MD Survives Upset Bid From Monmouth

Playing without Senior Dez Wells (broken wrist) for the first time; the University of Maryland Terrapins survived an upset bid from the Monmouth Hawks.

(You can discuss this on the BSL Board here.)

Quick Hits:

1) Playing without Wells is an adjustment for the roster. You lose a scorer, his leadership, his creating for others, his defense, his rebounding. Not having him available showed. Still, this game was closer than anticipated.

2) You can argue that MD being tested by Monmouth is better for the roster in the long-run, than if the Terps had just ran away with things. (With 2 minutes remaining in the 1st half, it had been a 16 point MD lead.) The first game without Wells figured to be the most difficult. The offensive play should improve in the next Month.

3) It’s great having a PG that is money from the foul line. Trimble finished with 24 points (going 13 of 14 from the line), with 5 boards, 3 assists, and a steal.

4) In his first game back, Smotrycz led MD with 6 rebounds.

5) Pack’s tough stretch continued, with the NCA&T transfer again missing each of his FG attempts (0-4). Including the CBE HOF Classic, Pack was 0-12 in the three games this week. MD is going to need him to provide some level of scoring.

6) Maryland won on the boards 31-28. Considering the height (and athletic advantages) the Terps had; this differential should have been more pronounced.

7) The Terps made just 17 of their 45 FG attempts (37.8%).  From 3, MD was 6 of 19. Trimble’s FT shooting helped MD go 21 of 26 from the charity stripe overall.

8) Layman finished with 14 points (4 of 10 from the floor, 5 of 6 at the line). He also had 4 boards, 1 assist, and 1 steal.

9) Nickens added 8 off the bench (3 of 5 from the floor, 2 of 4 from 3). You get the feeling he is going to have plenty of opportunities these next few weeks.

10) Maryland finished with 10 turnovers.

11) Dodd and Graham started together tonight. Like he has in several previous games, Graham scored a couple of times early with aggressive moves – before becoming a non-factor as the game progressed. Dodd has had positive moments / games so far in this young season, but he was a ghost in his 11 minutes tonight.

12) Cekovsky’s confidence seems to be growing game-to-game. Couple of times he blew past defenders. 4 points, 5 boards, 1 assist, 1 block.  He’s just scratching the surface of a bright future.

13) Wiley was 1-5, 0 for 3 from 3.

14) On Sunday, Maryland closes out November vs. VMI. The Keydets are 13th Nationally in PPG, so it figures to be an open court affair. Lots of running, lots of opportunities for numerous players on the MD roster to put up some points. Overall, it represents another chance for MD to prepare for hosting #8 Virginia next Wednesday.

Thoughts on the Wells Injury

The Wells injury is unfortunate. The primary issue in-my-opinion is that the players will be adjusting to playing without him, and then have to adjust again when he returns. Both can be done, but continuity in the rotation, and player usage would clearly be better.

Beating Virginia, and Oklahoma State becomes that much more difficult. The issue there being that those are additional opportunities to add to the out-of-conference resume. If you lose those games, the Selection Committee figures to consider Wells absence though. What can not happen in the interim is a loss against one of these cupcakes. In that regard, credit to MD for not completing wilting when pressed tonight vs. the Hawks.

Without Wells, and with Smotrycz back and getting time at the 4, Layman will be getting more time back at the 3.  There is also increasing minutes available for Nickens, and Wiley.

The biggest issue I saw tonight without having Wells available, was MD missing that additional player able to create for himself, and for others.

My hope is that Wells can return 12/26 vs. Oakland, giving him (and MD) at-least one game with him back prior to facing Michigan State in East Lansing on the 30th.