Did you have a good seat last night for the Terrapin men’s basketball team’s entertaining 75-70 win against Michigan?

Well, so did Braxton Dupree.

The struggling Terp center, who started each of the Terps’ first six games, did not play a single minute Wednesday against the Wolverines, and he has apparently already earned a spot in Gary Williams’ doghouse for the second consecutive season.

Williams said Dupree didn’t play because he missed class Monday, and Dupree reluctantly corroborated that story after asking what Williams said about him.

“The class thing won’t be an issue anymore,” Dupree said.

But whether the benching had to do with academics or with basketball – and, frankly, it was probably a combination of both – this game should mark a crossroads in Dupree’s season.

Dupree can wake himself up and start to become the player the undersized Terps desperately need him to be, or he can continue to underachieve and bury himself deeper into trouble.

As great a game as Dino Gregory played last night, the Terps still need a reliable, full-sized low post player who can give them consistent offense and defend against the big men the Terps will continue to play.

While perhaps not the ideal, Dupree is the Terps’ best option to be that guy, and he needs to step up.

“We need Braxton. He’s 6-8; he’s a big, wide body; and it’s real nice to have him down there,” forward Dave Neal said. “He’s just got to keep his head on straight.”

With Dupree on the bench Wednesday, the Terps were left with just two post players who played significant minutes: Gregory and first-time starter Dave Neal.

While both of those guys played well in their extended time, neither of them are the bruising, back-to-the-basket type of player Dupree has the potential to be.

He hasn’t showed it consistently, but Dupree has the talent and the size to be a productive low-post scorer, someone the Terps can look to for easy points on the inside.

The Terps are too often forced to rely on their outside shooting and transition baskets for most of their scoring, and Dupree is the guy who can add that third, inside dimension.

“Once he gets his confidence back, he’s going to be a force that nobody really can stop,” Gregory said. “He’s always been a beast down low, and he can still do that; it’s just that he’s got to put it in his mind that he can do that.”

Gregory played his best game of the season Wednesday: He flew around on defense, and – except for a couple of rushed layups – finished strong near the rim.

The Baltimore native is a solid energy guy, and he brings intensity to the defensive end. But Gregory lacks a consistent offensive game at this point in his career, and he is not a steadying force in the middle in the Terps’ halfcourt sets.

It’s also difficult to continue to criticize Neal, and it is not fair to blame him for being forced to play a bigger role than he probably should be playing.

Neal is a smart player. He hustles. He’s a good passer. He’s really played well this season.

But the Terps should not have to count on Neal the Overachiever to be their best and most consistent big man. Their top post should be somebody more naturally suited for the role, and that player should be Dupree.

“He’s just a lot bigger than both [Gregory and Neal],” guard Eric Hayes said. “He’s just a big guy for us and we need that bulk down low.”

Dupree still has plenty of time this season to turn things around and build Williams’ trust again.

Both he and the Terps will benefit if he does.

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