Terps Look Forward to ACC Play After Exams
As the first part of the new basketball season comes to a close and as the students prepare for exams, the Terps received more than a passing grade. They weathered a tough storm after being beaten by Gonzaga and Georgetown in the Old Spice Tournament. They bounced back to defeat Michigan this past week and GW in the BB&T Classic this weekend. The local tournament has proved to be a tough challenge the past few years.
Two wins against Big Ten schools Michigan State & Michigan should help down the road when selection Sunday occurs on an individual level, but should also elevate the ACC conference when determining a choice between the two possible bubble teams from these conferences to enter the NCAA Tournament. The narrow victory versus Michigan looks good on the resume after Michigan defeated Duke as long as MD continues to defeat the teams they should beat and win some key games in the ACC.
So far the Terps have avoided some devastating early losses to teams that has haunted them the past few seasons and need to carry the momentum into the ACC portion of the schedule. With the expectations so low this season, the Terps can ill afford to prove the critics right by losing to bad team s or by having heartbreaking losses against top teams.
The Terps should look to maintain an up tempo game to minimize their weaknesses in a half court game as they lack the size and low post game they've had in prior seasons. With so much talent in the back court, the three guard rotation doesn't possess sharp shooters but a good mix of skills that can break a team down. If the Terps can run other teams into the ground after made and missed free throws to wear them down and create some simple one on one matchup problems, the offense should have less difficulties scoring.
An up tempo game should maximize the talent of Milbourne who seems to shy away from some of the hard half court contact. It would also create more confidence for Gregory who already appears to have some of the same fire and intensity of Juan Dixon and Lonnie Baxter. Gregory didn't back down against Michigan as he took the tough contact in the paint and threw down a dunk amid lots of contact. His desire and intensity will be needed as the road through the ACC schedule is quickly approaching. Conference play should be very exciting and competitive from top to bottom this year.
