Alex Len: current Terp, future draftee?

Just when Maryland really started getting excited about a potential star to lead their front court for years to come, speculation has already blown up about whether 7-foot-1 center Alex Len will declare for the NBA draft after this, his sophomore, season.

Entering the year, there was buzz around College Park that Len had bulked up over the off-season, learned English and drastically improved his game. Coach Mark Turgeon praised his rapid development, and then Len turned in his most impressive college performance against Kentucky in the Terps’ opening game. Len’s 23 points and 12 rebounds turned heads on national television, not to mention how Len outplayed his opposing center in stud freshman Nerlens Noel. Noel finished with only four points, and Len was officially on the NBA radar.

Since the 72-69 loss to the Wildcats, Maryland has rattled off six straight victories due in large part to Len’s play. The Ukrainian big man has averaged 14.7 points, 9 rebounds and 2.6 blocks, while shooting an impressive 54 percent from the field and 77 percent from the foul line. However, what has been most impressive to scouts is Len’s ball handling, ability to shoot from the outside and his obvious athleticism. The NBA loves drafting potential, and Len oozes it.

Just when Maryland fans thought Len’s potential would manifest itself in a Terps uniform, a growing probability is that the NBA will come calling after Len’s second season in college. NBADraft.net has Len projected as seventh overall, and ESPN.com’s Chad Ford said that Len has an “outside shot” of being the top overall pick. For those keeping score at home, that’s a rapid leap for someone who just a year ago didn’t understand what plays his point guard was calling out because, you know, he couldn’t comprehend English.

The hope for the Terps is that just because the NBA thinks you’re good isn’t enough to pull you out of college, and that Len will have to make that decision himself. Some believe Len’s love for the program, Turgeon and his mentality that he still has a lot to accomplish as well as improve upon before leaving for the NBA will keep him around for at least a third season. It’s difficult to read into that too much, considering Len was already playing professionally in Ukraine before Turgeon came calling. That predisposition tells this writer that Len was always looking at college hoops as an opportunity to prepare for the NBA, rather than for the glory of the ACC.

Also worth considering is that Len has only played seven games this season so far, and that a much more competitive ACC schedule awaits him come January. Len averaged 14 points in his three non-conference games last year, before scoring in double figures in only three out of 18 ACC games after that. In the end, look for conference play to dictate where Len will find himself next year more than any other factor.

Non-conference performances should not be ignored

Even for die hard Maryland basketball fans, Saturday’s game against Georgia Southern may have been too much of a snoozer to watch, with much more significant college football games happening simultaneously. However, while these non-conference games may not provide much in terms of excitement for fans, so far they have demonstrated one thing: comfort.

Comfort in knowing the Terps can utilize ten players without worry and still beat an inferior opponent by 17 points. Comfort in playing Alex Len only 17 minutes, yet still out-rebounding the Eagles by 22. Most of all, comfort Maryland has one of the most balanced teams in the ACC, leading to four straight victories by an average of more than 16 points.

The non-conference part of an ACC basketball schedule is usually filled with weak opponents, giving teams some time to work out various kinks before vigorous conference schedules later in the season. However, taking a look back at last year’s schedule, Maryland still struggled against “weaker” opponents. A six-point win against Florida Gulf Coast, a three-point win against Mount St. Mary’s, a four-point win against Florida International and a five-point win against Radford were all games played at home a typical Maryland team would have likely won by 15 points. We know last year’s squad wasn’t typical, and thus weren’t surprised a team with seven scholarship players couldn’t put opponents away.

This year, it seems to be the exact opposite. Replacing the one-man offense of Terrell Stoglin is an unselfish attack of a core of ten guys that have all played in every game so far this season. Most fans would be pleasantly surprised to know Maryland is fourth in the nation in assists per game. Yes, you read that right. In the nation.

Last year’s team struggled not because they lacked significant talent, but because they lacked depth. This season, coach Mark Turgeon has been able to mix up his five on-court players until he gets a combination he likes for a particular stretch. With seven scholarship players, when one or two are having an off game, there are no alternatives. With ten dependable players, foul trouble is avoided, poor shooting streaks mitigated and fatigue monitored, all while maintaining a high level of play.

Meanwhile, many of the core are freshmen, visibly improving on a game-to-game basis. With Dez Wells and Len having quiet nights on Saturday, freshman Charles Mitchell earned his first career double-double with 11 rebounds and 13 points on 50 percent shooting. Against Long Island-Brooklyn, freshman Seth Allen scored 19 points on 70 percent shooting. Those performances from a backup forward and point guard leave fans salivating over what this team can develop by March. And by the manner Maryland has handled its non-conference opponents thus far, those eager fans may not be far off.

Old School vs. New School in a battle with no clear winner

Is going to the Big 10 the right decision? It really depends on your definition of the word “right”. With Maryland’s announcement to leave the ACC and move to the Big 10, fans of all ages have come out of the wood work to give their opinion of whether or not the move is good, correct, positive or insert-judging-word-here.

But the problem with answering such a question lies in your beliefs as a sports fan in the year 2012. If you value the “old school” way of athletics, leaving a conference you were a founding member of, and one you have shared many historic events, rivalries and traditions with other teams, then moving out of the ACC is unquestionably horrific. Any chance of rekindling a Maryland-Duke rivalry is most likely out the window, and adjusting to a conference with teams more than halfway across the country is simply not what college athletics should be about.

If you are a proponent of the ever-present “sports is a business” then you most likely see the move as savvy financial positioning for the long-term. The Maryland athletic department is clearly in a mountain of debt, having cut seven sports teams, and is struggling to fill Byrd Stadium and Comcast Center on a given day. The guaranteed revenue of the Big 10 is too attractive for Maryland to turn down, and optimistically will help the program gain financial stability and eventually lead to improvements on the field.

Instead of luring prospects to the team, the team is moving to the prospects, in a way. Aside from direct monetary gain, Maryland is also moving to the Big 10 as a means to draw high school football players to a maligned team that will face legendary foes such as Ohio State, Michigan and Nebraska (and Wisconsin and Penn State and…). Often times playing on a bigger stage is enough to draw athletes to your program, and there are few football conferences with more allure than the Big 10. Basketball, meanwhile, will try to compete for conference titles in a much different landscape from the Atlantic Coast. Recently, however, teams such as Michigan State, Wisconsin and Indiana have put Big 10 basketball on the map as prominently as the football teams.

Whatever your opinion, what is easy to recognize is the widespread change the Maryland athletic department has undergone in the past three or four years. The Terps sport relatively new football and basketball coaches, a recently hired athletic director, a new apparel sponsorship with more influence than anyone anticipated and now a new conference. While no one should expect immediate results from any of these entities, it is at the very least exciting just to be in the midst of such watershed times at the University.

Heading down South to the land of the pines; A Maryland fan travels to Clemson, S.C.

For the first time in this Terp’s Maryland sports career, he took a trip down to South Carolina to watch his beleaguered football team face one of the best in the country in No. 13 Clemson. And what a culture shock it was.

Aside from the actual game (we’ll get to that later) the football culture in the South is something every fan should experience at least once. The entire town of Clemson was pretty much shut down for the day aside from eateries, which were filled all afternoon. Major roads were closed, and a sea of orange enveloped entire stretches of roads, sidewalks and plazas.

I tailgated and walked around the area for about three hours before the game, and aside from my Maryland compatriot saw exactly two other people wearing Terrapin gear. We were such an anomaly, at some point my friend and I were asked to pose for a photograph because we “weren’t wearing orange”.

While I don’t want to disrespect a College Park that throws formidable tailgates of their own, the difference here was that the Terrapins were arguably one of the least hyped games of the season for the BCS contender, yet I was still stunned at the transformation of the town from the night before.

Another aspect of the scene I was pleasantly surprised by was the lack of heckling I received as a visiting fan. Again, perhaps this was because Maryland isn’t exactly a football rival, but I was not once yelled at the entire day while I proudly wore my Terps T-shirt. There were no negative chants in my direction while I sat in the Clemson student section, although I stuck out like a sore red thumb. I doubt Maryland fans would give a Clemson fan the same treatment, and while some may say heckling visiting fans is a just enterprise, cursing them out is a slightly different story.

Once the game started, the pleasant taste in my mouth of the trip soon soured as Maryland fell behind early and for all intents and purposes was out of the game by the end of the first quarter. Even at this juncture, however, the commentary I had with Clemson fans was their genuine sympathy at Maryland’s injury situation, and not simply “Maryland sucks”.

While I don’t tend to agree with everything that goes on in the South, this trip was an eye-opening experience in the most positive way. As a Terps fan, I hope we can one day develop a similar deep passion for our football team, but as long as March Madness becomes a staple in College Park once again, I guess I can leave football to Death Valley.

Edsall needs to reassess his team

Last Saturday, the Maryland football team underwent a physical and mental test of mettle against Georgia Tech. In what coach Randy Edsall said was something he had never experienced, the injury-riddled Terps played reserve linebacker Shawn Petty at quarterback.

It took four injuries to get to it, but a Lisfranc fracture and three torn ACL’s later, Petty found himself under center for the first time since high school. And it showed.

Looking back, it was an almost ridiculous situation to put the freshman in, given his lack of practice, experience or general knowledge of how to be a quarterback at the college level. Forget basic quarterback staples, such as how to properly throw a ball, how to hand it off, and how to set your feet on a three-step drop as opposed to a five-step drop. Petty had seven practices to learn how to run a complex college offense. Audibling at the line, making checks with offensive linemen and calling out blitzes are some of the more sophisticated aspects of being a quarterback, and many full-time starters struggle with those calls. Now imagine a guy who’s barely played in his natural position on defense at the college level, much less at quarterback. Now imagine him being a freshman. Except this wasn’t imaginary, it was real life.

Petty looked lost most of the afternoon Saturday, missing open receivers running simple routes, struggling to keep his eyes downfield when the rush came and even having difficulty running up-tempo running plays. His footwork and tossing skills on pitches and sweeps seemed to slow Terp running backs down and offset the rhythm of the play at times.

Looking back at the box score, one stat jumped off the page. Maryland, whose quarterback situation is well-documented above, threw the ball 14 more times than Georgia Tech. Petty shouldn’t have thrown 14 passes all day, much less 14 more than a healthy opposing offense. Edsall needs to acknowledge the situation he is in, and not try to turn a linebacker into a pocket passer in two weeks.

The one thing Edsall still has on offense is athletic playmakers such as receiver Stefon Diggs, running back Wes Brown and running back Brandon Ross. The ball needs to be put in their hands and out of Petty’s as soon as possible and as often as possible. Georgia Tech embarrassed Maryland by playing the style Edsall should have implemented the moment quarterback Caleb Rowe went down. Instead he took a difficult team situation and placed it into the hands of a freshman playing out of position.

If Maryland wants to win another game this season, last week’s offensive approach is not the answer. An option running attack, using Diggs and other backs, is the only way to have any semblance of an offense that can move the ball down the field, while keeping their own defense off the field against offensive juggernauts in Clemson and Florida State, Maryland’s next two opponents.

It’s easier said than done, but it’s still easier than asking for 300 yards passing from a reserve linebacker.

Bring on the hardcourt

With the Maryland football team seemingly losing an ACL every week, it’s about time to turn the attention to the men’s basketball team, which opens its season on Nov. 9.

After a tumultuous offseason that included signing recruits, losing recruits and appealing eligibility, it is fitting the team will take on No. 3 Kentucky in its opening game. Maryland lost the famed Harrison twins to the Wildcats about a month ago, and will be put to the test against the defending national champs. While the Terps won’t be expected to win, the game should prove to be an excellent early season barometer on what kind of offseason coach Mark Turgeon put the current players through.

After the game against Kentucky, Maryland will face 12 straight inferior opponents from nonmajor conferences, such as Lafayette, Georgia Southern and South CarolinaState, before opening ACC play on Jan. 5. Judgment on those games may be tough to analyze effectively, given the level of competition.

Turgeon and his team may not come out and say it, but there will certainly be tension between the Maryland and Kentucky coaching staffs, and the Terps would love to play early season spoiler to a team that “stole” their recruits.

As for the season as a whole, Turgeon will have to rely on several freshman to provide a bulk of the scoring if the Terps want to compete in an ACC filled with talented teams. As the rankings are now, Maryland is scheduled to play a ranked ACC opponent seven times, with four games against No. 8 Duke and No. 11 UNC. But perhaps the biggest early season splash is NC State’s No. 6 preseason ranking, ahead of its in-state rivals for the first time in 37 years. The Terps will face the Wolfpack only once in the regular season, at home on Jan. 16.

The starting lineup for the Terps is difficult to project, given the number of freshmen, and whether Turgeon wants to open with an experienced five, or a talented five.

If Turgeon opts for the former approach, expect junior Pe’Shon Howard, sophomore Nick Faust and senior Logan Aronhault in the back court, with sophomore Alex Len and senior James Padgett in the front court.

However, if Turgeon throws out experience as a factor for his starters, then we may see Howard, Faust and freshman Seth Allen alongside fellow freshman Shaquille Cleare and Len. This lineup certainly has more potential for explosive basketball, as Allen is more of a playmaker than Aronhault, but as such is also more turnover prone.

Whatever the approach, this team is without a doubt a much deeper, and thus more talented team than last year’s, and will get to show off that added talent against the college superpower that is Kentucky, before facing one of the strongest conferences in years. Then again, why would it even be easy for the Terps?

Terps' attendance, The Crew and all things Maryland soccer

Maryland’s win over No. 2 North Carolina Friday night was the perfect microcosm of the Terps’ season.

Entering the game as the top soccer team in the country, the Terps did not disappoint. While the thrilling back-and-forth game included a saved penalty shot towards the end of regulation and a winning goal in overtime, perhaps the most impressive thing to take away from this game was the attendance.

Ludwig Field hosted 7,340 fans on Friday, the second highest total in the team’s history. However, this figure was reached during a night filled with thunderstorms and high winds. How many people stayed home because of the weather? I don’t think a total of 10,000 people would be a crazy estimate had there been fair weather.

To put this into context, I looked up a few attendance numbers. Maryland has averaged 3,561 fans per game this season. North Carolina averages only 1,984 people per game, although they have also been a top soccer program for years. This is a testament to Maryland soccer fans, as well as The Crew, an independent club that organizes soccer tailgates and in-game chants for every game, often even traveling to opposing schools.

What The Crew has done as an independent institution deserves praise from Maryland for their ability to draw fans. While the team itself without a doubt is worth the trip to Ludwig Field, The Crew has done an underrated job of garnering attention for the game via social media outlets.

The Terps have two home games remaining, and you know The Crew will be out there in full force. The only question is how many others will show up as well. The Terps need the support, as they look to continue towards an undefeated season, rain or shine.

An unbiased bias

The following is a response from another blog site, where a friend and fellow journalism student, Zainab Mudallal, wrote on the meaning of the Duke rivalry, and why it exists at all:

This week I must admit that I was fairly absent from any Maryland sporting event. I didn’t go to a soccer game, I wasn’t able to watch the football game and I certainly wasn’t going to Maryland Madness (for one reason or another). Thus, after reading through some of this week’s posts I am interested in writing a follow up blog to Zainab’s discussion over what exactly the relationship is between Maryland and Duke at this point in time.

I’ve been a die hard Terrapins fan since the early 2000s, due in part because I was born and raised in Baltimore, and because Maryland is my father’s alma mater. Watching Terps basketball was as common for me as a kid as watching the Ravens and Orioles play. With that, I will be the first to tell you that Maryland and Duke do not have a rivalry at this time. Over the past few seasons, the “rivalry” has been mostly a side show to the actual dominance Duke’s powerhouse program has shown during a stretch of rebuilding years in College Park. But that isn’t to say that it didn’t once exist, regardless of what any Duke fan will tell you.

There are several ways to look at how the rivalry blossomed between 2000 and 2007. There is an almost textual and subtextual nature to the conversation, and providing facts is most likely the most efficient way to begin. Average fans of college basketball would most likely be surprised to know just how close the two teams were head-to-head in those seven seasons.

Duke and Maryland squared off a total of 17 times, with two games coming in the ACC tournament and one in the NCAA tournament. Maryland won eight of the games, with several being extremely close or going into overtime. While Maryland was a national contender those early years, it’s not like Duke was going through a down time. In fact, after Maryland’s championship run in 2001, you could argue that Duke was the stronger side for the next five seasons.

But Maryland was always a thorn in Duke’s side. Several games of note, including Duke’s win over Maryland in the 2000 NCAA Final Four, and Maryland’s underdog overtime victory in the ACC championship game in 2004, stoked the fire of a brimming rivalry. Some years, the teams would split the head-to-head series. In the 2003-2004 season, Duke beat Maryland twice before their surprise demise to the Terps in the ACC final. In the 2004-2005 season, Maryland wasn’t even good enough to make the Big Dance, yet they still beat a strong Duke side twice. Duke returned the favor by sweeping Maryland in the 2005-2006 season. Guess what? Maryland would sweep the season series the following year.

But I believe the hatred was deeper than the close contests. I decided to compile a list of intangible reasons for the rivalry, and came up with the following: Duke’s preppy private school stereotype verses Maryland’s public school image, Cameron Indoor stadium verses Cole Field House, arguably the two loudest arenas for a visiting team to play in the entire country, and finally the competition between long time coaches Gary Williams and Mike Krzyzewski, who have combined for 1,595 total wins.

My point in all of this is for the uninformed naysayer who believes there never was a rivalry, and for the fool who thinks a true rivalry between the teams currently exists. Duke and UNC have a legitimate rivalry because of their vicinity, but mostly because the games have been extremely competitive for a long period of time. The UMD-Duke rivalry was blossoming into one of the best in college basketball, but was not sustained due to Maryland’s fall from prominence. Rivalries, in reality, live and die, but maybe Maryland will rise again soon and reestablish the hatred between the contrasting schools.

Basketball recruiting needs to pick up the pieces, fast

In the wake of Aaron and Andrew Harrison’s decision to go to the University of Kentucky, the University of Maryland men’s basketball program is left picking up the pieces for the 2013-2014 recruiting class.

Maryland’s incoming freshman class this year is already highly anticipated in the College Park area as well as on a national scale. But the inability to lure the twin prospects has left a hole in the Terps 2014 class.

Alongside Damonte Dodd, who is expected to spend a year at prep school before joining the Terps next fall, Maryland’s next big prospect is four-star recruit Roddy Peters.

Peters, a 6-foot-4-inch point guard from Suitland, Md., was once said to be thrilled at any opportunity to play for his home state. However, basketball pundits believe that Maryland’s push towards the Harrison twins may have turned Peters away from the Terps and towards local recruiting rival Georgetown and Kansas.

Coach Mark Turgeon seems to have put himself in a bit of a whole, although you can hardly blame him. The opportunity to grab two top-five national recruits was too good to pass up, but has all of Turgeon and his staff’s attention on the twins shooed away an impressionable teen who is well aware that he is now a “backup plan” of sorts?

Peters, ranked No. 43 on the ESPN top 100 list for 2013-2014, is really the last play for Turgeon. Adding a stud point guard to a rising class of big men including Shaquille Cleare, Jake Layman and Charles Mitchell is paramount for a program looking to turn the corner in the recruiting game.

With a zone-heavy team like Syracuse joining the conference next season, the value of a strong point guard only increases in a deeper ACC.

If former Xavier guard Dez Wells has to wait until next season to don a Terp uniform, Maryland fans would love to see him share the backcourt with Peters, who is still unsure about when he will commit. Maryland fans just hope Peters hasn’t lost that original desire to play in College Park.

It’ll be up to the Maryland coaching staff to make sure the interest is still there. If Turgeon wants to compete in the ACC in the future, Peters’ decision might just depend on it.

After recent upsets, is this the year for men's soccer?

The Maryland men’s soccer team has had its share of triumphs and disappointments over the past ten years. The Terps are proud to have won two national championships, in 2005 and 2008, but they also boast three semifinal losses as well as recent early round exits. After back-to-back seasons with a first round bye in the NCAA tournament, the Terps did not come close to their own lofty expectations with a quarterfinal loss in 2010, and a third round loss in 2011.

As the Terps kicked off the second half of the 2012 season with a 3-2 win against College of Charleston Saturday night, expectations are once again mounting for the top-ranked men’s soccer team in the nation.

In a Diamondback article from Sept. 28, head coach Sasho Cirovski claimed that Maryland’s aim this season is to win the ACC and NCAA championships. While, a No. 1 ranking certainly shows that this team is capable of doing so, is it wise to put so much pressure on a team that has struggled recently as the favorite?

One aspect of the Terps’ game that could prove beneficiary in tournament play is their ability to get goals from a variety of players. While forward Patrick Mullins has paced the team with five goals, 11 other Terps also have scored this year, and seven have more than one goal. This versatility will give opposing defenses nightmares when decided who to watch for.

Another statistic of note is Maryland’s sheer dominance in terms of shot differential. As of Oct. 1, the Terps have taken more than twice as many shots as their opponents, with 143 taken verses 62 conceded. If this glaring disparity continues into the postseason, it will be incredibly difficult to keep pace with the Terps over the course of a 90-minute game.

Maryland plays six of its last eight regular season games in College Park, and finishing strong will be instrumental towards guaranteeing home field advantage in the ACC and NCAA tournament early round games. In both competitions, the higher seeded team plays at home until the semi-finals, and the ACC will finish its tournament in Germantown, Md. this year, another potential advantage for the Terps.

So how are we to react to Cirovski’s comments on his lofty expectations? Perhaps deferring to a 20-year coaching veteran’s judgment is best. Nonetheless, the road towards Cirovski’s goals seems to be paved in such a way where there will be no excuses for the Terps and no blame to place but on themselves.

Maryland football shows up

Maryland needed a perfect game to beat No. 8 West Virginia on Saturday. While the Terps played their hearts out, they made just enough mistakes to come up short in Morgantown.

Many viewers expected Maryland’s newest jersey style to be the only highlight in the Terps’ trip to West Virginia, especially when the Mountaineers opened the game with a 14-0 lead. The Terps’ battled back however, with two touchdown passes from a surprisingly efficient Perry Hills.

West Virginia would regain momentum with a field goal and then take advantage of a simple Maryland mistake. As West Virginia was driving before halftime, the Terps left star wide receiver Tavon Austin wide open in the end zone to give the Mountaineers a 10 point lead. Coming into the game, Maryland knew that stopping Austin was paramount to their success, and not paying attention to him in a 2-minute drill situation cost the Terps.

The next avoidable Maryland mistake occurred on the following possession. After an impressive drive with under a minute remaining in the half led by Hills, Maryland was set up at West Virginia’s 24-yard line. A great opportunity to seize momentum before half time was thwarted, however, when Brad Craddock missed a 42-yard field goal attempt, leaving the score at 24-14.

After a scoreless third quarter, Maryland made yet another crucial error in their attempts to come back. After a 25-yard completion from Hills, receiver Marcus Leak fumbled in West Virginia territory, halting a potential scoring drive. The Mountaineers would take the ensuing possession down the field for a touchdown, yet again to Austin. This deficit would be too great for Maryland to come back from, and the final score would read 31-21.

The fact that Maryland came up short after being in contention for almost the entire game might sting for some Terps fans. An upset over a top-ranked opponent on the road would have been an incredible achievement for this particular squad. However, when put into perspective, the Terps have a lot of positives to take away from this contest.

Hills’ performance has steadily improved with every game, and he played his best football to date Saturday, completing 69 percent of his passes for 305 yards and three scores. He looked as comfortable as he has all season, which bodes well for ACC play.

Hills was helped by Saturday’s other breakout performer, Stefon Diggs. The explosive receiver finally was able to demonstrate why he was so highly recruited, catching two touchdown passes for 113 total yards. His 56-yard catch and run in the fourth quarter was as impressive as any play made by West Virginia’s star studded offense.

Finally, the Terps’ run defense was stout, allowing only 25 total rushing yards to the Mountaineers bevy of backs.

Late in the competition, one announcer spoke of how a game like this would look good for a rebuilding Maryland program. While teams don’t get any points for moral victories, this game might have opened a small window towards a promising future for Maryland football. And, for once, not because of their shiny new uniforms.

Young shells in the big sea

Remember the days when freshmen athletes were exciting for what they were going to become? When one of a coach’s main responsibilities was developing a young player in the four years he or she had to become great before moving on?

Now it seems that freshmen are all the rage, in this case at Maryland, ranging from the big money sports such as football and men’s basketball, to smaller teams such as women’s soccer.

Perry Hills leads the football team on Saturdays as a true freshman. While this is mostly out of necessity, look around him. One of his top receivers is Stefon Diggs, and his best running back is Wes Brown. Both skill players are freshmen as well.

The basketball team has had a very well-documented renaissance this off-season, signing five freshmen, (not including the recently departed Sam Cassell, Jr.) four of which will play immediately and receive significant playing time. And with the departure of Terrell Stoglin, Mychal Parker and Ashton Pankey, top recruits Shaquille Cleare and Jake Layman may establish themselves as the Terps’ best players in their first season.

Meanwhile, even women’s soccer is undergoing a youth movement. The roster is currently comprised of 16 freshmen, four of which started in their 2-1 victory over No. 6 North Carolina. Redshirt freshman goalie Rachelle Beanlands has started in eight of the team’s first nine games, giving up less than one goal per game thus far.

Should Maryland be alarmed at this freshman trend, or is it simply a general shift in college athletics? The boom of “one-and-done” freshman in college basketball is a well-known phenomenon, thanks to the NBA’s mandate for a high school player to attend college for at least one year. But what about other sports, in particular teams with athletes who don’t have a professional league to look to?

Perhaps freshmen are simply getting better, and having “experience” is no longer a top priority for coaches. Maybe older players tend to transfer out of competitive teams once they realize they are more interested in greater playing time. Whatever the reason, there is no doubt that all eyes are on the youngsters at Maryland. It is yet to be determined just how well they will handle the scrutiny and demands of playing at a top institution.

What to expect when you're not expecting

The Terrapins football team entered this season with little to no expectations after a disastrous 2-10 season last year. After two games, it’s safe to say no one really know what the Terps’ record will be in November. While the team has won its first two games, their actual performance has at times pleasantly surprised but often left much to be desired.

In his first college football game, quarterback Perry Hills threw for only 145 yards and three interceptions against an FCS opponent in William & Mary. In his next start he turned in a week two performance worthy of being named the ACC Freshman of the Week. However, he only threw for 190 yards in that game, contributing three touchdowns.

Meanwhile, Justus Pickett, who was possibly the only player to receive positive accolades following the Terps’ win over the Tribe, averaged only 3.3 yards per carry against Temple. The Terps’ defense, which gave up only six points in week one, gave up 27 points to the Owls in week two.

What can we possibly make of these statistics? Maybe Maryland doesn’t win an ACC game and finishes with two wins. Maybe they win just enough games to earn a bowl. Would either of those two scenarios surprise anyone at this point in the year? Perhaps this team will be completely unpredictable, which would make for a much more enjoyable season than what was previously projected, regardless of where they finish.

This week Maryland plays Connecticut at Byrd Stadium. What are the odds that coach Randy Edsall facing his old team will bring out more surprises after an already strange start for the Terps?

Most fans who follow Maryland football have immense expectations for highly touted freshman wide receiver Stefon Diggs. After a quiet first game, Diggs seemed more comfortable against Temple and broke out with a 38-yard completion late in the game. Expect a breakout performance from the flashy freshman receiver who seems ready to burst onto the stage. Then again, it may take Diggs weeks before he truly settles in, considering his inexperience.

Whatever happens, I can’t say I’ll be surprised.

In covering Penn State, ESPN goes too far

The Penn State scandal was one of the most severe, and heavily covered, outrages in history of collegiate athletics. In order to maintain transparency in any field, incisive, investigating journalism is paramount to proper reporting. However, at times news agencies involuntarily or not lose track of why and what they are covering for the sake of personal achievement. The happenings and coverage of the Penn State debacle is a perfect example of this exploitation.

When this story first began to take shape in the media, Sara Ganim of The Patriot-News was leading the pack in the pursuit of answers surrounding what exactly had happened, and who had concealed information. Aside from the arrest of Jerry Sandusky, these questions eventually also dragged down head coach Joe Paterno, school president Graham Spanier and athletic director Tim Curley as secondary responsible parties.

The story blew up and gained widespread national media attention. ESPN, Yahoo! and other grand sports news agencies began to take prominent roles covering every detail of the scandal. And this is where news became tabloid.

While ESPN is already famous for beating stories into the ground (see Tebow, Tim), their coverage of Penn State went from all-encompassing to excessive for the sake of ratings.

Fast forward to late August of 2012, after the allegations, after the punishment and after most of the dust settled. As a new season of college football was underway, many eyes were on how Penn State would do in the face of arguably their most challenging season to date. However, ESPN took their news coverage a step further and decided to nationally televise Penn State’s pep rally the day before their first game.

While sweeping coverage is necessary and effective in journalism, ESPN went from reporting on a story to taking advantage of a situation where profit could be gained. To my knowledge, ESPN did not televise any other college pep rally this season.

By televising, and thus advertising, the Penn State rally, they took advantage of an event that would attract viewers, and thus ignored the victims and negativity of a situation for their own benefit.

While modern journalism entities are struggling to gain enough profit to stay afloat, a line must be drawn between integrity and entertainment. ESPN, in their constant efforts to squeeze ratings and money out of a story, crossed that line and became an entertainment entity while posing as a journalistic one. By broadcasting Penn State’s understandably positive rally, ESPN became directly involved with a story they themselves were covering rather than acting as an impartial observer, which could be seen as an ethical violation, at least by the standards of their own field.

Too soon to think about the hardwood?

As most of Terrapin Nation is stewing over what to take from Maryland’s 7-6 victory over FCS member William & Mary, this fan has his eyes on recent developments with the basketball program.

After losing last year’s ACC leading scorer Terrell Stoglin for violating University policy, the team is looking to rebound from a second consecutive season without so much as an NIT berth. With a freshman class led by Shaquille Cleare, Jake Layman and Sam Cassell, Jr., they appear to have a significantly more talented roster than the previous two seasons, and there is a possibility the Terrapins may add an immediate extra contributor.

Dez Wells, the expelled sophomore forward from Xavier University, is preparing to decide whether to transfer to Oregon, Memphis or Maryland in the next couple days. The news of Wells’ expulsion amid sexual assault allegations gained publicity recently when an Ohio grand jury declined to follow up on the case, according to The Washington Post. While the case was not seen as worthy of a trial, Xavier administrators refused to reexamine their own decision. On Saturday, Wells visited Maryland, attending the football game against the Tribe (hopefully not paying too much attention to the action) and was reportedly pleased with the trip, according to The Post.

“I credit Maryland, they really got his spirits up,” the source told The Post. “It was a blessing to me to hear. It started out a rough week for him. He went through Kentucky, Memphis, but Maryland was the first time I heard the excitement back in his voice.”

Adding Wells this late would be an underrated coup for the Terps, who could likely add him to the roster this season. Wells averaged 9.8 points and 4.9 rebounds as a freshman for the Musketeers, making the Atlantic 10’s all-rookie team.

Wells would bring immediate depth to an untested front line, and would be another source for a Terps team currently devoid of proven scoring options. With the football program staring at another less than inspiring season, this news has demonstrated basketball Head Coach Mark Turgeon’s will to constantly improve his roster. While Wells’ decision is by no means guaranteed, Maryland’s opportunistic attempts to woo him to College Park are inspiring. This move shows students, alumni and fans the team is looking not only to build for the future, but to also win right away. And with the NBA prospect Harrison twins’ recruitment attempts on the horizon, it is a promising sign that Maryland has the ability to still put its name in the mix after two subpar seasons.

At least we don’t have to think about only football for the next three months.

What Exactly Happened in English Soccer Sunday?

 It is a pretty well known fact that soccer just isn’t a top drawing sport in the United States. Professional football, baseball, basketball, and their college counterparts are the undisputed favorite sports today, with hockey, soccer, and even a growing lacrosse fighting for the remaining adoration from fans. Meanwhile, old favorites such as horse racing and boxing have gone by the wayside. This is just the way it is, and most soccer fans in America have no interest trying to shove “the beautiful game” down anyone’s throat.

For any sports fan with a pulse however, on Sunday soccer was on the forefront of the sports landscape as one of the most thrilling league finals of all time occurred while many Americans were just beginning their day (college students anyway, 10 a.m. is early…).

For those with their heads stuck regrettably in the sand, Manchester City defeated Queens Park Rangers in the final game of the 38-week English Premier League season 3-2 to hang on to first place and the championship. And while this doesn’t exactly scream “must watch,” allow the following paragraphs to explain just how magical of a Sunday afternoon it was in Manchester, England.

Entering the game, Manchester City was tied with local rival Manchester United for first place with 86 points. City held the tiebreaker, however, based on goal differential. With this edge, all City needed to do was beat lowly QPR, who was fighting its own battle of avoiding relegation from Britain’s top league. A win for City meant a championship, and for its tortured fan base, the first such success since 1968. By tortured, imagine being a Red Sox fan prior to 2004. A Tampa Bay Rays fan prior to 2008. A Cleveland sports fan ever. You get the point. A win for Queens Park assured their permanence in the Premier League.

If it’s juicy storylines you want, consider this: Queens Park head coach Mark Hughes was fired by Manchester City midseason in December of 2009 after only 18 months at the helm. The firing was considered by many soccer pundits as unreasonable and several Queens Park players spoke about how they saw this game as an opportunity for Hughes to exact revenge on his former team.

Meanwhile, Queens Park held the worst road record in the Premier league, while Manchester City had the best home record, winning 18 of its 19 games with one tie. City had not lost a game at home since 2010.

When the match started, each team’s game plan was evident. QPR held all 11 of its players behind the ball at all times, rarely even crossing midfield if they didn’t have possession. Meanwhile, City pushed its men forward, yearning for a goal, and a lead that they thought would be sufficient in stifling any QPR confidence and assuring a title clinch.

The statistics matched the styles. City would eventually total an astounding 44 shots, while maintaining possession for an equally unrealistic 81 percent of the game. To put that in perspective, imagine the New England Patriots keeping the ball on offense for more than three entire quarters of an NFL game.

The contest became target practice for City, and in the 39th minute, their efforts paid off in an interesting fashion. Keeping with the story line theme, City midfielder Yaya Toure suffered an injury around the 34th minute that saw him limping around as City head coach Roberto Mancini sorted out who to substitute him for. However, an obviously impaired Toure never requested to come off the field, and Mancini didn’t sub him out, at least not immediately. This decision by Mancini would be the first of several that directly aided City’s efforts, and the way Mancini pulled the strings in crunch time cannot be applauded enough.

When the 39th minute rolled around, it was Toure who somehow hobbled into the penalty area and assisted City’s first goal, a strike by defender Pablo Zabaleta, who, oh by the way, had not scored a single goal in any competition the entire season. At halftime the score was 1-0 and City seemed in complete control.

            Fast forward now to the second half when seemingly everything started happening at once. In the 48th minute, City defender Joleon Lescott horribly misplayed a routine header 40 yards from his own net, allowing QPR forward Djibril Cisse an easy goal, and more importantly, a 1-1 tie.

            With Manchester United holding a 1-0 lead in their final match, happening at nearly the same exact time, City knew that a tie would do them no good. The usually effervescent City crowd was now silent, and doubt began to creep in if their title hopes would once again be lost in some dramatic fashion (Think “Curse of Bartman” for the Cubs in 2003).

            The drama continued. In the 54th minute, all hell broke loose when QPR’s Joey Barton and City’s Carlos Tevez clashed on the edge of the Rangers’ penalty area. After a chat between the head referee and linesman, Barton was correctly given a red card for elbowing Tevez seemingly out of no where. A frustrated Barton then kicked City forward Sergio Aguero before being escorted off of the field in a mad loss of composure.

            The theater only intensified after the expulsion of Barton, as an invigorated City began a barrage on goal. Shot after shot either went wide or was saved by QPR goalkeeper Patrick Kenny, playing one of the best games of his career. City’s attack culminated in a point blank shot by Aguero that Kenny somehow reached back and grabbed just as the ball was even with the goal line. The score remained tied at one, and what happened next would send the game into a whirlwind.

            In the 66th minute QPR managed only their second legitimate attempt on goal, and midfielder Jamie Mackey scored a header on a fast break to take an impossible 2-1 lead. With the QPR visitor section screaming in jubilation, a teenage City fan was shown on camera crying in desperation at the score line, seemingly forgetting there were still 30 minutes left in the game. For an American comparison, imagine crying when your favorite football team falls behind ten points midway through the third quarter. Giving and taking emotions with every minute, there’s a reason soccer is called “the beautiful game”.

            This is when Mancini made the first of two crucial changes that would turn the game around. Down a goal, Mancini immediately inserted forward Edin Dzeko, a talented substitute who had already scored 13 goals for City, in the 69th minute.

            With City sending more and more shots on goal but without a positive result, Mancini then made his final substitution, subbing in temperamental striker Mario Balotelli seven minutes after Dzeko.

            From the 75th minute on, QPR, playing with 10 men, began using everyone as a defender, allowing City to possess the ball unchallenged as close as 30 yards from the Rangers’ net. For yet another stateside comparison, the game looked oddly like a hockey power play, with QPR playing down a man basically sitting back only trying to clear the ball as far away as possible. Except in hockey, a typical power play is two minutes long. This power play lasted 30 minutes.

            Yet up until the 90th minute, City had still not been able to break down QPR’s wall of defense. After the fourth official added five long minutes of stoppage time due to the amount spent sending off Barton, City turned the pulse-pounding final match into a Hollywood story.

            In the 92nd minute, Mancini’s second substitute, Dzeko, strongly netted a corner kick with an open header, sending the stadium into a frenzy. However, the clock continued to tick, and City still needed a goal to take the lead and to turn their glimpse of hope into a first place finish in the Premier League. Before the amazed announcers, not to mention QPR, could catch their breath, City was back on the attack. With the crowd chanting like the Romans in the time of gladiators, Mancini’s final substitute, Balotelli, managed to control and turn the ball in one motion 18 yards from goal and pushed a neat pass to a cutting Aguero, who took one touch and then blasted a shot left of Kenny’s outstretched hand into the back of the net. 3-2 City in the 94th minute.

            There are no American comparisons needed to explain the finality of City’s inspiring comeback. The story truly tells itself. And if you aren’t a soccer fan, perhaps Sunday’s events are enough of a nudge for you to seek out “the beautiful game.” 

Highlights here