Big Ten Basketball: Way-too-early power rankings for 2020-21 season

Despite losing stars Cowan and Smith, Maryland does have a pretty solid core returning. Eric Ayala, Darryl Morsell, Donta Scott, and Aaron Wiggins. All four played really significant roles last year and Ayala, Morsell, and Wiggins all averaged at least 8.5 points per game.

The Terrapins are counting on those four to take their games to the next level, and all four have shown the ability to do just that.

The problem is what Maryland will get from everyone else on the roster.

Depth was a major concern for Mark Turgeon’s squad this past season and, with the conference’s second-worst recruiting class coming in, obvious reinforcements aren’t coming. Depth is going to be even more of a concern in 2020-21, especially in the frontcourt after Ricky Lindo Jr. and Joshua Tomaic opted to transfer.

Maryland will have to find contributors from somewhere, and 7-2 center Chol Marial figures to be the beneficiary. He has the skill set to be a major contributor – he’s a talented big who can shoot and protect the rim – but has dealt with inconsistency, injuries, and simply wasn’t strong enough to make a significant contribution last year.

Don’t be surprised to see the Terps limit their rotation or only six or seven players, and that lack of depth – along with the questions about their frontcourt – will keep them in the middle of the conference.