Nov 13, 2008 9:13 pm US/Eastern
For A Change, Maryland In Position To Overachieve
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) ―
While failing to qualify for the NCAA tournament in three of the last four seasons, the Maryland basketball team often failed to fulfill high expectations was guilty of taking lesser opponents too lightly.
Neither shortcoming should be an issue this year.
The loss of Bambale Osby and James Gist left Maryland woefully short in the frontcourt, both in size and experience.
The roster contains six sophomores and three freshmen, and the squad's only senior owns a 1.6 career scoring average.
That explains why Maryland was picked to finish seventh in the Atlantic Coast Conference preseason poll, and why overconfidence shouldn't be a problem for the rebuilding Terrapins.
Still, coach Gary Williams enters his 20th season with hopes of watching this team develop into something special.
"I think one of the thrills as a coach is the people that you coach, and I am really thrilled with the people we have in our program," Williams said. "They are willing to work and I think they set really high goals for themselves. They want to have an outstanding team, and our job as coaches is to make sure we do everything to make that happen."
For Maryland to succeed, the backcourt of Greivis Vasquez and Eric Hayes need to be protective of the basketball and 6-foot-8 sophomore center Braxton Dupree must be effective in the paint.
Dupree will get some help from forwards Landon Milbourne and Dino Gregory, but it's likely the Terrapins will be outrebounded on most nights.
That won't necessarily be a disaster if Vasquez, the team's leading scorer last year, and Hayes, a solid playmaker, can keep the offense in gear.
"We're going to play maybe four guards because we lack big guys. Duke did that last year and they won a lot of games," Vasquez noted. "I think we have quickness, toughness, a lot of things. We realize we can do some good things, and anything can happen. It's about being ready to play."
The process begins Friday night in the season opener at home against Bucknell.
This Maryland team is designed to improve as the season develops, so the Terrapins need to take advantage of the 15 games that come before the beginning of ACC play.
There can be no letdowns. Home losses to American and Ohio, as well as a late collapse in a defeat against Clemson, spoiled Maryland's bid to reach the NCAA tournament last season.
The Terps went 19-15, including 8-8 in the ACC, but a 1-5 finish preceded a disappointing trip to the NIT.
"I think it's a matter of playing hard every day," said Dupree, who dropped 20 pounds during the offseason. "Sometimes we didn't come to play every day last year and we ended up with losses to American, Ohio and teams like that. If we come ready to play every game, we won't have to worry about that."
Enthusiasm shouldn't be an issue. Senior David Neal may not be a point-scoring machine, but he's a worthy co-captain with Vasquez and Milbourne.
"I feel like it's my team because I've been here four years and know the ropes," Neal said. "Most people their senior year, they're like the star player. They come out and play 30 minutes and score the most points. I'm not going to be that player. But I'm going to be the player to keep my team motivated, keep my team energized in practice and when we play a lesser opponent."
The Terps aren't expected to fare well, but assistant coach Keith Booth knows a thing or two about what Williams can do with this kind of team.
"My freshman year (1994-95) we were picked to finish last in the ACC and we ended up going to the Sweet 16," Booth said. "Check coach Williams' track record. Teams like this really stand out in his mind. He understands what we have on this team, and he's as excited as when I was a freshman."
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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