Overall record: 25-13, 8-10 in the ACC
Head coach: Mark Turgeon
Tenure at Maryland: Third season
Career coaching record: 292-187
Home court: Comcast Center
Starters: C Shaquille Cleare, F Evan Smotrycz, F Jake Layman, G Nick Faust, G Dez Wells
Bench: G Roddy Peters, F Charles Mitchell
Overview: Maryland brings back an experienced squad for its final season in the ACC before moving to the Big Ten. The Terrapins were 25-13 last year—their winningest season since 2007—and lost only two starters. In addition, Maryland won five of its last seven games, including a surprise 83-74 upset of the Blue Devils at the Comcast Center.
Although center Alex Len—who led the team in rebounds and blocks and averaged almost 12 points per game—was selected by the Phoenix Suns as the No. 5 overall pick in the NBA draft, the Terrapins are returning leading scorer Dez Wells. Maryland will rely heavily on Wells, who transferred from Xavier two years ago and averaged 13.1 points per game last season, scoring a career-high 30 points in the win against the Blue Devils.
Point guard Seth Allen fractured his foot in late October and will be out for at least eight weeks, complicating the Terrapins’ starting lineup. Although Allen only started seven games last season, he averaged almost eight points per game and was expected to take a bigger role in the lineup this season. Without Allen in the lineup, Wells will likely run the point for head coach Mark Turgeon, despite turning the ball over 108 times last season. Rounding out the rest of starting lineup are guard Nick Faust, sophomore forward Jake Layman, sophomore center Shaquille Cleare as well as Michigan transfer Evan Smotrycz.
One thing that needs to go right: Led by Smotryz, Maryland's revitalized frontcourt improves despite Len's departure and continues to dominate the inside.
One thing that could go wrong: Allen’s injury leaves the Terrapins with no proven scorers off the bench and the unit fails to play competitively enough through ACC season.
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