Maryland Basketball: 2021-22 season preview and outlook for Terrapins

Overall outlook for Maryland Basketball

If you are a Terp’s fan, you have to be excited about this upcoming season, although I must admit, if DM and Wigs would have stayed I think the Terp’s would have been cutting down the nets come March. So, with that said they both will always be Terps. Let us rewind for a second go back to last year’s offseason where the Terp’s missed out on so many transfers, that it just wasn’t funny at the time. So, no true point guard, no true center/big man, and no depth was the knock on the team last year, which was all very true.

And, so this off-season, BOOM!!!!!

Everything just falls into place as Maryland hit the jackpot in the transfer portal as Turgeon got his wish with PG Fatts Russell and C Qudus Wahab coming to the program. What does this mean?. Ayala can play a position that is efficient for him as a scorer. Whether it be shooting the long ball or driving to the basket.

HartXVIERcan play on the wing where he can be a better scorer and distributor. Scott can play his natural position and I expect Mr. Scott to blow up and have a banner season, as his game will move to the next level as a down-low player. Fatts will be the floor general, but still, score when needed and last but not least. The Terp’s have a big man in Wahab, a rim protector, rebounder, and in the paint scorer. The Terp’s were last in offensive rebounding, so I’m guessing that will not happen this season.

This starting five is looking pretty dam good right now and I will put them up against any team in the Big 10. The Terp’s calling cards over the last several years have been hard nose and aggressive defense, so I hate to tell the college basketball world, but the Terp’s defense just got alot better.

The Terp’s also won the pot of gold in the transfer portal for not only a much-needed point guard and center, but the portal also provided an opportunity to gain some depth at just about every position. Green, Dziuba, Martinez provide some much-needed and experienced depth for the Terps. Not only is this an improvement offensively, but once again, that pesky Maryland defense just got better.

I am very excited to see the freshmen Reece, Graham, and Cornish in action, as this is a very solid incoming class and all three will play a major role in how the season shakes out. But, I must admit, I am really, really excited to see Mr. Reece and his game. As he is much heralded coming out of high school and already has been compared to other previous Maryland superstars. If he is anything like his sister Angel, the Terp’s have the next superstar in the making.

I cant wait to see Reece and Wahab on the court at the same time and that is something we have not seen in a while, that being two quality big men on the floor at the same time. Once again offensively, they just got better, but once again that Maryland defense just got a little nastier.

There are some new faces on the bench this year as well, which Shingler and Manning are both great hires, as they both have ties and knowledge of the area. But, who better to mentor and teach Wahab and Reece how to play like a big man, then one of the greatest big men ever to play college basketball in Danny Manning. I was excited when the announcement was made of his hiring, as the effects of his hiring will be felt for many years to come as Maryland will now start getting more and more talented big men coming to College Park.

Coach Turgeon is an interview with 24/7 sports was quoted as saying;

"“But we’re nowhere near what we’re going to be, That’s a good thing. It’s really going to come together and knock on wood, we have a lot of depth. You always do this time of year. I always say that this is probably my deepest team. It’s not my most talented team, but it’s probably my deepest team since our 28-win team with Dez Wells and Melo. That was a deep team, but this team might even be a little deeper than that.”"

The outlook for this year’s team in my opinion is the sky’s the limit. They have talent, they have depth and they have experience. But, they still have the one thing that makes them the Terps. That Maryland defense, I think is what will determine how far this team goes into March. Offensively, they will be better, but from a defensive and rebounding standpoint, this Terp’s team could really go far come March.

I see them finishing no lower than fourth in the Big 10 regular season, I can see a possible Big 10 tournament finals appearance as well. Now come March and the NCAA Tournament, I see the Terps’ no lower than a three or four seed, and I can see them at the very least making the Sweet Sixteen. Expectations are high in TerpNation and those expectations are rightfully warranted, as this could be and will be a special year in College Park.