Feature photo courtesy of Maryland Athletics.
Head coach Mark Turgeon has noted several times early in the season that the Maryland Terrapins were not together during the summer. Point guard Melo Trimble was travelling with the U.S. Pan American Team, while center Diamond Stone and guard Rasheed Sulaimon had not yet arrived.
But since preseason workouts, the team has been together. That has Turgeon and his team feeling good before the team’s game against Georgetown as they hope to grow even more on Tuesday.
“We had a really good practice yesterday,” Turgeon said on Monday. “We got a lot better yesterday.”
Forward Robert Carter Jr. said the team’s upcoming game against Georgetown can be used to expand on that.
“Just go out there and play together,” he said. “This will be a big win for us, like any other win. It will help our confidence even more and we’ll keep taking steps to our overall goals.”
On Tuesday, Carter Jr. and the No. 3 Terps (1-0) will look to continue to make strides as the visiting Hoyas (0-1) hope to rebound from a surprising loss.
Late in the first half of the Terps’ 80-56 victory over Mount St. Mary’s on Friday, the Mountaineers went on a 18-8 run that brought them within six.
“Between games you can make huge jumps. I was pleased with the way we played Friday,” Turgeon said. “The thing I was pleased with is they made a run at us, and we just stayed calm and played with poise and continued to execute.”
While the Terps finished strong, the Hoyas couldn’t say the same the next day. They posted 80 points in a losing effort to Radford.
The Hoyas fell to the Highlanders 82-80 in double overtime, starting their season with a disappointing loss.
Not focusing on their opponent’s struggles, the Terps will look to duplicate their success on Tuesday.
“I think playing in an atmosphere like it will be tomorrow, it definitely gets you stronger as a team,” forward Jake Layman said.
Turgeon said the early season tilt will provide the Terps with an opportunity to learn more about themselves as a team.
“We watch film and we learn a lot about ourselves,” Turgeon said. “We get better every time we step on the court.”
The Terps will step onto the court in front of another likely sell-out crowd at home on Tuesday. After a strong showing in their opener on Friday and a positive practice on Sunday, confidence is growing.
“I’m more much more confident today than I was a week ago, and much more confident today than I was two weeks ago,” Turgeon said.
About The Opponent – Georgetown Hoyas (0-1, 0-0 Big East)
- Last game: 82-80 double overtime loss vs. Radford
- Players to watch
- PG D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera (Sr.): Named to the preseason Bob Cousy Award for best point guard watch list, Smith-Rivera is in his fourth season with the Hoyas. Smith-Rivera has appeared in all but one game and has begun his third year as starter. Last season he led Georgetown and ranked fourth in scoring in the Big East with 16.3 points per game.
- C Bradley Hayes (Sr.): The 7-feet, 275-pound center posted a double-double in the team’s loss on Saturday with 19 points and 12 rebounds. In addition to leading the team in points and rebounds, Hayes also led the way from the field as he made seven of nine field goals.
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