Indiana University of Pennsylvania The Maryland Terrapins kick off the 2009-2010 season with an exhibition game against the Crimson Hawks of Indiana University of Pennsylvania. IUP is an NCAA Division II college with roots in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). The Hawks will open their season with three back-to-back contests against ACC teams. After facing the Terrapins in their season opener IUP will continue on to both Wake Forest and Georgia Tech.
The Hawks finished last season with a 22-8 overall record, including 10-4 in conference play. IUP has certainly come a long way from the six-win season they endured just two years earlier under the first year direction of head coach Joe Lombardi. Now in his third season, Lombardi is leading the Hawks into winning seasons with the help of strong, athletic players like graduated senior forward Gerald Brooks, junior forward Darryl Webb and sophomore guard Julian Sanders.
Brooks finished the season with 1,103 career points, ranking him 17th on the all-time IUP scoring list. Brooks averaged 24 points in IUP's postseason contests and reached double figures in each of the final thirteen games. Webb attained 11 double-doubles and averaged 12.8 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. Sanders earned the coveted PSAC West Freshman of the Year award and scored 73 3-pointers in his first year, the fifth-highest single-season figure in school history.
The Terps will take on the Crimson Hawks at 8:00 pm on Tuesday, November 3rd in College Park.
Charleston Southern Charleston Southern University was established in 1964 in North Charleston, South Carolina. The Charleston Buccaneers, members of the Big South conference, finished their season with a 9-20 overall record including 4-14 in conference play.
In four seasons as head coach, Barclay Radebaugh won only 40 of the 118 games his team played. The Buccaneers suffered three back-to-back seasons with 20 or more losses and were kept home from the eight-team Big South Tournament last season after tying for last place in the Big South conference.
Injuries plagued last year's roster as Center Billy Blackmon sat out for 18 games with a broken forearm and freshman forward Kelvin Martin missed the majority of February games with a knee injury.
The team appears to be in better health this year and the Buccaneers plan to welcome back nine players in total including three starters. The list includes junior guard Jamarco Warren who led the Big South Conference in scoring for the first two months of the 2008-09 season and set the CSU record for the most 3-point shots in a single season.
CSU sophomore forward Omar Carter who was named 2007-08 Big South freshman of the year will not return for the 2009-2010 season. Carter scored in double figures in 10 of his final 11 games last season and attained six double-doubles during that period.
The Buccaneers will kick off their 2009-2010 season against the Terps on Friday, November 13th at 8:00 in College Park.
The Maryland Terrapin's team photo. Alan P. Santos/DC Sports Box file photo
The Fairfield Stags, members of the Metro Atlantic Conference (MAAC) finished last season with a 17-15 overall record, including 9-9 in conference play.
Last season the Stags roster was plagued by physical injuries. Junior forward Greg Nero missed four games due to a back injury. Junior forward Anthony Johnson sat out due to clots in his lungs and sophomore forward Warren Edney suffered with Achilles pain and problems for much of the year. Add to that the loss of point-guard Jonathan Han, who was initially suspended and ultimately chose to leave the team, and it’s a wonder the Stags finished their season with a winning record.
The team is in better health now and Fairfield will begin the 2009-2010 season with the majority of last year’s roster in tact. While the Stags will welcome only two newcomers this year, the loss of point guard Jonathan Han and senior guard Herbie Allen may be tough to bear. Han averaged 12.5 points per game and 5.3 assists.
The point guard position vacated by Han fell last year to freshman guard Jamal Turner. Unfortunately Turner struggled to protect the ball throughout the season and averaged less than one point per game. Last season’s lone senior, Herbie Allen, averaged 9.6 points per game and more minutes than any other Stag player. His presence on the court will certainly be missed.
Despite the loss of Han and Allen there is good news on the horizon for the Stags. If senior Greg Nero remains healthy he should have a breakout season. Nero averaged 12.43 points per game last season and shot .48% from 3-point range. A healthy Anthony Johnson should also provide consistent scoring and rebounding for the Stags. In just 21 games last season the junior forward averaged 9.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.0 blocks.
Returning players Yorel Hawkins, Mike Evanovich and Ryan Olander will also return to the court with more knowledge and experience. Due to last year’s extensive roster injuries all three received additional playing time.
The Terrapins will take on the Fairfield Stags on Tuesday, November 17th at 8:00 pm in College Park.
New Hampshire The New Hampshire Wildcats, members of the America East conference, finished their season with a 14-16 overall including 8-8 in conference play. The Wildcats season ended with a heartbreaking 67-72 loss to Binghamton in the America East semifinal. New Hampshire turned the ball over twice in the final seconds of that game and missed out on what would have been their first-ever trip to the conference final.
New Hampshire will start this season without senior captain and 1,000 point scorer Tyrece Gibbs. Gibbs, who was named second team All-America East, was the fifth-leading scorer in school history and the only member of the team to both play and start in all 30 games. Last season he finished first in the conference in 3-point field goals made, second in 3-point percentage and eighth in scoring and blocked shots. He averaged 33.9 minutes and 14.6 points per game.
In the absence of Gibbs, juniors and 2008 America All-Rookie Team members Alvin Abreu and Tyrone Conley will certainly need to increase their production. Abreu the second leading scorer shifted between the point guard and two-guard positions averaging 12.8 points per game. Conley, only one of three players to participate in all 30 games, averaged 8.9 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.
Sophomore point guard Russell Graham will also take a much larger role on the team this season. Graham stepped into senior Eric Gilchrese's place last year when the guard took a seven-week absence from the team. With more experience under his belt Graham's game should continue to improve. Last season he averaged 2.7 points and 1.4 assists per game.
Junior center Dane DiLiegro ranked second in the league in offensive rebounds and fifth in overall rebounds with 6.9 rebounds per game. DiLiegro provides additional firepower for the Wildcats. Last season he ranked fifth on the team in scoring with 5.7 points per game.
The Wildcats will come face to face with the Maryland Terrapins on Friday, November 20th at 8:00 pm in College Park.
Chaminade The Chaminade Silverswords will host the Maryland Terrapins in the first round of the EA Sports Maui Invitational in Lahaina, Hawaii. The Silverswords have participated in 25 previous Maui Invitationals and currently hold a 5-68 record. Chaminade University is located in Honolulu Hawaii and is the only Division II basketball program to participate in the event.
Senior Greivis Vasquez will look to lead the Maryland Terrapins to another NCAA Tournament appearance. Alan P. Santos/DC Sports Box file photo
This will be Chaminade’s third contest against Maryland. The Terrapins currently leads the series 2-0. The first meeting took place in the opening round of the 1994 Maui Invitational. In that game Keith Booth, (now an assistant coach at the University of Maryland), scored 16 points and led the Terps to a 95-67 victory.
Despite their losing tournament record the Silverswords should never be discounted. In their last match up against Maryland, at the 2005 EA Sports Maui Invitational, it looked as though Chaminade was poised for an upset. The Silverswords led for most of the first half and much of the second. Fortunately the Terps caught second wind late in the game and went on a 23-9 run that could not be quieted. Maryland ultimately finished the game up 29 points and claimed victory with a 98-69 tally.
The Terps will face the Chaminade Silverswords on Monday, November 23rd at 9:30 pm in Lahaina, Hawaii. Depending on the outcome of the first round of the EA Sports Maui Invitational, Maryland will play either Cincinnati or Vanderbilt.
Indiana Last year Indiana's abysmal season ended with a 6-25 overall record, including a horrific 1-17 record in conference play. Although this year should be better than last it still won't be an easy one for second-year head coach Tom Crean. The Hoosiers’ roster is packed with 11 young and inexperienced freshman and sophomore players.
The good news: the Hoosier's recruiting class may be one of the strongest in the nation. Jordan Hulls a 6'0'' freshman led his team to a class 4A state title and a 26-0 perfect season. Scout.com ranked him as the #9 point guard in the 2009 class. Hull will be in contention for the point-guard position against returning sophomore Verdell Jones II who started last year and averaged 11.0 points and 3.6 assists per game. Redshirt junior Jeremiah Rivers would also like a piece of the point-guard position. Rivers is a Georgetown transfer who sat out last year to satisfy NCAA transfer rules.
Other highly touted recruits include 6'5'' freshman guard Maurice Creek, 6'8'' freshman forward Christian Watford and 6'9'' forward Derek Elston. Creek was ranked as the #9 shooting guard in the 2009 class. He led his team to a 27-2 record and averaged 18.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game. Forwards Christian Watford and Derek Elston could see a starting position immediately.
The biggest question may be which players will see playing time this season. Will the highly touted newcomers replace the returning players or will their experience prove vital to the young Indiana team? Needless to say it certainly won't be difficult for the Hoosier's to attain more victories this season. With more experienced players and a new crew of young athletic freshman it's easy to believe this season will be better than the last one.
Maryland will face Indiana this year in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge on Tuesday, December 1st at 7:30 pm in Bloomington, Indiana. The history between these two teams is strong. Maryland beat Indiana on April 1, 2002 to earn the NCAA National Championship (64-52). Eight months later, the Hoosiers claimed victory in the 2003 Big Ten/ACC Challenge (80-74). The two teams have not competed against one another since 2003. Maryland currently holds a 7-3 record in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge and has won the last four contests in a row.
Villanova The Villanova Wildcats, members of the Big East, finished their season with a rallied NCAA trip to the final four where they fell 69-83 to North Carolina. The Wildcats lost only eight contests all season and tallied an impressive 30-8 overall record including 13-5 in conference play.
This season senior guards Scottie Reynolds and Reggie Redding will return to lead a team that has amassed seven NCAA Tournament contest wins in the past two seasons. After attaining Big East Rookie of the Year and NCAA Tournament East Regional Most Outstanding Player trophies many assumed Reynolds would leave Villanova for the NBA. Fortunately for the Wildcats, Reynolds decided to return to play out his senior year.
To make up for the absence of graduating seniors Dante Cunningham, Dwayne Anderson and Shane Clark, the Wildcats have recruited a new class that is currently ranked among the top three in the nation.
This list includes McDonald’s All-Americans 6’6” Dominic Cheek and 6’0” Maalik Wayns. Cheek was ranked fifth-best shooting guard recruit and 15th overall. His height provides unique opportunities at the shooting-guard position. Mouphtaou Yarou a 6-9 power forward from Montrose Christian may earn playing time immediately. Yarou was ranked 10th best power forward and No. 27 overall and is expected to become a dominant force in the paint almost immediately. Isaiah Armwood, a 6’8’’power forward and classmate of Yarou’s, is a athletic rebounder will a solid midrange jumper that is certain to give opponents trouble.
Maryland will take on Villanova on Sunday December 6th at 7:30 in the 15th annual BB&T Classic held at the Verizon Center.
Eastern Kentucky Eastern Kentucky is a Division I university located in Richmond, Kentucky. The Eastern Kentucky Colonels, members of the Ohio Valley conference, finished their season with a 18-13 record including 10-8 in conference play.
This season the Colonels will start without superstar senior guard Mike Rose. Rose ranked second nationally in 3-point shooting (49.7%) led the team in scoring with 20.0 points per game and rebounds with an average of 5.4. In a game against Covenant College on December 9th, Rose scored a career-high 33 points connecting on 6 of 9 3-point attempts.
In light of Rose's graduation, Head Coach Jeff Neubauer will certainly need the rest of the team to produce more than they did last season. Senior Josh Taylor and junior Justin Stommes ranked second and third in scoring last season averaging 10.9 and 10.1 points per game respectively. Senior guard Papa Oppong will also return this season to boost the team's offense and provide second chance opportunities. Oppong sat out for five games with a separated left shoulder, but still ranked as the team's fourth leading scorer with 9.0 points per game and the team's second leading rebounder averaging 5.4 rebounds per game.
Eastern Kentucky is a strong contender in the Ohio Valley Conference. The Colonels have one two of the last five conference tournaments and won at least 10 conference games in five of the last six seasons. Eastern Kentucky attended the NCAA conference tournament in 2005 and 2007. In 2007 they lost in the first round to the UNC Tar Heels.
Maryland will take on Eastern Kentucky Saturday December 12th at 4:30 pm in College Park.
Winston-Salem State Winston-Salem State University is a school in transition. In October of 2004 the university requested reclassification to Division I athletics, under Chancellor Harold Martin. The NCAA reviewed the request and the university began marching towards that goal shortly thereafter. In 2007, Winston-Salem State became the 12th member of the Division I, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).
The Maryland Terrapins will be under the guidance of Coach Gary Williams who is entering his 20th year as Maryland coach. Alan P. Santos/DC Sports Box file photo
Since the university started the transition the athletics department has lost more than $6 million. The current Chancellor, Donald Reaves, believes the deficit will grow to $15 million by 2012 if the university continues to drive toward Division I classification. With monetary shortfalls looming throughout the foreseeable future the school's board of trustees met in September and decided to request NCAA permission to return to Division II. Winston-Salem State hopes to return to their former conference, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), as early as the 2010-2011 season.
Due to the previously contracted 2009-2010 schedule the university will compete this year as members of the MEAC conference. In order to return to the CIAA, WSSU is required to reduce the number of scholarships available for it's athletes. The reduction of scholarships alone would greatly reduce the expenses paid by the athletic department. As a Division I university the football team provided 53 scholarships, after returning to Division II the scholarships will be reduced to 38.
The Rams finished last season with an 8-22 record. The squad played only eight games at home with a record of 3-8. Three starters, junior forward Paul Davis, senior guard Brian Fisher and senior guard Diontae Gibson will return to the hardwood this season. Fisher averaged 5.4 points per game, 1.6 assists and 1.9 steals. Leading rebounder and shot-blocker Paul Davis averaged 5.4 rebounds per game and 1.5 blocks. The squad will also welcome nine newcomers, including eight from the state of North Carolina.
The Terrapins will take on the Rams on Tuesday, December 22nd at 8:00 pm in College Park.
Florida Atlantic Florida Atlantic University is a Division I university located in Boca Raton, Florida. This upcoming season marks FAU's forth year as a member of the Sun Belt Conference (SBC) and the program's second year under head coach Mike Jarvis. Jarvis a former coach of Boston University, Georgetown and St. John's College has taken nine teams to the NCAA tournament, won three conference tournament titles and coached six NBA draft picks. His record currently stands at 327-227 (0.590). He is one of only four Division I coaches to have won 100 games at three different colleges.
Jarvis initially left coaching in December of 2003 when St. John's fired him amid losses to non-conference teams and player controversy. Jarvis became the first Big East coach fired during the regular season. After leaving St. John’s, Jarvis became a commentator on ESPN.
Jarvis returned to coaching last year as head coach for Florida Atlantic and mustered only six wins from his roster. The Owls ended the season with a 6-26 record including only two of 16 wins in conference play. The head coach attributed the losing season to a lack of seasoned and talent players. He hopes this year's eleven newcomers will fill in the missing gaps and create a more rounded team.
Among the newcomers is freshman DeMonte Simpson a 6'9'', 270 pound forward, who turned down Virginia Tech University and Alabama-Biirmingham in order to attend Florida Atlantic under Mike Jarvis's direction. Jarvis also signed Darren Stewart, a 6'4'', 200-pound combo-guard who can both shoot from the perimeter and get to the basket.
The Owls will face the Terrapins on Sunday, December 27th at 8:00 pm in College Park.
William & Mary The William & Mary Tribe, members of the Colonial Athletic Conference (CAA), finished their season with a 10-20 overall recording, including 5-13 in conference play. Last year's squad was led by forward Danny Sumner who averaged 13.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. Sumner ranked 12th in the CAA in scoring, 13th in 3-pointers made and 3-point percentage and 14th in field goal percentage. He also became the first Tribe player in nearly 40 years to score 20-plus points in five straight games. Now in his senior year the Fairfax, VA native will certainly be looked upon for continued leadership and offensive firepower.
The Tribe will also welcome back senior David Schneider who led the team in assists and free throw percentage. The guard averaged 2.7 assists per game and shot 84.6 percent from the free throw line. Sophomore Quinn McDowell will also return after a very impressive freshman year. McDowell averaged 4.4 rebounds and 9.3 points per game, while shooting 50 percent from the floor and 38.2 percent from 3-point range.
Maryland last played William and Mary on December 27, 2001 in Cole Field House. The Terps decisively won that contest with a 28 point margin of victory, (103-75). The Terps will take on the Tribe for the 31st time on Wednesday, December 30th at 7:30 pm in College Park.
UNC Greensboro The UNC-Greensboro Spartans, members of the Southern Conference (SoCon), finished their season with a 5-25 overall record, including 4-16 in conference play. This season the Spartans' roster is packed with upper-classman, including six seniors.
Seniors Mikko Koivisto, Ben Stywall and Kendall Toney, who averaged 12.38, 11.63 and 8.03 points per contest respectively, will lead the Spartans’ offense. Athletic forward Damian Eargle also led the charge. In his freshman year Eargle averaged 11.63 points, making him the second leading scorer on the team. Stywall and Eargle also led the team in rebounds, with 8.4 and 5.6 rebounds per game.
In their last contest, in December of 2003, Maryland defeated UNC-Greensboro 85-58. This season the Terps will take on the Spartans Sunday, January 3rd at 1:00 in Greensboro, NC.
Longwood Longwood University was founded in 1839 in Farmville, Virginia. The Longwood Lancers began competing as Division I Independents in July of 2007. (Independents are four-year institutions that do not belong to a specific basketball conference.)
The Lancers 17-14 record helped head coach Mike Gillian claim his first winning season. In his prior five years the coach failed to win more than 10 games in a season. Overall Gillian's record stands at 51-130 (0.282).
The Lancers will start the 2009-2010 season with all but two members of last year's roster. The team will need to make up for the loss of second leading scorer and rebounder Ryan Bogan who averaged 14.0 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, but the remainder of the team's leading scorers and defenders will return again this season.
In Bogan's absence Seniors Dana Smith and Kevin Swecker will need to increase their offensive firepower. Smith and Swecker scored just over 25 points combined per contest. Senior forward Billy Robinson Jr and junior guard Durann Neil will also be looked on to improve their game. Both contributed roughly seven points per contest.
This will be the first match-up between Longwood University and Maryland in school history. The Maryland Terrapins will take on the Longwood Lancers on Tuesday January 19th at 8:00 pm. This non-conference match up takes place after Maryland plays three conference games against Florida State, Wake Forest and Boston College.
