Terps Q&A with Mike DeCourcy, Sporting News

Tonight Terps fans will get the opportunity to see Coach Turgeon on the sideline for the first time, as Maryland hosts Northwood in an Exhibition. The season will then start officially on the 13^th against UNC Wilmington.

To help preview the season, Baltimore Sports and Life has spoken with Mike DeCourcy, who covers College Basketball for Sporting News.

You can find his work at:
http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-basketball

You can find DeCourcy on Twitter at:
http://twitter.com/#!/tsnmike

Baltimore Sports and Life thanks Mr. DeCourcy for answering a few questions.

Baltimore Sports and Life: “In an interview with Drew Cannon, from Basketball Prospectus; Cannon has Maryland finishing 7-9 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Cannon expanded that it would not surprise him for the Terps to finish at the bottom, or the top of the Virginia, Virginia Tech, Clemson, NCST, Miami, MD group.

Less optimistically, the ACC Media projected Maryland to finish 9^th. The Terps will also have to overcome Pe’Shon Howard’s broken foot, which will sideline him for the next 10-12 weeks. UNC, and Duke both figure to be imposing; your thoughts on MD and the rest of the ACC?”

DeCourcy: “Not a great year for the league beyond the top two teams. Going to be tough losing Jordan Williams, who probably left too early, and the departing Seniors. A down ACC can only help MD as the program transitions to Turgeon, and the new Coach brings in his own players.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “If Howard can not return for the great majority of ACC play, should he red-shirt?”

DeCourcy: “You don’t want injuries to force players into having to Red-shirt, but a lot of value can come out of a RS season. Look at the success Pittsburgh has had with Red-shirts. If he can not get back sooner than later, he can be available for Turgeon when the team figures to be better.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “Replacing Jordan Williams will obviously be difficult. In late August, the 7’1, 225 lb Ukrainian Olexiy ‘Alex’ Len arrived at Maryland. At the 2010 U18 European Championships, Len averaged 16 ppg, 11.4 boards, and 4.3 blocks. I don’t think any Maryland fans are expecting that level of production, but Len showed an abundance of athleticism at Maryland Madness. Even if that was just a scrimmage, he certainly looks like a guy who is capable of helping the front-court, and overall depth.

Len has been declared eligible, but will be suspended for the first 10 games of this year. Len will have adjustments to make on and off the court. Can you speak to the transition for European bigs from the International style of play, to US Division 1 College Basketball? Should Terps fans keep their expectations to Len, to contributing rotation player?”

DeCourcy: “He likely grew up with the trapezoid lane. While the trapezoid lane has recently been changed, for those who grew up with it – offensively you could not post, and were pushed away from the basket. That will be a change, as well as playing defense on this level. For Len, it could be good for him to get the additional practice time before having the pressure to play and produce.

As an aside, I do not understand the ruling from the NCAA. How the NCAA ruled in cases like this was supposed to have changed a couple of years ago. As shown with Alex, and others, in practice there has been no change.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “Out of Conference, Maryland has Alabama in the 1^st round in Puerto Rico, Wichita State or Colorado on Day 2, and Purdue, Temple, Iona, and Western Michigan on the other side of the bracket.

The Terps will host Illinois in the ACC/Big Ten challenge, face Notre Dame in the BB&T Classic, and travel to Philadelphia for a January 21^st game against Temple (potentially facing the Owls for a second time). If MD can get two wins in Puerto Rico, and take two of three from Illinois, Notre Dame, and Temple; do you agree that the Terps would have a solid OOC resume?  Does that seem realistically obtainable to you? Of the other OOC games vs. UNC Wilmington, Florida Gulf Coast, Mount St. Mary’s, FIU, Radford, Albany, Samford, and Cornell – do you see Wilmington as the biggest threat?”

DeCourcy: “That is a strong out of conference schedule, and not the best situation for Turgeon to walk into. MD would absolutely have a strong resume if they can grab a couple of wins in Puerto Rico, as well as against Illinois, Notre Dame, and Temple. Right now, it is hard to imagine that happens though. I’d agree that of the other games Wilmington is the biggest threat.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “Syracuse and Pittsburgh have agreed to join the Atlantic Coast Conference as the 13^th and 14^th schools. Whenever they begin play within the league, the ACC will again assume the position as the premier basketball conference. ACC Commissioner John Swofford has been clear in his comments that the ACC is ‘comfortable’ with 14 teams. Would you advocate to Swofford that the ACC should also add Connecticut, and a 16^th? (Rutgers, other?)”

DeCourcy: “No, there is no purpose of doing that. I do not believe it adds anything to the ACC.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “We are not one game into the 2011-12 season, but many Terps fans are extremely excited about the prospects for Maryland starting with ’12-’13.

2012-2013 Roster as of today:
Guards: Stoglin (Jr), Howard (Jr), Faust (Soph), Allen (Freshman)
SF: Parker (Jr), Layman (Freshman)
Bigs: Padgett (Sr), Pankey (Jr),  Len (Soph), Cleare (Freshman)

Allen will give MD another capable PG, Layman is a SF, that is a Top 50ish player in ’12 Class, and Cleare is a Center that is a Top 40 player.
Should the Terps also add a Top PF, do you see the makings of a National Contender?”

DeCourcy: “Not ready to say that, but I will say that I saw and liked Layman. He moves well, he shoots well. The type of player who makes you say, ‘Who is that?’ Then you check, and see he is ranked in the 70s. There are not 70 better players. I also saw and liked Cleare. Big body, moves well. Still a bit raw. When Turgeon was hired, I had some questions, wondering ‘Why him?’ Those questions or reservations were immediately addressed by the staff he put together. Layman and Cleare are examples of grabbing players outside the area. Going forward, that staff has the chance to clean up in their own corridor.”