a commitment. According to this ESPN article, the FBI intercepted over 3,000 hours of phone conversations made by Dawkins, so one can assume that there may be more conversations that corroborate some of the financial information contained in the documents released by Yahoo. This information, coupled with the information on the Dawkins Documents, should make all Maryland fans very wary of Turgeon's comments. If the Dawkins Documents are proven to be true through phone records, it means that Diamond Stone received a ride to meet with agents from ASM on the day of Maryland's first game of the Big 10 Tournament in 2016, and he received a $1000 payment three days before Maryland was to play Kansas in the Sweet 16. It is hard to believe that Turgeon would be oblivious to this kind of behavior, but even if he was it does not matter. If anyone, ANYONE, within the Maryland framework is found to have facilitated these payments to Diamond Stone at any time during this process it will spell doom for the program, and there is evidence that this could be the case. The February 11, 2016 payments to Diamond Stone had the name Rashaad Moore listed next to the record of payment. The identity of this person, or his significance to Diamond Stone and the University of Maryland, is unknown at this time but it shows that there are more levels to this story that could harm Maryland Basketball for the long term.
With so many schools being implicated in the Dawkins Documents, the NCAA is going to need to bring sacrificial lambs to the alter of public perception when all is said and done. These cannot just be any lambs, but very carefully selected lambs that will give the illusion that justice is being done while not hurting the NCAA's bottom line. Maryland fits this mold perfectly. A program from a Power 5 conference with a rich history, a national championship, and a sordid past when it comes to NCAA violations is just what the doctor ordered for the NCAA to show that they are tough on crime. Diamond stone is one of six player implicated in the Dawkins Documents who allegedly received over $10,000 in payments from ASM Sports, so it stands to reason that if these payouts can be corroborated Maryland will be associated with one of the largest offenders on this list. If it is found that anyone, ANYONE, from Maryland is involved in the paying of Diamond Stone it will be easy for the NCAA to make an example of Maryland. It does not have to be as dramatic as Sean Miller being caught on tape. It does not even have to involve Mark Turgeon. If Rashaad Moore turns out to be a towel boy who was employed by The University of Maryland for more than a week, and facilitated the payments to Diamond Stone, the NCAA will levy their wrath on the Terps. Kicking Maryland off of TV and banning them from post season play will show the public that the NCAA is not afraid to punish "big" programs for lack of institutional control without having to go after programs that draw more water. UNC, Duke, and Kentucky have all been implicated in this scandal, but punishing them may harm NCAA profits because of the viewership they draw on a national level. The Terps would be a perfect scapegoat for the NCAA if they can prove that these payments to Diamond Stone were facilitated by anyone, ANYONE, from the University of Maryland. If the NCAA can prove this they will eviscerate the Maryland Men's Basketball program in the wake of this scandal. Terps fans need to be very worried right now.
Showing posts with label Terps. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Terps. Show all posts
Sunday, February 25, 2018
Sunday, January 28, 2018
Maryland Basketball's Future Is On the Line This Week
The fate of the Maryland Men's Basketball Program will be on the line this week as they face two Top 10 opponents in succession. The upcoming games against Michigan State and Purdue will give the NCAA Selection Committee a good idea about whether or not the Terps need to win out the rest of the season to have a chance at making their fourth straight NCAA appearance. But these next two games will have more far reaching ramifications for the program as Mark Turgeon navigates his seventh season in College Park. It is no secret that Turgeon has not delivered the wins against big time programs, but bad losses against these two teams could start to make the grass on the other side look just a little bit greener. Maryland's short term, and long term future, hang in the balance of these two games, and it begins with the Terps NCAA Tournament resume.
For those of you keeping score at home, Maryland's overall resume to make the Tournament this year does not look good so far. They have one win against the RPI Top 50 (Butler who is 31) and their next best RPI win has been against the mighty Bucknell Bison who are ranked 100. Maryland itself is only ranked 53 in the RPI, but these next two games could give them the quality win they need to bolster their resume and it is not out of the realm of possibility that Maryland could pull off an upset. Maryland was able to keep pace with Purdue, albeit at home and with Justin Jackson, and they traded punches with Michigan State without Jackson for the first fifteen minutes until Maryland went cold and Michigan State couldn't miss. One inspiring Turgeon speech could will the Terps past one of these teams over the next few days, and it is Mark Turgeon's coaching prowess that will be on trial over the next two games as it pertains to his tenure at the University of Maryland.
Turgeon's coaching acumen has been called into question over the past two weeks, which has exacerbated the call for his removal due to his lackluster performance against big time programs in big time situations. Turgeon has been chided for Maryland's performance at the end of the game against Indiana, and for not defending the inbound pass against Michigan when the Terps were up one point with 3.2 seconds left. The Michigan loss especially hurts because Turgeon's record against Top 25 teams has not been so glamorous. If the Terps had beaten Michigan it would have been the first time Turgeon had beaten a Top 25 team in a true road game since he came to College Park. In fact, Turgeon's only win against a Top 25 team on the road (not counting neutral site games) was against LSU on November 25, 2006. Couple that with the fact that Turgeon is 7-27 against Top 25 teams since he took the Maryland job, and there is reason to be concerned about the direction of the program in College Park outside of the worry that the Terps may miss the Tournament for the first time in four years. Terps fans, though, need to gain some perspective and look at another Maryland Legend's rise to the top in order to evaluate Turgeon's tenure.
Turgeon is in his seventh year at the University of Maryland, and yet by his seventh year, one Gary Williams was in a more precarious place than Turgeon. Gary had only made two tournaments in his 6 previous years, and he had losing records in two out of his first three seasons (the last losing seasons Maryland Basketball has had). In his sixth season, though, Joe Smith was named AP National Player of the Year and the Terps won the ACC Regular Season Championship. Things were looking up for Maryland Basketball despite Joe Smith being drafted number 1 overall in 1995. Gary would follow that season up with a first round exit from the Tournament in 1996 at the hands of Santa Clara, who was led at the time by a relatively unknown Steve Nash. If the man Terps fans venerate as much as Gary Williams can have a regression, then surely Mark Turgeon can as well, and Turgeon may outpace Gary in certain areas that should have Terps fans pining to keep him around for the long term. But it is the one area that Gary outpaces Turgeon that leaves the Maryland Nation insatitaed.
Mark Turgeon has extended his career at Maryland on the basis of recruiting hype, but he needs to take the next step if he is to stay in College Park. Turgeon has been able to acquire three ESPN Top 20 recruiting classes over the past six years, and his current class is ranked 10th with one 5-Star recruit in Jalen Smith. Gary was the opposite. Gary was ridiculed for recruiting a guy named Joe Smith, but he would go on to beat a Jerry Stackhouse/Rasheed Wallace led, number 1 ranked, North Carolina squad with some guy named Joe Smith as his star player. Turgeon has not been able to translate his recruiting talents into any success against top teams that Gary did, but that could change within the next week. The games against Michigan State and Purdue could give Turgeon the signature win he needs to validate all of his recruiting success during his time at Maryland. Two bad losses, i.e. losses of 20 points or more, may begin the talks of removing Turgeon from his coaching responsibilities.
Turgeon's tenure, more than likely, automatically extends through next season. Justin Jackson's injury ensures his return for next season, and with the recruits coming in for next season Turgeon deserves at least one more year to prove himself. But two more bad losses to Top 25 teams will dictate just how much time Turgeon will be given to right the ship in College Park. Terps fans would be wise to realize, however, that after winning a Conference Championship with a National Player of the Year, Gary Williams was exited in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Turgeon has been able to attract high level recruits in a more competitive marketplace, and although his recruiting may not have translated into long term success, Turgeon deserves more time at Maryland for finally bringing a proven recruiter to College Park. If he cannot deliver a win over the next two games, though, he may be looking for a new job sooner than he thinks.
For those of you keeping score at home, Maryland's overall resume to make the Tournament this year does not look good so far. They have one win against the RPI Top 50 (Butler who is 31) and their next best RPI win has been against the mighty Bucknell Bison who are ranked 100. Maryland itself is only ranked 53 in the RPI, but these next two games could give them the quality win they need to bolster their resume and it is not out of the realm of possibility that Maryland could pull off an upset. Maryland was able to keep pace with Purdue, albeit at home and with Justin Jackson, and they traded punches with Michigan State without Jackson for the first fifteen minutes until Maryland went cold and Michigan State couldn't miss. One inspiring Turgeon speech could will the Terps past one of these teams over the next few days, and it is Mark Turgeon's coaching prowess that will be on trial over the next two games as it pertains to his tenure at the University of Maryland.
Turgeon's coaching acumen has been called into question over the past two weeks, which has exacerbated the call for his removal due to his lackluster performance against big time programs in big time situations. Turgeon has been chided for Maryland's performance at the end of the game against Indiana, and for not defending the inbound pass against Michigan when the Terps were up one point with 3.2 seconds left. The Michigan loss especially hurts because Turgeon's record against Top 25 teams has not been so glamorous. If the Terps had beaten Michigan it would have been the first time Turgeon had beaten a Top 25 team in a true road game since he came to College Park. In fact, Turgeon's only win against a Top 25 team on the road (not counting neutral site games) was against LSU on November 25, 2006. Couple that with the fact that Turgeon is 7-27 against Top 25 teams since he took the Maryland job, and there is reason to be concerned about the direction of the program in College Park outside of the worry that the Terps may miss the Tournament for the first time in four years. Terps fans, though, need to gain some perspective and look at another Maryland Legend's rise to the top in order to evaluate Turgeon's tenure.
Turgeon is in his seventh year at the University of Maryland, and yet by his seventh year, one Gary Williams was in a more precarious place than Turgeon. Gary had only made two tournaments in his 6 previous years, and he had losing records in two out of his first three seasons (the last losing seasons Maryland Basketball has had). In his sixth season, though, Joe Smith was named AP National Player of the Year and the Terps won the ACC Regular Season Championship. Things were looking up for Maryland Basketball despite Joe Smith being drafted number 1 overall in 1995. Gary would follow that season up with a first round exit from the Tournament in 1996 at the hands of Santa Clara, who was led at the time by a relatively unknown Steve Nash. If the man Terps fans venerate as much as Gary Williams can have a regression, then surely Mark Turgeon can as well, and Turgeon may outpace Gary in certain areas that should have Terps fans pining to keep him around for the long term. But it is the one area that Gary outpaces Turgeon that leaves the Maryland Nation insatitaed.
Mark Turgeon has extended his career at Maryland on the basis of recruiting hype, but he needs to take the next step if he is to stay in College Park. Turgeon has been able to acquire three ESPN Top 20 recruiting classes over the past six years, and his current class is ranked 10th with one 5-Star recruit in Jalen Smith. Gary was the opposite. Gary was ridiculed for recruiting a guy named Joe Smith, but he would go on to beat a Jerry Stackhouse/Rasheed Wallace led, number 1 ranked, North Carolina squad with some guy named Joe Smith as his star player. Turgeon has not been able to translate his recruiting talents into any success against top teams that Gary did, but that could change within the next week. The games against Michigan State and Purdue could give Turgeon the signature win he needs to validate all of his recruiting success during his time at Maryland. Two bad losses, i.e. losses of 20 points or more, may begin the talks of removing Turgeon from his coaching responsibilities.
Turgeon's tenure, more than likely, automatically extends through next season. Justin Jackson's injury ensures his return for next season, and with the recruits coming in for next season Turgeon deserves at least one more year to prove himself. But two more bad losses to Top 25 teams will dictate just how much time Turgeon will be given to right the ship in College Park. Terps fans would be wise to realize, however, that after winning a Conference Championship with a National Player of the Year, Gary Williams was exited in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Turgeon has been able to attract high level recruits in a more competitive marketplace, and although his recruiting may not have translated into long term success, Turgeon deserves more time at Maryland for finally bringing a proven recruiter to College Park. If he cannot deliver a win over the next two games, though, he may be looking for a new job sooner than he thinks.
Saturday, November 18, 2017
For Maryland Football It Is A Season of "What Ifs"
What If.....Kevin Anderson had been able to keep James Franklin as head coach. A nice trip down memory lane, but one that is more pertinent as the game against Penn State on November 25 draws closer. That game will mark the first time James Franklin will coach at Byrd Stadium since leaving Maryland for Vanderbilt in 2011, and his fortune compared to that of the Terps since that time could not be more opposite. Franklin sent a lifetime SEC doormat to three straight bowl games and consecutive nine win seasons, and he has vaulted Penn State back into the national spotlight. All it would have taken to keep Franklin in College Park was for Anderson to reassure Franklin that he would get rid of Ralph Friedgen after the 2010 season, which he ultimately did, and that Franklin was the guy to replace him. That never happened and Anderson decided to hitch his wagon to Randy Edsall. Two weeks from now Terps fans will be able to see the error in that decision staring back at them from the opposing sideline. But enough of the past, let's take a look at a "What If" that is more relevant to the here and now.
What If.....Tyrrell Pigrome and/or Kasim Hill were still playing at this point in the season. The biggest "What If" of the season because both quarterbacks showed so much promise. For two and a half quarters, Pigrome showed that he was not the diminutive chucker he was a year ago. Pigrome ran the read option to perfection, which allowed Ty Johnson and Lorenzo Harrison to run rough shot over the Texas defense. What was most impressive was how well Pigrome improved as a passer from last season, and his ability to hit receivers deep down the field. Terps fans' expectations for the season went up after every offensive snap, and they only went higher with Kasim Hill. A Freshman who could perform under pressure with a Cam Newton-like build was something that made everyone think that we could take on the likes of Ohio State and Michigan. If either could have stayed healthy it is more than likely that we would have beaten UCF, Northwestern, and Rutgers, and I still purport that with either of them at the helm we would have been within a touchdown of Ohio State, Wisconsin, or Michigan going into the fourth quarter. Alas it is all for naught, but there are still two games to play and another "What If" that Terps fans are asking themselves right now.
What If.....We beat Michigan State and/or Penn State. You need to see a doctor because someone slipped peyote into your drink. But if Max Bortenschlager or Ryan Brand can somehow find a way to win one or both of these games it will bring the theme of the season back to the idea of lost potential and "What could we have done if we had Pigrome or Hill". They would be landmark wins, but it will only mean something in the short term if the Terps can win both and be bowl eligible which seems highly unlikely. The more probable outcome is that Michigan State and Penn State beat the brakes off of the Terps. But the long term effect of staying close to either of these teams, god forbid beating either of these teams, leads into the final "What If" of this season.
What If.....All of this is a prelude to Maryland's rise to Big Ten contender status. It was the thought in everyone's mind this year after the Texas game, but it is now a thought that extends into next season. Pigrome and Hill will be coming off devastating injuries but they will be back. Right now the Terps have the 21st ranked 2018 recruiting class according to ESPN.com, and if they can hold that spot they will be rolling into next season with back to back Top 20 recruiting classes. Couple that with what Terps fans saw the first two and a half games of this season, and it is not out of the question to think that by this time next year it is possible that the Terps will be a force to be reckoned with in the Big Ten. This notion will be ignited even further if the Terps manage to win at least one of their remaining games, but the biggest thing to take away from this season is that despite all of the turmoil the Terps seem to be headed in the right direction.
All of these "What If's" cloud the fact that DJ Durkin and his staff have done an amazing job with this roster this season despite all of the injuries. The perceived potential brought about by the Texas win shows that this program is ready for upward movement into the realm of the Big Ten elites. For now, though, Terps fans must wallow in that potential of what could have been this season, and revel in the idea of what that potential could bring down the road. All of it is drive by the question "What If..?". It is the "What If" that got the Terps to this point, and one that will be personified on the visitor sideline come Thanksgiving Weekend. It is the "What If's" that will define the lost potential of this season no matter how it ends. And it is the "What If's" that give Terps fans a glimmer of hope for the future.
Sunday, April 9, 2017
Cole Field House Continues to be A Symbol of Pride
It is hard to believe that it has been 15 years since the most iconic building on Maryland's campus has hosted a Men's Basketball game. On March 3, 2002, the Maryland Men's Basketball team defeated Virginia to close out a regular season that ended with a National Championship and the closing of the beloved arena. Cole Field House meant so much to so many people that were privy to have attended an event there over it's 47 year history, and for the Terrapin Alumni (especially the Alumni who grew up in The Baltimore/Washington Metro Area) it meant so much more. It was a symbol of local pride. It was a place that was steeped in historical significance, and everyone who called themselves a Terp knew its secrets. But outsiders could not fully grasp what it meant to the Maryland alumni. It was a basketball Mecca that hosted contests that would herald the evolution of the game into what we see today. It hosted concerts and athletic events that held significance beyond the hard court. Cole Field House was a place that every Terp who grew up in this area felt proud about and made sure that those stories were passed on to the next generation.
My father, and local Maryland Alumnus, would always tell me how Cole Field House was special because it was the only on campus venue of it's size when it opened in 1955, which is why it hosted some of the biggest basketball games in the country. Everyone knows about Texas Western beating Kentucky in 1966 that would herald the integration of college basketball. Little do people know that one year earlier Cole hosted one of the most significant high school games in history. Local legend Morgan Wootten led DeMatha High School to victory over Power Memorial Academy and some guy named Lew Alcindor. Everyone growing up in the DC area knows DeMatha basketball, and that game carried clout for a local team defeating the guy who some would still call the best basketball player ever and it happened at Cole Field House. My dad would also tell me about the Maryland vs. South Carolina slow down game that was played at Cole Field House. It seems more relevant now, but South Carolina was one of the founding members of the ACC and a basketball powerhouse back in the early years of the conference. On January 9 1971, the Terps beat South Carolina in a 31-30 barn burner that was 4-3 at halftime. This was one of the classic slow down games that some point to being one of the inspirations for putting the shot clock into college basketball. These were the main stories I remember my dad telling me, but I know that other Terrapin Alumni have their stories they heard from their parents.
Some may have heard about the first ever nationally televised women's basketball game that was held at Cole in 1975. Others may have listened to how Maryland phenom Len Bias outscored Michael Jordan at Cole Field House in 1984. Some may have heard about Elvis's performance at Cole in 1974, or the Chinese National Ping Pong Team playing in America for the first time at Cole in 1973 at the behest of Richard Nixon. Most people, though, heard about the seven number one seeds that lost at Cole Field House, six of which came at the hands of the Terps, and the last one coming on Feb. 17 of that magical National Championship season. I still hold the ticket stub to that game in my wallet, and it will be the story of attending that game that I will pass on to my kids when they are old enough to understand it. Of course they will
know as much about Sheldon Williams and Mike Dunleavy Jr. as I knew about the 1971 South Carolina Gamecocks. But it was the conviction and reverence in my dad's voice when speaking about how the game was at Cole that let me know that it was more than just a basketball conversation. My father was instilling in me a sense of appreciation of the history that was a part of his life and this area that only Terp alumni who came from this area could appreciate, and that is what I intend to pass on to my kids. The significance of those stories could have waned as Cole Field House was left fallow for so many years, but the renovations of Cole Field House have rejuvenated the importance of those stories, and created new ones for a new generation.
The $155 million renovation project to Cole Field House has given new life to the historic building and once again made it a beacon for the collegiate world to follow. It will be the home to Maryland's ground breaking Sports Medicine Program and Entrepreneurship Lab, as well as being a state of the art training facility for The Maryland Athletic Teams. More importantly, it continues the tradition of Cole Field House being the gold standard for collegiate buildings. No longer will students get to see players like Len Elmore or Juan Dixon defeat hated rivals in basketball, but through its revitalization those stories hold new relevance when alumni speak to younger generations about the history of Cole Field House. The new building will also give future generations of alumni their own history to tell about how Cole Field House continues to be a symbol of innovation and pioneering. There will be classes of Alumni who will earn a cutting edge degree from the programs that will call Cole Field House their home. So when older generations go on about Cole Field House being a significant building in sports history, newer generations can respond to them by saying that because of Cole Field House their Maryland Degree means more in the real world. Cole Field House will now forever be the symbol of The University of Maryland, and the source of local pride for all the Terrapin Alumni who hail from the Baltimore-Washington area.
My father, and local Maryland Alumnus, would always tell me how Cole Field House was special because it was the only on campus venue of it's size when it opened in 1955, which is why it hosted some of the biggest basketball games in the country. Everyone knows about Texas Western beating Kentucky in 1966 that would herald the integration of college basketball. Little do people know that one year earlier Cole hosted one of the most significant high school games in history. Local legend Morgan Wootten led DeMatha High School to victory over Power Memorial Academy and some guy named Lew Alcindor. Everyone growing up in the DC area knows DeMatha basketball, and that game carried clout for a local team defeating the guy who some would still call the best basketball player ever and it happened at Cole Field House. My dad would also tell me about the Maryland vs. South Carolina slow down game that was played at Cole Field House. It seems more relevant now, but South Carolina was one of the founding members of the ACC and a basketball powerhouse back in the early years of the conference. On January 9 1971, the Terps beat South Carolina in a 31-30 barn burner that was 4-3 at halftime. This was one of the classic slow down games that some point to being one of the inspirations for putting the shot clock into college basketball. These were the main stories I remember my dad telling me, but I know that other Terrapin Alumni have their stories they heard from their parents.
Some may have heard about the first ever nationally televised women's basketball game that was held at Cole in 1975. Others may have listened to how Maryland phenom Len Bias outscored Michael Jordan at Cole Field House in 1984. Some may have heard about Elvis's performance at Cole in 1974, or the Chinese National Ping Pong Team playing in America for the first time at Cole in 1973 at the behest of Richard Nixon. Most people, though, heard about the seven number one seeds that lost at Cole Field House, six of which came at the hands of the Terps, and the last one coming on Feb. 17 of that magical National Championship season. I still hold the ticket stub to that game in my wallet, and it will be the story of attending that game that I will pass on to my kids when they are old enough to understand it. Of course they will
know as much about Sheldon Williams and Mike Dunleavy Jr. as I knew about the 1971 South Carolina Gamecocks. But it was the conviction and reverence in my dad's voice when speaking about how the game was at Cole that let me know that it was more than just a basketball conversation. My father was instilling in me a sense of appreciation of the history that was a part of his life and this area that only Terp alumni who came from this area could appreciate, and that is what I intend to pass on to my kids. The significance of those stories could have waned as Cole Field House was left fallow for so many years, but the renovations of Cole Field House have rejuvenated the importance of those stories, and created new ones for a new generation.
The $155 million renovation project to Cole Field House has given new life to the historic building and once again made it a beacon for the collegiate world to follow. It will be the home to Maryland's ground breaking Sports Medicine Program and Entrepreneurship Lab, as well as being a state of the art training facility for The Maryland Athletic Teams. More importantly, it continues the tradition of Cole Field House being the gold standard for collegiate buildings. No longer will students get to see players like Len Elmore or Juan Dixon defeat hated rivals in basketball, but through its revitalization those stories hold new relevance when alumni speak to younger generations about the history of Cole Field House. The new building will also give future generations of alumni their own history to tell about how Cole Field House continues to be a symbol of innovation and pioneering. There will be classes of Alumni who will earn a cutting edge degree from the programs that will call Cole Field House their home. So when older generations go on about Cole Field House being a significant building in sports history, newer generations can respond to them by saying that because of Cole Field House their Maryland Degree means more in the real world. Cole Field House will now forever be the symbol of The University of Maryland, and the source of local pride for all the Terrapin Alumni who hail from the Baltimore-Washington area.
Thursday, March 31, 2016
Maryland's Most Important Piece May Not Stay
Unless the Terps make at least one Final Four appearance within the next three years, Mark Turgeon may decide not to stay in College Park past his initial contract. It has been apparent in some of Turgeon's press conferences this season that he seems tired. Not that pissed off tired that comes from a losing streak, which the Terps suffered late in the season, but that dejected tired that comes from something missing in his personal life. This conjecture comes from a nugget that he gave in his press conference before the Kansas game. Around the 6:00 mark Turgeon is asked about his time at Wichita State, and he professed his love for the city of Wichita stating that his wife loves the city and it was where his kids were born. Then there is this Washington Post article by Kent Babb from June that outlines Turgeon's internal battle between his professional success and his personal life. The article describes how coaching four teams in 17 years has made Turgeon miss special moments in his kids' lives and it has moved him to tears at times. Finally, remember that Turgeon had a ton of family members come out to see the Terps play at Nebraska because Lincoln is a central point for most of his family that lives in Kansas and Iowa. All of this points to Turgeon possibly not enjoying living in this area, and not enjoying the sacrifices he makes for the Maryland program if the returns are not going to be there in the future.
Turgeon is a competitor first. He wants to win on the court more than anything, which is why he probably will not voluntarily leave for any job other than Kansas until he wins a championship here at Maryland. But the Kent Babb article talks about Turgeon's honesty being his best quality as a coach, recruiter, and father. Turgeon has three years left on his contract here at Maryland, and if there is no Final Four in that time then Turgeon may have to be honest with himself about what is best for him and his family. His statements about Wichita and his tired press conferences hint that living in this area may be taking a larger toll on him that he expected. He sees that his family is mostly located in the Midwest where he spent most of his life, and as his kids get older he may realize that it is not worth it to put himself and his family through the grind of trying to win at Maryland. All of this can be assuaged by a Final Four appearance before his contract is up in 2019. If that does not come, it is possible that Turgeon's personal life wins out over his desire for professional success and he walks away from the University of Maryland.
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
How Elitely Sweet It Is For The Terps
Kansas: A bitter sweet draw for Mark Turgeon as he will face his alma mater for the first time as the Terps' signal caller. The Jayhawks will be the toughest opponent the Terps have faced this tournament, and maybe all season, but the Terps will be Kansas's biggest challenge so far in the tournament as well. It could prove to be a high flying game, and the Terps need to be on to keep pace.
The Bad News: Maybe you haven't heard, but Kansas is the top ranked team in the tournament and for good reason. The Jayhawks like to play a patented Big 12 brand of basketball that involves taking and giving up a lot of shots. The problem for the Terps is that they make a lot of the ones that they take and they defend a lot of the ones that they give up. Kansas's regular season FG% was fifth in the nation at 49.6%, and they only gave up 39.7% to opponents. Couple those numbers with a high assist rate, a savvy senior leader in Perry Ellis, and an 82 point per game average and you get a recipe for disaster for the Terps. The Terps will be forced to move on defense against a team that can draw their forwards out of the paint with Ellis's range as a shooter, and with Maryland giving up a ton of offensive rebounds against Hawaii the Jawhawks should be licking their chops at the prospect of second chance points. Kansas's quantity approach to offensive execution could lead to a massive point differential if Maryland is soft again underneath, and if they allow Kansas's defensive style to get to them. Kansas takes intensity to the defensive end, where they are relentless on the ball defenders and like to clog the passing lanes. The Terps do not do well against high pressure defensive teams, and Maryland will be susceptible to quick point swings if they are their normal turnover prone selves. But as stated above the Terps present a unique challenge to Bill Self and the Jayhawks that they have not faced yet in this tournament.
The Good News: Kansas's flaws play right into Maryland's style of play. The Terps shot 77% from the free throw line during the regular season, and while they strayed away from getting to the line late in the season they got back there with a vengeance in the first two rounds. Kansas is all too eager to put their opponents on the charity stripe as their opponents average 21 free throws per game. If Maryland can fill that average it may slow the game down enough for Kansas to get out of rhythm, and if the Terps can hit on their season average it may offset Kansas's ability to stymie Maryland's field goal accuracy. While Kansas's defense is in your face, their losses have come from teams that are able to match their energy level. Melo can get into the lane and distribute with the best of them, and the Terps proved that they can keep pace in a track meet with their game against UNC. Granted the Terps lost that game, but hopefully they have learned something going through the Big 10 schedule. Finally, the Terps's size in the front court will give the Jayhawks fits. Carter and Layman can provide their own brand of inside/outside game to counter balance Ellis, and they both should be looking to drive the lane and draw contact. Stone needs to prove his worth on the rebounding end, and Damonte Dodd will prove to be a tough defensive mathcup for Ellis. Kansas has yet to see a team like this in the tournament, and if the Terps can start to hit on threes it could be an interesting day in Louisville.
Maryland wins if they can shoot over 25% from three, get 20 or more free throw attempts, and limit the Jayhawks to under 55 field goal attempts. Maryland loses if they allow Kansas to be +10 or better in the rebounding margin, they have over 13 turnovers, and they allow Kansas to shoot over 20% from three. Here's hoping the Terps are able to do the latter and stay in Kentucky for two more days.
The Bad News: Maybe you haven't heard, but Kansas is the top ranked team in the tournament and for good reason. The Jayhawks like to play a patented Big 12 brand of basketball that involves taking and giving up a lot of shots. The problem for the Terps is that they make a lot of the ones that they take and they defend a lot of the ones that they give up. Kansas's regular season FG% was fifth in the nation at 49.6%, and they only gave up 39.7% to opponents. Couple those numbers with a high assist rate, a savvy senior leader in Perry Ellis, and an 82 point per game average and you get a recipe for disaster for the Terps. The Terps will be forced to move on defense against a team that can draw their forwards out of the paint with Ellis's range as a shooter, and with Maryland giving up a ton of offensive rebounds against Hawaii the Jawhawks should be licking their chops at the prospect of second chance points. Kansas's quantity approach to offensive execution could lead to a massive point differential if Maryland is soft again underneath, and if they allow Kansas's defensive style to get to them. Kansas takes intensity to the defensive end, where they are relentless on the ball defenders and like to clog the passing lanes. The Terps do not do well against high pressure defensive teams, and Maryland will be susceptible to quick point swings if they are their normal turnover prone selves. But as stated above the Terps present a unique challenge to Bill Self and the Jayhawks that they have not faced yet in this tournament.
The Good News: Kansas's flaws play right into Maryland's style of play. The Terps shot 77% from the free throw line during the regular season, and while they strayed away from getting to the line late in the season they got back there with a vengeance in the first two rounds. Kansas is all too eager to put their opponents on the charity stripe as their opponents average 21 free throws per game. If Maryland can fill that average it may slow the game down enough for Kansas to get out of rhythm, and if the Terps can hit on their season average it may offset Kansas's ability to stymie Maryland's field goal accuracy. While Kansas's defense is in your face, their losses have come from teams that are able to match their energy level. Melo can get into the lane and distribute with the best of them, and the Terps proved that they can keep pace in a track meet with their game against UNC. Granted the Terps lost that game, but hopefully they have learned something going through the Big 10 schedule. Finally, the Terps's size in the front court will give the Jayhawks fits. Carter and Layman can provide their own brand of inside/outside game to counter balance Ellis, and they both should be looking to drive the lane and draw contact. Stone needs to prove his worth on the rebounding end, and Damonte Dodd will prove to be a tough defensive mathcup for Ellis. Kansas has yet to see a team like this in the tournament, and if the Terps can start to hit on threes it could be an interesting day in Louisville.
Maryland wins if they can shoot over 25% from three, get 20 or more free throw attempts, and limit the Jayhawks to under 55 field goal attempts. Maryland loses if they allow Kansas to be +10 or better in the rebounding margin, they have over 13 turnovers, and they allow Kansas to shoot over 20% from three. Here's hoping the Terps are able to do the latter and stay in Kentucky for two more days.
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
Meet The Candidates for Maryland's Head Football Coaching Position
This weekend's loss at Iowa officially allowed Maryland fans to classify this season as a dumpster fire. It took our leading receiver three catches to amass 18 yards, our leading rusher was our quarterback, and it took another Will Likely special teams return to make the score look more respectable than it really was. This was the latest installment of an offense that ranks 110th in the nation in average yards per game, 113th in passing yards per game, and dead last in turnover margin and interceptions thrown. These numbers should have the Kevins (Anderson and Plank) looking to hire a coach who is going to give a shot in the arm to the side of the ball that puts the proverbial butts in the seats. So here is a review of the candidates SweetDCSports believes the Kevins are looking at to skipper The USS Turtle Tears out of troubled waters in 2016 starting with the current steward of the throne.
Mike Locksley
I'm sure the Kevins are having a long and hard discussion about whether or not to hire Locksley as their head coach. And why not? He has brought top level talent from the DC area to every school he has coached, and he revitalized the perception that Maryland cannot recruit when he was rehired in 2011 and promptly landed top level recruits like Stefon Diggs. The problem has been in talent development, especially at the quarterback position. Under Locksley's tenure the Terps ran Danny O'Brien out of town a year after he was named the ACC Freshman of the Year. C.J. Brown was a dual threat helped out by a slew of medical redshirts and Stefon Diggs not leaving after his sophomore season. And now it falls to the Locksley recruited Perry Hills who has thrown 10 interceptions in 5 games this season. There has not been a lot of growth from the quarterbacks position under a guy whose title is offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach, and Shane Cockerille's move from QB to fullback should give the Kevins pause about what they can expect from Dwayne Haskins if Locksley is allowed to continue as head coach. In my mind they should be looking elsewhere, but Locksley will be a strong candidate until the end due to his ability to recruit and his ties to the DC area.
With that out of the way, here are the head coaches who the Kevins should be desperately seeking:
Matt Rhule (Temple)
I must admit that I was unaware of Temple's rapid rise to college football relevance until this past weekend. Now, everyone knows Matt Rhule's name as he is on the short list for every coaching job East of the Mississippi regardless of whether that position is vacant or not. The Kevins should be taking a long hard look at this guy because he possesses a lot of qualities they desire. First, he is a reported hands on recruiter with a pension for details. He was able to land the second best recruiting class in the AAC after winning only two games his first season. Second, he is a noted players coach who has had experience at all levels of football. He is active in social media, and he was the offensive line coach for the Giants before taking the Temple position in 2012. Finally, he is a young coach who played in the Big 10, he has Under Armour ties (Temple is sponsored by Under Armour), he has placed Temple in the Top 25, and he came within two minutes of defeating a Top 10 Notre Dame team. The negatives are there. Temple's offensive yardage per game is worse than Maryland's. Temple plays in a weaker conference, which could account for their defense being ranked 28th in the country. And we recently saw the Temple Project Part 1 starring Al Golden come to an inglorious end in Miami. Despite these shortcomings, Rhule should be getting daily calls from the Kevins about coming to College Park.
Matt Campbell (Toledo)
The second youngest FBS coach at 35 years old, Campbell has done an amazing job at Toledo in only a short period of time. He is 33-13 in his three plus seasons at Toledo, and the Rockets are 7-0 this season on the backs of a relatively balanced team that is ranked 24th in total offense and 51st in total defense. Some may point to Campbell's emphasis on discipline and manners as being a younger version of Randy Edsall, but the Kevins should at least throw a line in Campbell's direction. Campbell is described as a relentless competitor who is straightforward in his personal approach with players and who knows the type of players he wants to recruit for each position. Campbell developed his notion of an offensive system after studying Urban Meyer's spread offense as a graduate assistant at Bowling Green. Maybe his old offensive coordinator at Bowling Green, Greg Studrawa, could convince him to finally leave the state of Ohio seeing is how Studrawa is the current offensive line coach at Maryland. The Kevins should use that leverage, along with Toledo being outfitted by Under Armour, to gauge Campbell's interest in coming further east but buyer beware. Campbell has vehemently expressed his desire to build the Toledo program further, and he has no coaching experience outside of the state of Ohio or outside of any conference bigger than the MAC. He was turned off by his experience as a freshman at Pitt, so while his success in the MAC is tantalizing he may not be ready for the rigors of what the Kevins are expecting the new head coach to bring to Maryland. Campbell is still an intriguing candidate and he should be worth a look.
Justin Fuente (Memphis)
Fuente may be more of a longshot for Maryland, but he definitely has the highest pedigree of the three. The mastermind behind TCU's air raid offense and Andy Dalton's rise to stardom, he parlayed his success as TCU's offensive coordinator into a head coaching position for a 2-10 Memphis team. Fuente has since turned Memphis into an 8-0 team that finds itself ranked 13th in the College Football Playoff Ranking and 6th in total offense in the country. What is more impressive than these results is the way Fuente was able to accomplish these feats at a school that was a college football backwater located at the confluence of Big 10, Big 12, and SEC recruiting grounds. Fuente weathered the storm in his first two seasons as the Tigers won only seven games while he tried to bring in the right personnel to run his air raid scheme. His patience and determination paid off with a 10-3 record last season and a flawless campaign so far this season. Some will point to the luck involved in Memphis's success this season as their star QB was mostly overlooked coming out of high school. Others will say that Fuente's recruitment of Paxton Lynch is a sign of his ability to know what type of players will fit his offense. Whatever it is, the Kevins will need to drive a hard bargain as South Carolina and Miami sound like more suitable places for a coach from Big 12 country that has not had any football experience north of Kentucky. Fuente has also has seen what happens to coaches who like to run spread offenses in the Big 10 (see Rich Rodriguez at Michigan). But Maryland's new Cole Field House renovations coupled with some financial convincing and Maryland being below the Mason-Dixon Line may get Fuente to give Maryland a second look.
Honorable mention goes to Bowling Green's Dino Babers. Maryland got a first hand look at what Babers can do as they were on the business end of Bowling Green's spread offense this season. Babers is on the older side at 54, but if all else fails it may not be a huge loss to take a flyer on an older guy who is a prodigy of Art Briles. And yes, if Chip Kelly can be got we should not blink at the opportunity to get him. But looking at the three candidates listed above, I think Rhule would be the number one option even over Chip Kelly. A seasoned veteran from Pennsylvania who is a players coach and has a passion to win and recruit. My vote is for Rhule if we can get him.
Mike Locksley
With that out of the way, here are the head coaches who the Kevins should be desperately seeking:
Matt Rhule (Temple)
Matt Campbell (Toledo)
Justin Fuente (Memphis)
Fuente may be more of a longshot for Maryland, but he definitely has the highest pedigree of the three. The mastermind behind TCU's air raid offense and Andy Dalton's rise to stardom, he parlayed his success as TCU's offensive coordinator into a head coaching position for a 2-10 Memphis team. Fuente has since turned Memphis into an 8-0 team that finds itself ranked 13th in the College Football Playoff Ranking and 6th in total offense in the country. What is more impressive than these results is the way Fuente was able to accomplish these feats at a school that was a college football backwater located at the confluence of Big 10, Big 12, and SEC recruiting grounds. Fuente weathered the storm in his first two seasons as the Tigers won only seven games while he tried to bring in the right personnel to run his air raid scheme. His patience and determination paid off with a 10-3 record last season and a flawless campaign so far this season. Some will point to the luck involved in Memphis's success this season as their star QB was mostly overlooked coming out of high school. Others will say that Fuente's recruitment of Paxton Lynch is a sign of his ability to know what type of players will fit his offense. Whatever it is, the Kevins will need to drive a hard bargain as South Carolina and Miami sound like more suitable places for a coach from Big 12 country that has not had any football experience north of Kentucky. Fuente has also has seen what happens to coaches who like to run spread offenses in the Big 10 (see Rich Rodriguez at Michigan). But Maryland's new Cole Field House renovations coupled with some financial convincing and Maryland being below the Mason-Dixon Line may get Fuente to give Maryland a second look.
Honorable mention goes to Bowling Green's Dino Babers. Maryland got a first hand look at what Babers can do as they were on the business end of Bowling Green's spread offense this season. Babers is on the older side at 54, but if all else fails it may not be a huge loss to take a flyer on an older guy who is a prodigy of Art Briles. And yes, if Chip Kelly can be got we should not blink at the opportunity to get him. But looking at the three candidates listed above, I think Rhule would be the number one option even over Chip Kelly. A seasoned veteran from Pennsylvania who is a players coach and has a passion to win and recruit. My vote is for Rhule if we can get him.
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
Jake Layman Needs to be Maryland's #1
Rasheed Sulaimon will hopefully fill the scoring void left by Dez Wells. Robert Carter will provide a 6'9" 250lb force that averaged 11 points and 8 rebounds for Georgia Tech two years ago. Diamond Stone should be a nice compliment to Carter in the paint as one of the highest recruited freshman in the country. Jared Nickens will be the young sharp shooter the Terps will look to make the big shots in clutch situations. Melo Trimble will do what Melo Trimble does and just go HAM for the Terps in every facet of the game. But lost in all the fervor of transfers, recruits, and preseason number one seedings is someone who needs to be the heart and soul of this team if they are to live up to the preseason hype. That person is Jake Layman.
Jake Layman decided to return to Maryland for his senior year, which follows the track record of his loyalty to the program. Not but one year ago Layman witnessed all the members of his recruiting class, plus Nick Faust and Roddy Peters, transfer leaving the Terps in a tough situation as far a backcourt depth was concerned. Layman may not have had any intentions of transferring, but there has always been rumblings about him leaving for the NBA ever since he arrived in College Park. After enduring two years of not making the NCAA tournament, seeing his team significantly regress in his sophomore year, and subsequently having five key contributors leave the program, Layman had every right to call it a career at Maryland and try his luck in the NBA Draft. But he didn't. Layman returned to have the best statistical season of his college career, and the Terps showed everyone that the transfers were of no consequence to their ultimate aspirations. Layman has been there through the thick and thin of Mark Turgeon's tenure and he needs to provide the statistical, and more importantly, the emotional leadership that is necessary for a deeper run in the NCAA tournament in 2015.
Layman has the largest investment in the Terps success out of any player on the roster this season. A big season means a bigger spotlight on his eventual foray into the NBA Draft, and it means that his decision to stay for his senior year was not in vain. It means his four years of dedication to this program came to fruition in the form of a Conference Championship or Final Four appearance. But Layman will not see these successes if he does not embody the Terps' drive to get there. He has seen what adversity looks like in an NCAA program, and he has fought long and hard to overcome that adversity by sticking with a program that now finds itself at the subjective top of College Basketball. In order to live up to that billing Layman must channel the likes of Greivis Vasquez and Juan Dixon and be the personified image of Maryland's drive for success on the court. Layman needs to demand the ball in pressure situations. He needs to be the guy who gets the big basket when all seems lost. He needs to pick other players up when they think they are having a bad game. He needs to be that emotional leader on the court because he is the only guy on the roster who knows what a struggle it has been for this team over the past three seasons. If he can be that kind of leader, Jake Layman and the Terps may be cutting down the nets on their way to Houston come March.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)