Maryland Basketball: 2019-20 season review of the Terrapins
Key players to the Terps success
Anthony Cowan Jr., Guard (16.3 ppg, 4.7 apg)
Cowan Jr. gave the Maryland basketball fans and community his all every time he stepped out on the floor. His father was a big fan of the Maryland basketball, Cowan Jr. starred at St. John’s College High School in Washington, D.C. and his grandmother taught at the University of Maryland. So playing for the Terps made all the sense in the world.
After a 12 point and nine-rebound performance against American University in his first start, 127 consecutive starts later, he broke Keith Booth’s record of 126 against the Minnesota Golden Gophers. He finished his career with 130 consecutive starts and 579 made free throws. Those stats are the most all-time in school history.
What I always enjoyed when watching Cowan Jr. was his ability to stay calm and composed in every situation on the court. That ability allowed him to become the closer that he was for the Terps. It became even more evident this season. The comeback win against Illinois, redemption in the Breslin Center against Michigan State, helping the Terps stand firm at home against Rutgers and the list goes on.
One thing is for sure. He was never afraid of contact. When he drives to the basket, it almost always results in a bucket, a foul or both. His perimeter shooting was outstanding this season in times when the Terps really needed a basket or to stretch the lead. He finished third in career three-point field goals made with 206.
I really like his chances to go pro and get an NBA or overseas opportunity. Even though he didn’t end his career with an NCAA Tournament run, he will be remembered and appreciated by Terps fans everywhere.
When @notthefakeSVP first hatched the idea for #SeniorNight, he was thinking of one guy@AnthonyCowanJr ❤️ pic.twitter.com/U76bdZgfxn
— Maryland Men’s Basketball (@TerrapinHoops) March 27, 2020
Jalen Smith, Forward (15.5 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 36.8 percent perimeter shooter)
Jalen Smith was the leader in the frontcourt and led by example in a season where he improved a great deal. He was a double-double machine this season and his productivity game-to-game helped his NBA Draft stock continue to rise. According to nbadraftroom.com, he’s projected to go in the first round to the Denver Nuggets with the 21st pick overall. Bleacher Report has him projected to go 23rd to the Miami Heat.
While I’ve talked about his three-point shooting ability as a big man, he’s been impressive on the defensive end. With his 7-foot-1 wingspan, he’s able to block shots and get rebounds to assist Cowan Jr. in getting the fast break started with little to no effort due to his speed, quickness, and court vision. One thing I will say about Smith is that he needs to put on more muscle to deal with the grown men he will face at the next level. He’s listed at 225 pounds but gaining 15-20 more pounds won’t hurt.
Smith set himself up to declare for this year’s draft whenever it happens and if he gets selected in the first round, that will be the third Terp draftee with that recognition in the last few years.
Aaron Wiggins, Guard (10.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg)
Aaron Wiggins is another Terp that received a high honor for his play during the season. Wiggins received the Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year award. It was well-deserved considering Wiggins was their most productive bench player. He was equally as productive in the games he started. When you watch him, you know that he can shoot the perimeter shot efficiently but what’s even more impressive is his ability to attack the rim when he has the opportunity. Here were a few examples of that in Big Ten/ACC Challenge win against Notre Dame.
Here, Wiggins does a great job of chancing down the basketball to prevent the layup. The Terps won the Big Ten/ACC Challenge 72-51. Wiggins finished with 11 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks.
This was an outstanding display of following through on the shot. Wiggins put John Mooney on a poster as well.
Wiggins hits the three here in stride.
As an upperclassman, look for him to step into a leadership role and expand his game with more opportunities that will come his way due to a changing roster. After earning this conference honor, Terps fans should be excited for what’s to come from Wiggins moving forward.
Darryl Morsell, Guard (8.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg)
Darryl Morsell has been the glue guy for this Terps program. Watching him play, he can do a variety of things: start and finish the fast break, drive the lane and take a pull up jumper or get to the basket, hit the perimeter shot and make the right pass to a teammate for a scoring opportunity. His leadership has been praised by coaches and teammates and he was a driving force for a good portion of the team’s success this season.
I’ve always appreciated him for his defensive ability. The Terps have always been able to count on him for that effort. Check out some highlights from this season.
In Maryland’s 95-71 season-opening win against the Holy Cross Crusaders, Morsell drives the lane, spins, and recovers to get the layup. He had 15 points, five rebounds and four assists off the bench.
Cowan Jr. draws the defenses attention in the paint, throws the ball out to Morsell who hop steps into the lane and hits Smith with a nice pass that leads to the two-handed slam.
Cowan Jr. leads Morsell to the basket with a nice pass that results in the Terps first points of this game.
Morsell takes advantage of Cowan Jr.’s dribble penetration and catches the pass on the perimeter, drives to the basket, takes contact, pulls up and knocks down the jumper.
Morsell with the dagger! With 1.9 seconds left Morsell hit this game-winner to give the Terps the 74-73 win over Minnesota. He finished the game with 13 points, nine rebounds, a block, and a steal.
Morsell got the best of Harvard Crimson guard Bryce Aiken in this one-on-one matchup along the baseline. Morsell had a double-double (13 points, 12 rebounds) in the 80-73 win.
Morsell knocks down the contested three. He had 17 points and 10 rebounds in the Orlando Invitational Championship game.
Morsell snags the errant pass and gets the layup in transition. The Terps beat No.11 Ohio State 67-55 and Morsell finished the game with 10 points, three assists, three rebounds, and two assists.
Morsell coming back for his senior season would bode well for the Terps in terms of senior leadership and continuity. Mark Turgeon is going to need someone to look to during the transition without Anthony Cowan Jr. and Jalen Smith. Morsell is the guy for the job.
Donta Scott, Forward (5.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg)
Donta Scott stepped into a starting role at the power forward spot alongside Jalen Smith and he showed promise. His averages don’t tell the whole story. He came in and gave Maryland a much-needed lift in the frontcourt as they were looking to sort out their depth issue. He rebounded the ball well, provided offense via the three-point shot and he has the potential to get better from here. He was the most productive member of the Terps 2019 class. He finished the season on a high note offensively scoring 10 or more points in five of the last eight games.
Coming into the season, I saw him as more of a wing player, but he fits perfectly in the frontcourt. He tied for fourth on the team in rebounds with 113 and ranked fifth in made three-pointers with 25. Check out some highlights from this season.
Scott gets the basketball in the paint from Cowan Jr., bobbles it, recovers and scores for the second basket of his college career. He finished that game with nine points and six rebounds.
Scott comes in from the left corner and skies for the putback slam off of a Smith miss. Good job here off following through on a missed shot.
Eric Ayala throws a pass cross-court pass to Scott who knocks down the contested three in the left corner. He had seven points and two steals in the 84-63 Orlando Invitational Championship victory.
The Terps do a good job here of breaking through Ohio State’s zone defense. Scott sits in space and gets the ball to Smith for the slam. Scott finished with seven points, five rebounds, and two steals.
Scott showed his hustle on this play as he misses a shot, gets the rebound in traffic and converts the shot on the second attempt. He had 11 points and seven rebounds.
What will be interesting to see next season is how his role changes with Jalen Smith possibly heading to the NBA. I don’t see Scott switching to the center position. Chol Marial with an offseason under his belt should be the guy holding that spot unless the Terps land a talented grad transfer.