Mark Turgeon and the Maryland Terps faithful can only wonder what might have been.
The Terps were Big Ten co-champions and had a real shot to make the Final Four in Atlanta. The same location where the University of Maryland won their only National Championship in 2002.
With COVID-19 taking out the college basketball season, the Terps will come back next season without key pieces.
Turgeon will need to find a way to replace Anthony Cowan Jr. (graduation) and Jalen Smith (declared for NBA Draft). Both were keys to the Terps success this season. Ricky Lindo Jr. entered the Transfer Portal along with the Mitchell twins (Makhel and Makhi). The Mitchell twins (transferred to Rhode Island) won’t be a big loss but the thought was, Lindo Jr. (George Washington) would see a more important role this season.
Maryland does have some solid pieces returning. Aaron Mitchell, Eric Ayala, and Darryl Morsell should all be major contributors on both ends of the floor. All three are solid perimeter defenders. Donta Scott provides a certain level of toughness but he’ll need to become a more skilled player if he wants to excel in the Big Ten.
The Terps will add two freshmen, Marcus Dockery (Brewster Academy) and Anquan Smart. Dockery could be an immediate contributor. Smart will probably take some time.
Boston College’s Jairus Hamilton (9.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg) has transferred to Maryland but will more than likely have to sit out the year.
