Dez Wells reacts to a offensive foul during the Terps’ 53-61 loss to No. 17 Virginia on Feb. 10, 2014, at John Paul Jones Arena.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — After the Terrapins men’s basketball team fell to No. 17 Virginia, 61-53, on Monday night, coach Mark Turgeon stayed true to his habit of praising opponents in the opening seconds of his postgame press conference. But unlike some of his previous chats with the media, Turgeon didn’t stop there.
He referred to the Cavaliers’ balance, depth and maturity at separate times during the press conference. The third-year coach lauded Virginia guard Joe Harris’ unselfishness and mentioned how stout the Cavaliers’ defense was down the stretch.
Each of those aspects Turgeon admired represents qualities he wants his Terps to take on. And though Turgeon’s been pleased with the Terps’ improvements in recent weeks, Monday night’s performance suggested they aren’t quite as complete as Virginia.
“They’ve been so balanced,” Turgeon said of a Cavaliers team that’s won eight straight games and holds an 11-1 record in ACC play. “They’ve been so good. They haven’t had a close game in a while. They’ve just been pounding people.”
Guard Dez Wells also spoke highly of Virginia. Wells scored 12 points Monday night, more than three below his average, and couldn’t help the Terps put together enough of a run to push past Virginia in the second half.
“With a team like Virginia, if you mess up one possession, they make you pay,” Wells said. “My hat goes off to those guys. They made shots. They hit free throws when it mattered. They deserved to win.”
Virginia’s selflessness and offensive efficiency proved to be one of the deciding factors Monday night.
The Cavaliers dished out 16 assists as a team to six turnovers, while the Terps had nine assists to 10 turnovers. Plus, Virginia could turn to Harris to ice the game. The Cavaliers senior scored 16 of his 19 points in the second half and was 3-of-4 on free throws in the final minutes.
The Terps, meanwhile, don’t have a senior in their rotation, and Wells — who typically dominates the ball down the stretch — was held quiet.
“There’s a reason they’re 11-1 in the league,” Turgeon said. “When the game is on the line, their senior stepped up and made some big plays for them.”
Despite Virginia’s recent success, the Terps were locked in a four-point game with a minute left before an announced 11,568 at John Paul Jones Arena.
Forward Evan Smotrycz even had a pair of clean three-point looks at the basket in the final minute that could have trimmed the Cavaliers’ lead to within one possession. Neither fell true, though, as the first deep attempt rimmed out and the second hit the back iron.
So while the Terps, whose nine-man rotation consists of five underclassmen, are still searching to attain the consistency and composure Virginia’s displayed this season, they have shown signs of progress.
“We know we’ve grown,” guard Nick Faust said. “We know we are playing well as a team; the ball just didn’t fall our way.”
The Terps, despite their waning hopes of an NCAA tournament appearance, aren’t entirely discouraged. The team has strides to make if it hopes to beat the Cavaliers at home, but Wells said he and his teammates have the ability to get to that point.
He thinks the Terps can become the team opposing coaches gush about.
“Virginia’s a great team, but I’m satisfied with the guys that I have and the sets that we do and the coaches,” Wells said. “I’m satisfied with our program.”
