Md Terps Basketball...

fredp45 · Post by **fredp45** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 6:01 pm

....since their football team stinks!

(I tried to post this to the Blog forum but realized only the big shots can do that...)

I watched the Terps Midnight Madness last night on Comcast. This is the time to be excited over both the woman's team and men's team. The woman will be good, barring injuries...no questions there.

The men...I saw energy and enthusiam from their 2 new guards (Hayes and Vasquez) last night and that gives me hope. For them to be a really good team, and one that returns to the NCAA tournament, their seniors must come through, finally.

Senior Mike Jones -- He has the build of a NBA shooting guard - 6'5" 205 lbs It's almost as if Gary hasn't wanted him in the game -- maybe that's because he doesn't trust him or he doesn't like that he plays only average defense. He's not a great ball on defender or doesn't seem to put the effort into it. He has a super shooting touch and can jump through the roof. He just disappears for stretchs and I can't figure out why. He needs to beecome a good scorer, not just a good shooter. ala, Juan Dixon.

Senior Will Bowers -- He'll never be a starting caliber center, but maybe he's a guy who comes off the bench and gives them 10-15 mins of solid play. He won't play much against quicker smaller teams. He's a big guy at 7'1" so if nothing else, he can control the paint in short bursts. From what I can tell, he's too nice on the floor...Gary needs to feed him gunpowder. If only I could have been 7'1"!!

Senior Parrish Brown -- I liked him last year, Gary didn't play him as much as I thought he might. When he played, we had a true point guard in the game. He's instant speed and energy but maybe Gary didn't feel he could guard other pg's in the ACC. Again, another player who needs to play well during his limited actiom (8-10 mins a game) and if nothing else, bring the energy level up a notch.

Senior Ekene Ibekwe -- E-kenny needs to be the guy Md thought he was when they brought him from CA. He's a very long guy at 6'9" -- apparently has put on 10 lbs of muscle. Hopefully, his stint this summer playing with NBA bound guys will help him out. He is NOT a good player in a setup offense and he has a terrible shot (in fact, it's one of the weirdest shots I've ever seen), but plays as well as anyone on the break. He should never touch the ball more than 15 feet from the basket. I scream, "pass it" ever time he receives a pass at the top of the key! He doesn't appear to have any idea that (1) moving your feet without dribbling is not allowed in college ball; and (2) stepping on the little white line under the basket is bad. Seriously, if he can become an inside presence, we go a long way this year. He doesn't need to score a lot though, just rebound, block shots, play tough defense, and get out on the break.

Senior D.J. Strawberry -- Played pg last year and shouldn't have. He's a shooting guard or small forward ONLY. Thank goodness they have guys who can play pg this year. He will be a much more effective player at #2 or #3. He doesn't have a good shot, but it has improved over his years at Md. He is an excellent player on the break and plays great man on defense. I like his game when the tempo is fast paced. He and Mike Jones would be good complimentary players. DJ brings a serious amount of energy and loves the game. Playing with the NBA bound guys this summer hopefully helped him out. He's a good sized kid at 6-5 200 lbs. I see him elevating his game this year.

Senior Gini Chukura -- When I went to Md, we had Brian Magget who all the fans wanted to see. This guy will not play, except early in the year when they play their softer schedule. Went to school with fellow Terp - Gist at Good Counsel, in Wheaton Md only a few miles from College Park.

Soph Dave Neal -- A forward from McLean, Va. He's a big fella and might get bigger as he gets older. He's 6'7" 255 now. Will play a limited role. Will bang, has a nice shot and appears quicker than his 250 lbs. Won't be a factor against quicker teams.

Junior James Gist -- He's a big forward 6'8" 225 lbs who can run the floor and flat out jump. He did not play well as a Soph (on the other hand -- who did play well last year?) I see James being a super player for Md. An explosive guy who needs to continue to get bigger and continue to improve his shooting. He plays good agressive defense and will be a major factor on the team this year. I'm not one to overstate things but I'll go out on the limb here -- With more work, this guy becomes a Lennie Bias (without the drugs). You heard it here!

New guys:
FR Landon Milbourne -- 6'7" 210 lb Forward from Oak Hill Academy
JR Bambale Osby -- 6'8" 250 lb Forward from Paris JC in Texas (Jr College Transfer).
FR Greivis Vasquez -- 6'5" 195 from Montrose Christian in Rockville, Md.
FR Jerome Burney 6'9" 210 lb Forward from Atlanta, GA
FR Eric Hayes Guard 6'3" 175 lb guard from Dumfries, VA

Like every year for the past 35 years, I really look forward to the Terps season. I'm betting that they'll be back in the NCAA tournament this year. In fact, I see enough talent here for this team to not only make the Final 32 but the Sweet 16. Going much further is iffy unless they get a few breaks or a few of their seniors really step it up!

Enjoy the year, I will!

frankcal20 · Post by **frankcal20** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 6:02 pm

They are going to suck....ha ha ha....go wolfpack

Jake · Post by **Jake** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 6:13 pm

fredp45 wrote:Senior Mike Jones -- He has the build of a NBA shooting guard - 6'5" 205 lbs It's almost as if Gary hasn't wanted him in the game -- maybe that's because he doesn't trust him or he doesn't like that he plays only average defense. He's not a great ball on defender or doesn't seem to put the effort into it. He has a super shooting touch and can jump through the roof. He just disappears for stretchs and I can't figure out why. He needs to beecome a good scorer, not just a good shooter. ala, Juan Dixon.

Who?

fredp45 · Post by **fredp45** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 8:28 pm

Jake -- You said, WHO?

I can't tell if you're serious or being funny...that's a problem with the written word.

Jake · Post by **Jake** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 10:02 pm

fredp45 wrote:Jake -- You said, WHO?

I can't tell if you're serious or being funny...that's a problem with the written word.

It was supposed to be funny.

redskinz4ever · Post by **redskinz4ever** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 9:25 am

GO TARHEELS ........thank god basketball season is almost here.

gay4pacman · Post by **gay4pacman** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 2:43 pm

the terps should be legit. I missed the midnight madness but I am intrigued to see how gist plays this year. I feel like he can be an impact player in the mold of wilcox. With Paulas out for a while the terps can step their game up and finally make some ground in the ACC.

Irn-Bru · Post by **Irn-Bru** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 3:13 pm

Great post, fredp45. I love Terps basketball, and it's been a tough few years for us. I didn't know much about this year's team, so thanks for doing this write-up.

gay4pacman · Post by **gay4pacman** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 11:31 am

I think a good question is if Gary Williams will sweat through all of his suits before the ACC tourney.

HailSkins94 · Post by **HailSkins94** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 12:13 pm

I actually think they looked pretty terrible in that scrimmage now granted they werent playing any defense.

Skins Fan in Indy · Post by **Skins Fan in Indy** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 8:27 pm

Great Post fredp45

.

I just hope they play with emotion and no let downs this year. The returning guys have alot to prove and they will be ready.

0421kidwell · Post by **0421kidwell** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 3:10 pm

Skins Fan in Indy wrote:Great Post fredp45 .

I just hope they play with emotion and no let downs this year. The returning guys have alot to prove and they will be ready.

the terps have a easy schedule 13 crap games should be guaranteed wins they need 20 they will go 20-12, and the will be in the ncaa tournament.

fredp45 · Post by **fredp45** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 10:39 pm

Actually, their schedule is harder than last years. They won again tonight against St. John's by 30.

They play either Michigan State or Texas tomorrow. They play Illinois, NDame, Iona, Sienna before their ACC schedule begins. They beat Vermont and they turned around and beat BC over the weekend.

I can see them winning at least 22 this year. THey'll be back to the NCAA and will do pretty well...

Based on the way they're playing now, there are teams in the ACC that won't want to play them!

John Manfreda · Post by **John Manfreda** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 12:03 am

R u crazy? Maryland is 8-2 and is competing for the ACC championship in football. Do u even follow college football?

Jake · Post by **Jake** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 8:26 am

[

Terps win Coaches vs. Cancer Classic Championship.

Hopefully this is just one of three titles they will win this year. Go Terps!

fredp45 · Post by **fredp45** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 12:15 am

I went to MD back in the late 70's and early 80's. Basketball was everything back then. The football team was ok, but not too exciting. I do enjoy watching Md football but I just love Terps b-ball. It's right up there with the Skins... If the Skins were playing when Md was playing b-ball, I'd be flipping back and forth big time!

By the way, this years team is looking a lot like a Gary Wms team. I'm now convinced that the 2001 recuriting class was poison -- Gilchrist, McCray, Caner-Medley and Garrision. They never reached their potential. There was just something wrong with that group.

Go Terps (football and b-ball)!!!!

Irn-Bru · Post by **Irn-Bru** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 11:21 am

fredp45 wrote:By the way, this years team is looking a lot like a Gary Wms team. I'm now convinced that the 2001 recuriting class was poison -- Gilchrist, McCray, Caner-Medley and Garrision. They never reached their potential. There was just something wrong with that group.

I agree. Gilchrist never had the tools to be a top player in the nation. He showed great heart and leadership at times (like when we won the ACC), but I was never too impressed with him. Caner-Medley spent his entire career in "he'll be amazing some day" mode, which was really exciting when he was a freshman and sophomore but not so hot following that. This year things can be different, though. . .

GO TERPS!!

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