It’s easy to see why some could have become a little disenchanted with the Terrapins men’s basketball team after their lone exhibition contest Friday.

Despite a reloaded roster and renewed hope, the Terps fell relatively flat in a 73-61 win over Indiana (Pa.). They trailed their Division-II foe by one at halftime, and they didn’t quite look like the team on the rise many expected them to be.

But when the NCAA ruled forward Dez Wells would be immediately eligible for competition yesterday, everyone’s preconceived notions about the Terps should have changed drastically.

When the team hosted the Crimson Hawks last week, the Xavier transfer — expelled in August amid sexual assault allegations — was little more than a benchwarmer in street clothes.

When they travel to Brooklyn, N.Y., tomorrow to face defending national champion Kentucky? He’ll be the Terps’ best player.

Sure, that might be a lofty pedestal for a player whose only experience in College Park has been a couple of nondescript scrimmages, but his eligibility’s importance cannot be understated. Coach Mark Turgeon has lauded Wells for his performance in practice this season, and the forward’s play with the Musketeers last season showcased his immense abilities.

After all, Wells did average 9.8 points and 4.9 rebounds per game as a freshman with Xavier last season. He did get named to the All-Atlantic 10 freshman team, and he did help lead the Musketeers to two NCAA tournament victories.

“He gives us depth and versatility,” Turgeon said yesterday. “It helps us in a lot of ways. It gives every player more confidence because he makes everyone better around him. He gives every coach on our staff, including me, more confidence that we can be a good team.”

His presence in the lineup makes an already flexible team even more flexible. Last year, Turgeon was forced to do the best he could with a rotation of about eight players, a few of whom often looked ill-equipped to handle the rigors of ACC basketball.

But with a stellar freshman class, a transfer in guard Logan Aronhalt and Wells’ eligibility, the Terps look to have a 10-man rotation Turgeon should be able to rely on each and every game.

And it’s not just what they can do, it’s how they can do it. Now that they’re essentially two-deep everywhere on the floor, the Terps are versatile enough to play small or big. With Wells’ size and athleticism, he can play anywhere from shooting guard to power forward, giving Turgeon free rein to roll out any size lineup he can imagine.

“I think it changed. We have experience and depth now. We were excited about the year anyway,” Turgeon said. “We thought we were a team that was going to get better and better. We expect to be good.”

Most Terps fans would likely agree. Two days ago, they were simply hoping for some improvement after 2011-12’s 17-15 finish, maybe even a chance at an NCAA tournament berth.

Today? Wells is officially eligible. So they’re not hoping for success anymore. They’re expecting it.

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