This week, the Maryland men’s basketball team suffered a tremendous loss in the form of Terrell Stoglin, who was suspended by the athletic department and subsequently entered his name in the NBA Draft.
Stoglin, of course, was the Terrapins’ best player last season. He led both the team and the ACC in scoring, and many times it appeared Stoglin was the only one keep games close for the team.
But he’s gone. No doubt about it. It’s time to move on.
A day before Stoglin’s suspension was announced, another Terp was making headlines – and again for all the wrong reasons.
Point guard Pe’Shon Howard was arrested early Sunday morning and was given a criminal citation for disorderly conduct.
But Howard’s fate is unknown. He still has to undergo local and campus judicial procedures, and like we’ve seen this week, it is likely the athletic department will lay down the hand of the law.
Last season assistant coach Dalonte Hill was arrested for suspicion of DUI and received a three-game suspension. For argument’s sake, let’s assume Howard will receive a similar ban.
So the subtractions of their top scorer and main facilitator of the offense, where does the Terrapins stand?
Longtime D.C.-area columnist David Elfin compares the situation to the Washington Redskins and Albert Haynesworth, or the Washington Wizards and JaVale McGree and Nick Young – it’s addition by subtraction.
Stoglin often drove Turgeon crazy with his shoot first and then shoot again mentality. The Tucson native took more than twice as many shots as any teammate while scoring nearly a third of Maryland’s points.
But with Faust and frontcourt classmates Alex Len and Ashton Pankey having gained unexpected experience last year, forward James Padgett returning to be the senior leader, and Howard (theoretically) running the offense, the freshmen-laden Terps should be more balanced in 2012-13. And who knows? Maybe they’ll even be a better team.
With Stoglin out, incoming freshman Seth Allen can fill in for Stoglin. There is also Sam Cassell Jr. Both are considered combo guards but touted for their shooting and scoring abilities.
In terms of scoring, rising sophomores Nick Faust and Alex Len will be seasoned another year. And incoming recruits Shaquille Cleare and Jake Layman should definitely make their presences felt.
Is it possible to think the team becomes more balanced with Stoglin chocking up shot after shot?
What do you think?
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