Game 5: Maryland (Wed 8:30p CBS Sports Network)

[RF1]

To change the subject a little. Why hasn't anyone (Baltimore Sun, Washington Post, ESPN, Gottlieb, etc.) print or even mention the response from the Cancun Challenge? Turgeon and his crew seem just as volatile as Dan. By the way, I know it's been mentioned before, but Gottlieb sucks as an analyst.

Because the truth doesn't sell newspapers I guess.

The Baltimore Sun put out a followup (see link below) of the incident during the handshake line. According to their latest revised version of events:

A tournament official, who gave an unauthorized interview to The Baltimore Sun and The Washington Post, said he was within earshot of the handshake line, and heard Hurley saying the same thing to each Terps player.

“He said: ‘Good game, thanks for talking shit on the court,'” said the official.






http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/terp ... story.html


I myself don't think the Sun has much credibility here as their story has changed somewhat and they can't attribute things to a named individual. Their journalism in my opinion is also much in question given they ran with a one-sided version of events immediately after the game without doing a more thorough investigation and examination of the facts.

In any regards, Turgeon is not pursuing any action and the incident seems to be over. I believe that Hurley likely said something at some point (I hardly think he said something derogatory to every player). His words might have even been provoked (by someone such as the trainer). He needs however to control his temper better. He is a public figure that represents the university. There are many that do not like him and are out to get him. Furthermore, media outlets such as the Sun think nothing of defaming someone's character before having all the facts. With today's technology (video and audio) and social media, your actions and words are under intense scrutiny and can be instantly broadcast out to the world.

[The Dude]

To change the subject a little. Why hasn't anyone (Baltimore Sun, Washington Post, ESPN, Gottlieb, etc.) print or even mention the response from the Cancun Challenge? Turgeon and his crew seem just as volatile as Dan. By the way, I know it's been mentioned before, but Gottlieb sucks as an analyst.

There "sort of" was or wasn't depending on how you look at it. It's become clear to me, based on what we heard from Thorr and the Cacun officials, that the Baltimore Sun was way off base with their claim of "derogatory comments" from Hurley. It looks to me like either ridiculously poor journalism or a sad attempt to draw attention to a small media/newspaper company. Rather than retract the claims made in their earlier article they restated them again as being from a supposed official and then stated the rest of the information. It reads like a someone who's being noncommittal about finding out the truth and is happy to let things stand "as is" so as to not get egg on their face.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/terps/bs-sp-terps-cancun-hurley-follow-1127-20151126-story.html

[Joe]

I wish we would take down the NIT banner from the rafters. It is a flag of failed attempts.

It's the "You tried!" award

[rambone 78]

uch21377 kind of summed up my feelings right now.....we are not ready for prime time, and even if we had EC I would have my doubts....

Would we be better than last year? Somewhat, but the shooting issues haven't gone away, from the field or the FT line.....

Until we can CONSISTENTLY make shots, we're not there....we always seem to be a player or two away....sorry to say.....

Need to become a top 100 offense to compliment that defense. That will do the trick.

Will our shooting improve next season? We lose Four, and gain 3 bigs and a freshmen PG.

I'd have to say not much, as things stand right now. If only JT and JG could shoot.......

[rodfromcranston]

Wow! Why are we talking about next year already?
Good, bad or indifferent, I want to see how this plays out first.
Bigs develop slower than guards.
Don't expect miracles next year from the three big kids.
Shooting won't improve. Players are either shooters or they aren't,
with few exceptions.

[TruePoint]

Wow! Why are we talking about next year already?

This is exactly what I was saying when you went in on me.

[rambone 78]

OK, I'll give you all this:

Let's see how this plays out this season before making judgements about next season.

But Rod is right about the shooting.

We need guards who can shoot. We have one now [Four] and one who is hurt. That's it.

[rodfromcranston]

Forwards who can shoot are a nice thing, too.

[section(105)]

Cha-Ching...

[rambone 78]

Rod is on to something here......

but some think we'll be just fine......

we'll see next Saturday night.......

[luke]

my only hope is that the players start to relax as the season [progresses. It looked to me like another
deer in the headlights game against Maryland the same as the Kansas game last year. Every player
except Iverson and Watson looked intimidated by the Maryland players. Maybe the hot shooting had them
in awe early because they know they can't shoot like that. I remember EC and Hassan looked like they were
intimidated against Arizona as freshman, but they got over it in a few games and started to assert themselves.
We need to hope Jarvis and Terrell start to relax and that goes for Thompson and Akele as well. I have seen
Jarvis and Terrell shoot better, so I know they can. They have to learn to relax against the better teams and
not tense up. A little shooting success against some lesser opponents might be the cure. Have to
hope that next year Dowtin is as good a shooter as advertised. so far Thompson hasn't even shown a glimmer
of his supposed excellent shooting touch. There is still time this season to make great strides. Villanova got
beat by 30 points in their last game before going into the 1985 dance and winning it all. sometimes a team
like Maryland just has a special night. and it sure looked like they were having one on Wednesday. Everything
was falling and everything went their way. do I think URI would beat them in a rematch/ Probably not, but I
believe it would be a much closer game.

[brady1]

I don't have a problem with any of the posters on here questioning the coach program etc almost all are unbiased and objective. It's a fan message board post away. With that said Rambone makes me want to shoot myself in the head. The "we are absolutely doomed " "we'll never win another game" type stuff over and over is nauseating.

RR hate your take on Football but like your basketball posts but disagree with Dan's utter hatred of zone. I get we play lockdown D but against top 25 teams URI is sometimes not going to have the horses to win a game with lockdown D all game. A little zone here and there to mix things up can actually make a lockdown D better. Also if your frontcourts thin and in foul trouble a zone can hide your bigman in foul trouble.

I thought a little zone against Dayton last year in A-10 tourney would have helped our tired team get some rest in game.

That's CYO national championship opinion stuff ya know.

GO RHODY!

[ramster]

Really? We've had ONE four year front court player
score in double figures.
Show me any decent program that can say that.
EC? He's isn't very efficient, even at full strength.
Let's not make him into what he's not. He's a 41% shooter,
32% from 3.
So every game we lose, it's going to be,"Oh, if we only had EC"?
Kris Dunn went down, and Ed Cooley turned Bryce Cotten into a demon
scoring machine, and they went to the NCAA.
You can't run a program expecting an Iverson to drop in your lap,
to compensate for offense.
As for size, we've needed it from day one, not just year five.
Sorry, I don't drink Koolaide. It blurs the vision.

The offense would only be slightly less ugly with a healthy EC, coaching up the offense should be a priority going forward. These guys are not devoid of skills they need to be coached up a little bit. There is no reason this team can not be improved offensively. The tunnel vision approach to coaching is not going to cut it. Will Dan Hurley adapt and improve from a good to a great coach?

I'd disagree that our offense would be "only slightly less ugly with a healthy EC" and here's why:

3 Pointers
- Last year EC shot 32.5% on 3 pointers hitting 68-209 which was the best accuracy of anyone on our team. This represented 43.3% of total 3 point attempts - so exactly what you would want, your highest accuracy shooter taking the most attempts
- Last year the rest of the team shot 3 pointers at 78-273 for 28.6%
- Our Opponents shot 120-452 for only 26.5%
Free Throws
- Last year EC shot 130-177 for 73.4% which was the best accuracy of anyone on our team. This represented 21.8% of total team FTs from our most accurate shooter
- Last year the rest of the team shot FTs at 402-635 for 63.3%

While 32.5% may not sound outstanding it was still the best we had, plus EC played with his foot problem and his right hand little finger issue. He was shooting very well during the summer months and in preseason practices/scrimmages looking forward to a big Junior Year intent on improving his team leading shooting percentages and overall game. His passing ability, especially on breaks and especially his rebounding are strengths we miss as well, not to mention his experience and leadership.

It's early but through 5 games for our Guards:
3 Pointers
Garrett 3-15 for 20%
Terrell 5-20 for 25%
McGlynn 12-29 for 41%

Free Throws
- Garrett 16-24 for 67%
- Terrell 10-17 for 59%
- McGlynn 14-17 for 82%

Looking at the Maryland Game only:
- Garrett, Terrell and McGlynn went a combined 0-12 on 3 pointers. Only Iverson hit 3's going 2-3
- Garrett, Terrell and McGlynn combined for 11-17 for 65% on FTs
- Team hit 21-29 FTs for 72.4% so FTs were not the issue against Maryland

By the way for comparison purposes to Kris Dunn:
Last year:
- 27-77 for 35.1% on 3 pointers (far fewer than ECs 209 attempts)
- 118-172 for 68.6% on FTs
This year through 6 games:
- 4-17 for 23.5% on 3 pointers
- 34-45 for 75.6% on FTs

While Dunn is looked at as one of the best players in College Basketball today, NBA Scouts are slosely looking at his shooting ability, especially from 3 point range. Today's game with Michigan State will be a big look for NBA Scouts as Dunn goes head to head with Valentine who is lighting up the statistics board so far

[ATPTourFan]

Thanks, Ramster, for taking time to look at some numbers and sharing your findings.

For those who feel our offensive troubles are locked in for the rest of the long season, the small sample size hardly supports that position.

[rodfromcranston]

If Dunn came out today, he'd be a lottery pick,,
because of all he does.
Rondo and Jason Kidd couldn't shoot, either.
EC isn't anywhere close to what Dunn is, and you can
put up all the stats you want, and it means nothing.
Comparing the two is absurd.
EC is not an efficient shooter. Period.
Lighten up on Rambone.
If you hate a conflicting opinion, then shut this board down.

[rambone 78]

Rod, this board's name should become The Keaney Blue Skies Board.

All who disagree, need to go.

That includes most of us older guys, who know this team couldn't hold the jock strap of the late 70's, 80's, and 90's clubs.

[bressler3south]

If Dunn came out today, he'd be a lottery pick,,
because of all he does.
Rondo and Jason Kidd couldn't shoot, either.
EC isn't anywhere close to what Dunn is, and you can
put up all the stats you want, and it means nothing.
Comparing the two is absurd.
EC is not an efficient shooter. Period.
Lighten up on Rambone.
If you hate a conflicting opinion, then shut this board down.

That, readers, is an interesting proposition. How anti-American can Basketball, I mean, respecting the right to differences of opinion be?

[rodfromcranston]

It's not just an age thing.
In September, I was speaking to a long time booster,
who was telling me that this team could have beaten
any of our NCAA teams.
I said I felt the '78 team would steamroller this one.
"Why? Who was on that team?"
Only Sly, Jiggy and Stanley, with Jimmy Wright and Phil Kydd
deep on the bench.
Just a twilight zone converstation.

[rambone 78]

This team hasn't won squat.

And they aren't going to win squat this season either. With EC, they had a chance. Without him, nope.

Takes all kinds I guess, Rod [about that booster].

[Obadiah]

Here are the remaining big games on the schedule:

1. PC at home
2. at Nebraska
3. at Old Dominion
4. at George Washington
5. at UMass
6. Dayton at home
7. at VCU
8. at Davidson
9. at Dayton

This year URI's disadvantage is that only two will be played at Ryan. Those nine games will dictate the season.

[rambone 78]

How many of those will we win?

Would be an interesting discussion.

[Rhody15]

How many of those will we win?

Would be an interesting discussion.

4?

[ATPTourFan]

Here are the remaining big games on the schedule:

1. PC at home
2. at Nebraska
3. at Old Dominion
4. at George Washington
5. at UMass
6. Dayton at home
7. at VCU
8. at Davidson
9. at Dayton

This year URI's disadvantage is that only two will be played at Ryan. Those nine games will dictate the season.

Agreed.

[rambone 78]

With EC, about 5.

Without, 2-3.

[RhowdyRam02]

Really? We've had ONE four year front court player
score in double figures.
Show me any decent program that can say that.
EC? He's isn't very efficient, even at full strength.
Let's not make him into what he's not. He's a 41% shooter,
32% from 3.
So every game we lose, it's going to be,"Oh, if we only had EC"?
Kris Dunn went down, and Ed Cooley turned Bryce Cotten into a demon
scoring machine, and they went to the NCAA.
You can't run a program expecting an Iverson to drop in your lap,
to compensate for offense.
As for size, we've needed it from day one, not just year five.
Sorry, I don't drink Koolaide. It blurs the vision.

It's funny, you talk about how we can't run a program expecting guys to fall in your lap, but the sentence before you bring up Bryce Cotton, who is the very definition of a player falling into a coaches lap.

As for bigs, Hurley knew all along he needed them. Contrary to popular belief, recruiting a certain type of player isn't as easy as going to the supermarket and picking out the type of groceries you want. He has those players coming in next season.

Sometimes being positive doesn't mean you're drinking Kool-aid, sometimes it just means you're right.

[section(105)]

For me, we need to be cautious discounting the others in the A-10, until proven otherwise on the court, they all are big games....especially on the road.....win the next one on the sked....

[rodfromcranston]

Bryce Cotton was a four year player, who Ed Cooley
recruited.
He wasn't a 5th year transfer of a transfer.

[RhowdyRam02]

It's not just an age thing.
In September, I was speaking to a long time booster,
who was telling me that this team could have beaten
any of our NCAA teams.
I said I felt the '78 team would steamroller this one.
"Why? Who was on that team?"
Only Sly, Jiggy and Stanley, with Jimmy Wright and Phil Kydd
deep on the bench.
Just a twilight zone converstation.

And as good as that 78 team was, they still lost by 28 to Michigan State and by 20 to PC with both games at the civic center. And they weren't missing their best or second best player at the time. If that team had games like that, why wouldn't this team after losing EC?

[RhowdyRam02]

Bryce Cotton was a four year player, who Ed Cooley
recruited.
He wasn't a 5th year transfer of a transfer.

Is that accurate? I thought he committed to the program when Keno Davis was still coach and he was barely recruited out of high school. That would seem to be a player falling into a coaches lap as much as a transfer.

[bressler3south]

It's not just an age thing.
In September, I was speaking to a long time booster,
who was telling me that this team could have beaten
any of our NCAA teams.
I said I felt the '78 team would steamroller this one.
"Why? Who was on that team?"
Only Sly, Jiggy and Stanley, with Jimmy Wright and Phil Kydd
deep on the bench.
Just a twilight zone converstation.

And as good as that 78 team was, they still lost by 28 to Michigan State and by 20 to PC with both games at the civic center. And they weren't missing their best or second best player at the time. If that team had games like that, why wouldn't this team after losing EC?

That team also beat PC twice (lastly for the ECAC crown), #19 San Francisco on the road, was 6-3 away, and 5-3 on "neutral courts," which included a one-point loss to #7 Duke at Charlotte in NCAA.

[RhowdyRam02]

It's not just an age thing.
In September, I was speaking to a long time booster,
who was telling me that this team could have beaten
any of our NCAA teams.
I said I felt the '78 team would steamroller this one.
"Why? Who was on that team?"
Only Sly, Jiggy and Stanley, with Jimmy Wright and Phil Kydd
deep on the bench.
Just a twilight zone converstation.

And as good as that 78 team was, they still lost by 28 to Michigan State and by 20 to PC with both games at the civic center. And they weren't missing their best or second best player at the time. If that team had games like that, why wouldn't this team after losing EC?

That team also beat PC twice (lastly for the ECAC crown), #19 San Francisco on the road, was 6-3 away, and 5-3 on "neutral courts," which included a one-point loss to #7 Duke at Charlotte in NCAA.

Sure, but I think the main point people like me and TruePoint have been trying to make is that while this game sucked, long term forecasts shouldn't be made with this game as the main information point, and I've been bringing up other teams and their bad losses to illustrate that. Teams better then ours have had blowout losses. No matter how many points you lose by, it still only counts as one loss, and out of conference, this early in the season is mostly inconsequential. The only thing we really learned from the other night is that if this team plays poorly against a top ranked team playing well they'll get killed. And frankly, if anyone needed the other night to learn that I question how much they knew in the first place. The other night didn't tell us how good we'll be the rest of the year and is certainly not an accurate indication of where we stand overall.

[RhowdyRam02]

One thing I think we can all agree about is thank God there's a game this afternoon so we have something else to talk about.

[rambone 78]

That's true, the testiness level always rises after a bad loss.......

[Billyboy78]

The only people who can comment on the '78 team is those that saw them play. Looking at game scores says nothing. In my 50 years of watching, that's the best team, I can't say of all time, because there were lots of teams before that I did not see. I can say with confidence that the '78 team had the best player to ever wear Keaney Blue. A game between the '78 team and the current team, with EC, would not be close.

[bressler3south]

The only people who can comment on the '78 team is those that saw them play. Looking at game scores says nothing. In my 50 years of watching, that's the best team, I can't say of all time, because there were lots of teams before that I did not see. I can say with confidence that the '78 team had the best player to ever wear Keaney Blue. A game between the '78 team and the current team, with EC, would not be close.

Don't forget Irv "Manos de Piedra" Chatman and John "I Never Had a Three-Point Line -- But I Wish I Had" Nelson.
Didn't we have this as a Summertime discussion?

[theblueram]

I thought it was because the team was banned from the Pub the night before games and opposing teams were offered free beer all night

[rodfromcranston]

The '78 team beat nationally ranked USF, Wake Forest,
Brigham Young with Danny Ainge, UConn, BC, and PC TWICE.,
went 24-7 and were a couple of John Nelson point blank misses from beating Duke and playing
the next 2 games at the PCC, leading to Final Four.
I've met you and I see no way you know jack about ther '78 team
except to try to read scores and make some conclusion that they weren't that good.
Their competition was literally coast to coast, playing numerous ranked teams.
Dave Gavitt said they had an NBA style front line.
They were deep and they were tough.
They had the greatest player of the modern post Frank Keaney era.
They ended that season as hot as any team in the country.
You want to dare compare the '78 team to this team?
Please! You don't have the remotest clue.

[hrstrat57]

The 78 team was a team with a legit shot at the national championship.

Perhaps Ernie Calverly and crew had a legit shot but the 78 club was loaded with zero weaknesses.

Nelson makes that shot 98 out of 100 times....still can't believe shot didn't go in....

[theblueram]

I'll disagree. The 98 team was about shit fart from the Final Four. With potential to win it all.

[hrstrat57]

TBR I don't think we could have beaten UK....if so = you are right legit shot vs. Utah in the NCG.

[theblueram]

They beat #1 Kansas. What did the 78 team do in the tournament?

[brady1]

The 98 team needs some kudos here. Friigin Herrick was a bounce or foul or free throw from giving the blue blood basketball world a giant F U! EXPENSE THIS! Mobley, Wheeler, Clay, Reynolds-Dean, Preston, King and don't forget they probably had the best player in country on their practice squad.

OH THE FREAKEN GOOD OLD DAYS!

NICE WIN TODAY!

GO RHODY!

[theblueram]

TBR I don't think we could have beaten UK....if so = you are right legit shot vs. Utah in the NCG.

Stanford lost by 1 to UK.

[brady1]

Most people had the Jayhawks as the #1 ranked true top seed of the DANCE!

Both 78 and 98 were great basketball teams.

GO RHODY!

[Ramulous]

1978, 1988, and 1998 are tied for the best team we ever had....

...1988 holds special meaning for me because we beat Syracuse of the big east in the tournament...at a time when the big east was in it's heyday and the A-10 was nothing....

....my favorite team of all time who then got screwed in the next game against Duke because of bad karma.....

[bressler3south]

I'll disagree. The 98 team was about shit fart from the Final Four. With potential to win it all.

Ah, the "What If Shart."

You are getting old, Blueram, now a true historian writing about yesteryear…..

[theblueram]

I'll disagree. The 98 team was about shit fart from the Final Four. With potential to win it all.

Ah, the "What If Shart."

You are getting old, Blueram, now a true historian writing about yesteryear…..

Well, when you old farts pass on, 98 will be the greatest team ever from my perspective. (not that I want you guys to pass on)

[theblueram]

1978, 1988, and 1998 are tied for the best team we ever had....

...1988 holds special meaning for me because we beat Syracuse of the big east in the tournament...at a time when the big east was in it's heyday and the A-10 was nothing....

....my favorite team of all time who then got screwed in the next game against Duke because of bad karma.....

88 was probably my favorite year. In Germany in the Army. Watching on AFN. Joined the Army so I could pay for URI. It was probably my best tournament ever.

[Billyboy78]

I go by the eyeballs. 88 and 98 were great teams. 78 was better. Sly Williams is on a different level, and he was just one piece of that great team.

[rodfromcranston]

Not only was the '78 team better than the 98 team, but the
1988 team would have killed them.
Silk, Garrick, John Evans, Bonzie Colson, and the awesome Kenny Green.
Green destroyed Derick Coleman head to head.
Silk was the best PG and all time URI leading scorer.
Garrick was a lockdown defender and 20 ppg scorer.
Jack Kraft flat out said his team would have beaten Kentucky in 1978.
Goose Givens got 42 points in the championship game.
"Nobody would have scored 42 points on us, ever" said Kraft.
When Sly was at his best, as he was against Duke, he was the best of the best.
He played with fire.
As for Lamar practicing with the 98 team, HE DIDN'T!
He was not allowed to practice, for some unknown reason.
I know, I practically lived in Keaney when Harrick was coach.