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Maryland Terrapins Non-Conference Schedule Features Marquee Squads

By Cory Gill

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College Basketball is unlike any other major sport in the country.

The style of play is different in every major conference, the fan bases are crazy, and unlike other major sports there are no best of seven series’ or small playoffs.

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Instead 68 teams have a shot at creating madness and claiming the title. The format is fun, but the best team hardly ever wins, just ask Kentucky.

Although there is no way to fully prepare for March Madness, the teams most likely to succeed are those that build competitive non-conference schedules.

Maryland, a team that has lacked recent success in the Big Dance, looks to advance past the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2003.

Coach Mark Turgeon has set the bar high and thinks the team will contend for the schools first National Championship since 2002.

The Maryland Terrapins announced their 2015-16 non-conference schedule a week ago. The schedule reflects the attitude of the players and coaches, featuring marquee match-ups with Georgetown, North Carolina, and Connecticut which will be plenty preparation for top competition come March.

The Hoyas, Tar Heels, and Huskies all will present different challenges for a Maryland team with high hopes for 2015-16.

Mar 3, 2015; Piscataway, NJ, USA; Maryland Terrapins head coach Mark Turgeon reacts to a call during the first half of game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at the Louis Brown Athletic Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim O’Connor-USA TODAY Sports

In preparation for competition in the Big Ten and NCAA Tournament the Terps will face off against a typical frontcourt heavy Georgetown team, a top Player of the Year Candidate in North Carolina’s Marcus Paige, and a much improved UCONN team.

The 2015-16 version of the Maryland Terps is built around the dynamic guard play of Melo Trimble. To support him the Terps added Rasheed Suliamon, Jaylen Brantley, Robert Carter, and last but not least, Diamond Stone this off-season.

Carter and Stone will provide necessary depth to the Terrapins’ frontcourt and Brantley is a more than capable backup for Player of the Year Candidate, Melo Trimble.

Some are going as far to say that the Terps added to much depth and could end up causing chemistry problems. Head Coach, Mark Turgeon doesn’t think so and responded to the criticism without hesitation.

"“I’m not worried about that right now. What I’m worried about is making guys better. It’s too hard for me to tell right now. If you ask me that same question in September or October, I may be able to give you a different answer. I love having good players. We have quality depth. We’re going to get better every day in practice and when you can get better every day in practice, you’re probably going to have a pretty good team. I see that happening with us.”"

He also noted in the interview that Georgia Tech transfer, Robert Carter has brought maturity to the team, and Rasheed Suliamon has provided unexpected leadership to the young Maryland squad after being dismissed from Duke last season.

With the new shot clock rules in place and the expected increased pace in the game, more depth will be another reason to fear the Terps in 2015-16.

Over the past decade the Big Ten has been dominated by the likes of slow grind it out Wisconsin, Michigan State, and Ohio State teams. Starting now, Maryland will make their case as the new alpha dog.

The fun begins on Nov. 17th when Georgetown comes to College Park. Georgetown is another team, like Maryland, looking to rejuvenate its fan base with a NCAA Tournament run.

The Hoyas will be a more physical matchup than the Terps will face all season in the Big Ten. Georgetown will pound the ball down low and help Maryland’s young new big man Diamond Stone get a chance to compete at a high level and develop quickly.

Playing in front of a hometown crowd early in the season should help boost his confidence and enable him to become the unstoppable force that he was sought after to be.

Pop you popcorn for Dec. 1st as we will all be witness’s as Melo Trimble faces off against Marcus Paige and an impressive North Carolina team that also has its sights set on a title.

In 2014-15 Trimble and Paige both averaged more than 14.2 PPG but what they do on offense is more than just scoring. These two guards are special in one way — they do it all.

They see things on the court that nobody else does, they are aware of their teammates, opponents, play defense and hustle. They knock down big shots and have confidence in their teammates.

You may not have clicked on all those links, whether you know what I mean or not- I suggest you take the time. Okay, its obvious these guys are good.

In order to advance through the tournament, teams need players like this who can create offense and score the basketball. Ben Gordon, Kemba Walker, Corey Brewer, Carmelo Anthony, Kyle Singler, and Tyus Jones are all recent examples of players that have done this and won titles.

Maryland Terrapins
Maryland Terrapins /

Maryland Terrapins

One week later on Dec. 8th Maryland will top it all off in Madison Square Garden facing off against one of the most storied programs in college basketball, the Connecticut Huskies. The Huskies won the title in 2014, then limped  through a painful season in 2015 that ended at the hands of Arizona State in the first round of the NIT.

Rebuilt to contend in 2015-16 the Huskies may not be contending for a title but they’ll be in the field in March.

Playing in MSG isn’t like playing anywhere else, and is as close to a tournament like atmosphere as you can get in December.

Pay close attention to the Terrapins as they look to silence the critics early in the season and could potentially head into Conference play undefeated. The games will be close but Maryland shouldn’t have a problem at home with Georgetown because they can match their size and outplay them in the backcourt.

North Carolina presents the most challenges, but look for outstanding guard play from Melo Trimble to put the Terps in the mix as title favorites for the 2015-16 season.

Next: Is Tom Crean Overspending to Cover Underachieving

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