Terrapins Insider - The Washington Post's in-depth coverage of University of Maryland sports - December 27, 2009

A glance back and a look forward

As disappointing as Wednesday's loss to William & Mary was for the Terrapins, the challenge now becomes getting over it and moving on. After all, it's not even ACC season yet. On Sunday, Maryland will play at UNC-Greensboro in its...

By Steve Yanda | January 2, 2010; 1:34 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Men's basketball
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Scouting UNC-Greensboro

There were many reasons why UNC-Greensboro decided to have its men's basketball teamm move its home games into Greensboro Coliseum this season. The plan was for the Spartans to increase ticket sales and attendance numbers, while attracting the attention of...

By Steve Yanda | January 2, 2010; 10:10 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Men's basketball
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Maryland gets little production from bench

First, some numbers: Maryland subbed in four players (Cliff Tucker, Adrian Bowie, Dino Gregory and James Padgett) off the bench Wednesday night against William & Mary, and those four players tallied a combined four points and five rebounds, two blocks...

By Steve Yanda | January 1, 2010; 12:28 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Men's basketball
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Terps search for perspective, answers

The list of likely New Year's resolutions for the Maryland men's basketball team (rebounding better, defending with more precision, playing with more emotion from the opening tip, etc.) senior forward Landon Milbourne came up with a simpler idea following Wednesday...

By Steve Yanda | January 1, 2010; 10:04 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Men's basketball
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Accountability not an issue for the Terps

Maryland has a lot of problems it needs to address right now, especially given that the Terrapins have just one more opponent in the 11 days before the start of ACC play. But one thing that's not an issue with...

By Steve Yanda | December 31, 2009; 2:16 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Men's basketball
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A leaking press

Historically, Maryland's press defense has been a highly effective tool used to force turnovers and create easy scoring opportunities. When executed crisply and intensely, it is as formiddable a defensive scheme as any other in the country. But that is...

By Steve Yanda | December 31, 2009; 12:31 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Men's basketball
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Maryland can't help themselves against Tribe

There were many interesting quotes offered up after Wednesday night's loss by Maryland Coach Gary Williams and his players. They lost, and obviously they weren't happy about it. But here was the common and telling theme that stood out: "They...

By Steve Yanda | December 31, 2009; 10:24 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Men's basketball
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Surprised with the loss?

William & Mary can play. They knew it. Maryland knew it. And (if they didn't know it already) the 16,418 in attendance Wednesday night at Comcast Center now knows it. The Tribe has now defeated four teams that qualified for...

By Steve Yanda | December 31, 2009; 8:17 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Men's basketball
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Tribe hands Maryland 83-77 defeat

If you didn't believe it before tonight, you had better believe it now. William & Mary is a skilled and balanced squad, one with the mental toughness and confidence to win on the road against far more renowned opponents. The...

By Steve Yanda | December 30, 2009; 11:00 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (18)
Categories: Men's basketball
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More on Terrence Ross

Shooting guard Terrence Ross, once considered the centerpiece of Maryland’s 2010 recruiting class, has broken off his verbal commitment to the Terrapins and reopened his recruitment. Ross, a senior at Montrose Christian, still is considering Maryland as a collegiate destination,...

By Steve Yanda | December 30, 2009; 5:38 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Men's basketball
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Three things to watch

In a few hours, Maryland will host William & Mary at Comcast Center in the Terrapins' penultimate game before conference play begins. This, however, likely will be far from a mere tune-up for the home squad. The Tribe, as senior...

By Steve Yanda | December 30, 2009; 2:34 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Men's basketball
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Vasquez: Terps need to be more exciting

Maryland's half-court offense is operating pretty smoothly right now. Following Sunday's win over Florida Atlantic, senior forward Landon Milbourne said the players are trusting in the team's flex offense more and, thus, are executing it better than they have at...

By Steve Yanda | December 30, 2009; 12:33 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Men's basketball
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J. Williams progressing well

There were a variety of options from which senior guard Greivis Vasquez could have chosen Tuesday when discussing what has impressed him the most about the development of freshman forward Jordan Williams. Through the first 11 collegiate games of his...

By Steve Yanda | December 30, 2009; 10:26 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Men's basketball
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Report: Ross no longer committed to Maryland

Shooting guard Terrence Ross, once the centerpiece of Maryland's 2010 recruiting class, has decommitted from the Terrapins, according to a report on the website that covers Duke basketball for Rivals.com. The report states that Ross, a 6-foot-5, 185-lb. senior at...

By Steve Yanda | December 30, 2009; 9:17 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (18)
Categories: Men's basketball
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When one problem leads to another

Following Sunday's win over Florida Atlantic, Maryland Coach Gary Williams said his team had two primary defensive issues: rebounding and defending the perimeter. The Terrapins own a -0.5 rebounding margin and are allowing opponents to shoot 35.5 percent from three-point...

By Steve Yanda | December 30, 2009; 8:09 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Men's basketball
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Mosley expected to play against William & Mary

After missing Sunday's win over Florida Atlantic with a sprained left ankle, sophomore guard Sean Mosley is expected to play Wednesday night when the Terrapins host William & Mary at Comcast Center. Mosley practiced Monday and appeared ready to return...

By Steve Yanda | December 29, 2009; 2:45 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Men's basketball
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Scouting William & Mary

After finishing last season 10-20, William & Mary was picked by the Colonial Athletic Association's coaches, sports information directors and reporters to finish 10th in the 12-team league in 2009-10. Nearly two months into the season, that prediction seems quite...

By Steve Yanda | December 29, 2009; 12:18 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Men's basketball
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Quality performances from Eric Hayes and Landon Milbourne

Maryland senior guard Eric Hayes did not shoot with his typical precision Sunday against Florida Atlantic. He made 3 of 9 attempts from the field and 1 of 4 attempts from three-point range. He did, however, dish out nine assists...

By Steve Yanda | December 29, 2009; 10:29 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Men's basketball
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Rebounding remains critical issue for Terps

With just less than four minutes remaining in the first half Sunday, Florida Atlantic guard Sanchez Hughley snagged an offensive rebound off a missed three-point attempt by teammate Shavar Richardson. Hughley's ensuing layup attempt was blocked by freshman forward James...

By Steve Yanda | December 29, 2009; 8:10 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Men's basketball
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Cliff Tucker seizes opportunity to start

Maryland sophomore guard Sean Mosley sat out Sunday's win over Florida Atlantic with a sprained left ankle. Coach Gary Williams expects Mosley to return Wednesday when the Terrapins host William & Mary, but in the meantime he needed someone to...

By Steve Yanda | December 28, 2009; 2:25 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Men's basketball
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Vasquez earns ACC player of the week honors

Just received notice from the folks at the Atlantic Coast Conference that senior guard Greivis Vasquez has been named the conference's player of the week. It is the fifth time in Vasquez's career that he has received such an honor....

By Steve Yanda | December 28, 2009; 12:29 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Men's basketball
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Terrapins switching up the front court

Maryland freshman forward Jordan Williams returned to the starting lineup Sunday against Florida Atlantic after coming off the bench the previous two games. Williams, who had started the first eight games of the season, was temporarily relegated to a reserve...

By Steve Yanda | December 28, 2009; 12:11 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Men's basketball
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Terrapins Insider: December 27, 2009 - January 2, 2010