Coach Mark Turgeon watches his team during Maryland’s 82-52 victory over Winthrop at Xfinity Center on Dec. 6, 2014.
After each of its nine wins this season, the Terrapins men’s basketball team has taken to the film room the next day to review footage of both shining moments and gaffes. But after its one loss, a 76-65 stumble to then-No. 7 Virginia on Dec. 3, the Terps’ study session unfolded a bit differently.
“It was all negative,” point guard Melo Trimble said.
Coach Mark Turgeon’s goal was to show his young team how hard they’d need to play and how intently they’d need to focus to compete with a top-tier team. And in the two games since the loss to the Cavaliers, Turgeon said the No. 19 Terps have taken strides toward rectifying the issues from their lone blemish on the season.
It’s progress that the fourth-year sideline general hopes his team can continue entering Saturday morning’s matchup against South Carolina Upstate as guard Dez Wells and forward Evan Smotrycz remain sidelined.
“We have a good team,” Turgeon said after Wednesday’s victory over North Carolina Central. “I enjoy coaching these guys, and we are overcoming the obstacle of having two starters out of the lineup. This team is a lot of fun to watch.”
Much of the Turgeon’s praise for the Terps, who lean heavily on four freshman contributors, stems from their work habits. That’s why he expected the team would respond well after he pointed out several of their poor plays from the loss to Virginia.
He primarily showed them missed box outs and poor defensive rotations. The Terps responded by beating Winthrop, 82-62, on Saturday in what Turgeon called the team’s best game since Wells broke his wrist in a win over then-No. 13 Iowa State on Nov. 25.
Trimble, the jewel of a star-studded recruiting class, said the Terps rebuilt their self-assurance after facing Virginia with a string of solid practices. That trend continued leading up to Wednesday’s win.
“My confidence grows every time we come off a good practice,” Trimble said after scoring 12 points against North Carolina Central. “Our practice yesterday was really good. We came out with a lot of energy.”
Forward Jake Layman, a junior in his second year as a starter, has never worried about the mindset of the team’s four rookies. He did point out, though, that film sessions, such as the one after the loss to Virginia, were vital to their development.
“They’re all very confident guys to start with,” Layman said. “Once they figure it all out on the defensive end and how to play on the offensive end, they’re all going to be great, great players.”
The Terps and their youngsters will face a new challenge Saturday. South Carolina Upstate is 8-2 on the season and upended ACC member Georgia Tech in Atlanta this past Saturday.
And after several eventful weeks — the Terps won the CBE Classic in Kansas City, Missouri, before the top-25 matchup against the Cavaliers in College Park — Turgeon’s young team is playing its third straight mid-major foe.
But senior guard Richaud Pack, who poured in a team-high 17 points Wednesday night, isn’t worried about the Terps looking past the Spartans — or evoking another humbling film session.
“We’ve been pretty locked in,” Pack said. “It’s been good leadership from the coaches down to the seniors to the younger guys.”
