Official Maryland Terps Thread 2.0

[Ruzious]

The Mark Turgeon signing is almost eerily similar to the Edsall signing for the football team. He seems like a competent poor-man's version of the guy he's replacing. He's a straight-laced X's and O's guy who's proven his competence but doesn't appear to be an inspirational choice. His team over-achieved last season with mediocre talent (guards couldn't shoot, so they switched to a grind it out style that was effective) but 2 years before had what was perceived to be a talented team that under-achieved.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

The Mark Turgeon signing is almost eerily similar to the Edsall signing for the football team. He seems like a competent poor-man's version of the guy he's replacing. He's a straight-laced X's and O's guy who's proven his competence but doesn't appear to be an inspirational choice. His team over-achieved last season with mediocre talent (guards couldn't shoot, so they switched to a grind it out style that was effective) but 2 years before had what was perceived to be a talented team that under-achieved.

Mike Wise of the Post chimed in on the hiring.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/co ... s_homepage

Maybe it’s just as well Turgeon is the guy. He has paid his dues and done it the right way. Though he doesn’t have the stature of the coaches for whom Anderson and the ever-vigilant boosters cooed and pined, he is the safe choice to follow a legend. He also might have the one essential quality for any Anderson hire from now on:

Unlike the rest, he won’t break the athletic director’s heart. He actually wanted the job.

On the surface of things, I think Turgeon is a good hire. He won at Witchita State and won at Texas A&M. He's probably a heck of a game manager, judging by his coaching record.

http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/coa ... ema01.html

I see the guy had 25, 24, 24 and 24 wins the last four years. He played for Larry Brown as a PG. He is 46 years old. Players see him as a father figure. Not a sexy hire, but the guy wins.

The key will be if he can recruit. Wonder if he'll keep Ehsan on his staff? I would think recruiting this area will be key.

[MF23]

I'll admit I don't know anything about this guy. The one question I have is will he be able to get the studs from DMV? He has nothing to do with this region of the country. Maryland needs someone who can sell the program to the difference makers.

I don't get why they needed to hire someone so quick. There were a lot of factors that needed to be considered with this hire.

He's coached under Larry Brown and made the tournament in successive years so there's that.

He has to get some people who can recruit locally on his staff.

The next few years might not be so good.

[Benjammin]

I'm not trying to be terribly snarky Terps fans, but who did you expect to get? Brad Stevens and Anthony Grant weren't going to come. Shaka Smart would have been a great choice. The MD program the last several years hasn't been a powerhouse. I agree there is great potential if recruiting of the DMV improves significantly. But it seems like there continues to be some level of uncertainty or questions about competence in the AD's office.

[Wizardspride]

Who Might Join Mark Turgeon on Maryland's Sidelines?

It's over. Finally. The new head coach of the Maryland Terrapins' men's basketball team is officially Mark Turgeon, and that finally being settled lets us explore other questions. There are plenty of them - will their recruits stay on? what do local coaches think? - but the first one I'm going to tackle is figuring out who will be flanking Turgeon on the sidelines in College Park.

Maryland fans are semi-obsessed about retaining the services of current assistants Bino Ranson and Rob Ehsan. Ranson is the Terrapins' top recruiter; Ehsan is so beloved that a grassroots Twitter campaign named #EhsanForHC got trending in D.C. But any coach who's been in the game for more than ten years (Turgeon's in his 13th) has his own guys; he might end up retaining his current staff (if they'll come) or taking on some guys already here. Likely, it'll be a mixture of both.


People within Maryland's administration were supposedly pushing for Rob Ehsan to be retained, and presumably will continue to do so. If Ehsan left, Maryland's incoming recruits and current roster would be in some danger of defecting. Terrell Stoglin's high school coach notably once said that Stoglin might leave if a "certain assistant" - definitely Ehsan, his lead recruiter - wasn't retained. He relates well to the players and recruits, and he's a tireless worker on the recruiting trail.

The general thought was that Ehsan was a lock to stay and Bino was more up in the air. With Turgeon, though, it may be the other way around. Turgeon has reportedly tried to hire Bino in the past and will likely be happy to finally get him on his side. Retaining Ranson might be a key for continuity in local recruiting, as Turgeon has no local ties past landing DeMatha's Naji Hibbert a few years ago. In fact, he might be even more important than Ehsan.

Remember, too, that Bino is the lead recruiter for guys like Shaquille Cleare and the Harrison twins. Turgeon knows that, and because he was down in Texas he knows them, too. That may factor in to his choice.

Keith Booth is always a dark horse here, but he's never talked about as much as the other two. Ehsan is known for his coaching ability and how well he relates to the players. Bino's the recruiter. Keith is a great big man coach, but past that is more invisible. That's not a bad thing, per se, but it makes it tough to imagine him staying around.

Turgeon has his own guys, too. The big one is Scott Spinelli, who might be a guarantee to follow him. He's Turgeon's right-hand man and has been with him for five years now. He was responsible for landing Turgeon's first two four-stars, as well as Hibbert and Khris Middleton. He's well-respected and has been around the coaching blocks a few times. In fact, he's so well-respected that his name has come up a few times in the early replacement short lists. That, of course, presents a problem if Turgeon wants him to follow him to Maryland. It's doubtful he gets the job, but that he's being considered may tell him that he's in line for an upgrade. I get the feeling that Turgeon is definitely taking him if he wants to come.

His other two assistants aren't quite as stellar. Pooh Williamson is the resident funnily-named assistant, and he's been with Turgeon for six years now. He's kind of like the 40-year-old, Southwest version of Rob Ehsan - he's personable, he's "head coach material", and players like him. His recruiting results have been middling and I have no idea how good of a coach he is - he's a bit of an X factor in here.

The third assistant is Bill Walker, and I don't think he'll be making the switch. He's only been with Turgeon for a few years, as he was Texas A&M's "senior athletic assistant" - whatever that is - before making the switch into coaching. He was with Minnesota for a stretch before coming over to TAMU in an administrative role. He ended up switching over to being a coach (assuming they lost an assistant) a few years back. I'd be surprised if he switched over.

So, again, it's looking like a battle between four guys for three spots. Don't rule out the possibility for him to go outside and hire, either. Maybe get a guy with DC connections for the third spot.

My own choice is Spinelli, Bino, and Ehsan, and I feel like that's the one that most will agree with. Agree? Disagree? Now's the time to talk about it.

[Wizardspride]

The Baltimore Sun's Jeff Barker is on ESPN 980 right now and he has also confirmed that Miller went into that meeting expecting to take the job.

And according to his sources money wasn't an issue.

He apparently didn't feel a connection with the A.D.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I'm prepared to move on from Sean Miller. He had a terrific recruiting class and won 30 games last season. He would have second guessed himself for leaving once things got difficult for him at Maryland.

I think Turgeon will do fine.

Sean Miller didn't want to leave Arizona or else he would have left. He can blame AD Anderson, but the truth is Miller got paid more to stay at Arizona. Good riddance.

[Wizardspride]

Move on from Sean Miller. He had a terrific recruiting class and won 30 games last season. He would have second guessed himself for leaving once things got difficult for him at Maryland.

I think Turgeon will do fine.

I think he'll do FINE.

I'm just not sure he'll do GREAT...and that's what I want.

[DCZards]

The Baltimore Sun's Jeff Barker is on ESPN 980 right now and he has also confirmed that Miller went into that meeting expecting to take the job.

And according to his sources money wasn't an issue.

He apparently didn't feel a connection with the A.D.

Didn't feel a connection with the AD, huh. It probably also didn't hurt that Arizona reportedly doubled Miller's salary to keep him.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Move on from Sean Miller. He had a terrific recruiting class and won 30 games last season. He would have second guessed himself for leaving once things got difficult for him at Maryland.

I think Turgeon will do fine.

I think he'll do FINE.

I'm just not sure he'll do GREAT...and that's what I want.

I was young and full of dreams and aspirations, back in the day. Then reality gave me a good kick in the butt.

Wizardspride, I respect you for that and hope Turgeon exceeds (apparently both of our) expectations. (I edited the "Move on" to "I am prepared to move on"--You have a right to feel the way you do--I apologize,Wp. I just don't want any coach that doesn't want to be here).

I'm with those above who say the program isn't a Duke or UNC or Kansas. There really is a lot of parity that would keep Smart and Stevens and those guys PAID and happy where they are.

I think Gary survived a bit too long for his own good. The decline over the past few years is apparent to all. Comments from the former AD Yow (unneccesary and disparaging remarks IMO) and the bad impression the new AD Anderson are leaving are real. It is what it is.

I think in light of things being what they are, at least they got a guy who should be pretty good. That is really all Gary has been lately.

[Wizardspride]

Move on from Sean Miller. He had a terrific recruiting class and won 30 games last season. He would have second guessed himself for leaving once things got difficult for him at Maryland.

I think Turgeon will do fine.

I think he'll do FINE.

I'm just not sure he'll do GREAT...and that's what I want.

I was young and full of dreams and aspirations, back in the day. Then reality gave me a good kick in the butt.

Wizardspride, I respect you for that and hope Turgeon exceeds (apparently both of our) expectations. (I edited the "Move on" to "I am prepared to move on"--You have a right to feel the way you do--I apologize,Wp. I just don't want any coach that doesn't want to be here).

I'm with those above who say the program isn't a Duke or UNC or Kansas. There really is a lot of parity that would keep Smart and Stevens and those guys PAID and happy where they are.

I think Gary survived a bit too long for his own good. The decline over the past few years is apparent to all. Comments from the former AD Yow and the bad impression the new AD Anderson are leaving are real. It is what it is.

I think in light of things being what they are, at least they got a guy who should be pretty good. That is really all Gary has been lately.

Let's just hope he can recruit.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

The Baltimore Sun's Jeff Barker is on ESPN 980 right now and he has also confirmed that Miller went into that meeting expecting to take the job.

And according to his sources money wasn't an issue.

He apparently didn't feel a connection with the A.D.

Didn't feel a connection with the AD, huh. It probably also didn't hurt that Arizona reportedly doubled Miller's salary to keep him.

I think Sean Miller has gained himself a raise and is now attempting saving face at somebody else's expense.

To heck with him for blaming his decision not to come to Maryland on Anderson, but in the same breath appeasing Arizona by complimenting the program, the facility improvements, and saying they did all they could to keep him there...and by accepting his IMO true goal, a big fat raise.

That dude can stay out in Tucson. I didn't have any impression of the guy before but I do now. I think it is tacky for him to comment the way he did. I would have respected the man for saying that he weighed out all the options and is happy with his final decision.

As it is he got paid and threw somebody under the bus in a way that made UMCP fans (some) upset and left the AD with egg on his face. Sean Miller hasn't done jack for Maryland and I won't be rooting for Arizona in the future.

UNLESS all this is the rumor mill (because I haven't heard the man say these things, I don't like the way Miller PLAYED the school.

[Ruzious]

Weird, I didn't see anything about some reason other than money that Miller left - from Barker's blog in the Baltimore Sun. This was his blog about Miller turning the job down:

Sean Miller agrees to extension with Arizona

Maryland did not get its man.

Or at least the man we know by name.

Sean Miller, who was scheduled to meet with Maryland athletic director Kevin Anderson in Las Vegas Saturday to discuss replacing Gary Williams, has reached a contract extension with Arizona, the school announced.

It is unclear whether Anderson had a chance to make his pitch to Miller. Arizona AD Greg Byrne was emphatic -- and quite public, using Twitter -- in declaring his intention to do whatever possible to keep Miller.

Many had speculated that Miller, a top-notch recruiter and East Coast native, would crave working closer to home and within the prospect-rich corridor running from the elite prep schools of New England through Baltimore and D.C. to the prep schools in Virginia.

In the statement released by Arizona, Miller gives no specific reason for staying. He gives the school its usual platitudes and says that he's excited about the direction of the new Pac-12. Details of his contract -- which is probably where this thing really got done -- weren't released. Look for Miller to have convinced the school to give him more money to pay assistants; that, according to one college coach I talked to, was his biggest reservation.

So where does Maryland go next? We know the school has already made at least one other contact to gauge interest, and has compiled a short list of names. These coaching searches are fluid, and Maryland knew it. Anderson certainly was prepared for the possibility that its interest in Miller would not result in a hire. Notre Dame's Mike Brey and Butler's Brad Stevens are obviously admired. I also have a hunch that Maryland has reached out to coaches who are not on the list of possibilities you've read about -- Brey, Stevens, Pitt's Jamie Dixon, Villanova's Jay Wright. Remember the football search? I found out later that there were contacts made that the media never learned about.

Perhaps you've read various reports about whether the most popular names are or are not candidates, are or are not interested, do or do not like steamed crabs. But after Saturday, when at least one area outlet reported that Miller was a done deal (and that was while I was eating lunch), it's probably best to remember how wild coach searches are and wait for some clarity come morning.

---Chris Korman and Jeff Barker

So, at least there - Barker speculated it was about more MONEY for assistant coaches that kept him at AZ. This mysterious "other reason" is almost certainly bolognaise.

[Wizardspride]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/hok ... _blog.html

Virginia Tech Coach Seth Greenberg pursuing Maryland assistant Robert Ehsan

Virginia Tech Coach Seth Greenberg is interested in hiring Maryland assistant coach Robert Ehsan to fill the Hokies’ assistant coaching job vacated by Adrian Autry last month, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation.

The sources requested anonymity because no agreement has been finalized.

Ehsan, 29, has worked under Gary Williams at Maryland the past six seasons and was named interim head coach of the Terrapins after Williams unexpectedly announced his retirement last week.

New Maryland coach Mark Turgeon, who will be introduced during a noon press conference in College Park on Wednesday, has not yet indicated what members, if any, of Williams’s coaching staff he will retain.

Neither Ehsan nor Greenberg immediately responded to messages left on their respective cellphones.

Ehsan is best known for his player development skills as part of Maryland’s 2010 ACC regular season championship team. During the days after Williams retired, former Terrapin Greivis Vasquez openly campaigned on twitter for Athletic Director Kevin Anderson to consider Ehsan as the permanent replacement for Williams.

[Wizardspride]

Multiple sources inside UMD hoops program confirm asst coach Bino Ranson will return to #Terps staff. This should help solidify Nick Faust.

[Wizardspride]

Maryland Coach Mark Turgeon set to interview Dalonte Hill for assistant coach opening

Give Mark Turgeon credit. The new Maryland coach is aiming high as he tries to fill out his coaching staff.

Multiple sources familiar with the situation confirmed that Turgeon is in dialogue with Washington native Dalonte Hill – believed to be the nation’s highest-paid assistant coach at Kansas State – about joining the Terrapins’ staff. Hill is expected to meet with Turgeon on Saturday morning.

Bringing Hill to College Park would signify that Turgeon plans to be aggressive on the local recruiting front.

An All-Met forward in 1997 from the former Newport School in Kensington, Hill played at Charlotte and Bowie State. He coached for the D.C. Assault travel team for two seasons before returning to Charlotte as an assistant coach. He then moved to Kansas State before the 2007-08 season and has brought several D.C. Assault players to the Little Apple, including former All-Mets Michael Beasley and Rodney McGruder.

In turn, Kansas State gave Hill a contract that would make many head coaches jealous. According to reports last fall, Hill signed a contract extension through 2015 with a base salary of $423,750 and bonuses that could total another $80,000 depending on the team’s success.

Turgeon, obviously, is aware of Hill’s connections from having coached in the Big 12 against Kansas State.

Also, in addition to being connected with D.C. Assault, Hill has long known the person behind the other big travel team in the area, Keith Stevens of Team Takeover. Stevens was a young assistant coach at Newport during Hill’s playing days.

Hill’s salary, though, could prevent him from moving to Maryland. In 2009-10, according to the annual salary guide published by The Diamondback student newspaper, the three assistant coaches for Gary Williams made a combined $231,000. (That number is believed to have increased a bit last season and does not include bonuses or other outside income.) Hill’s contract reportedly also calls for a $50,000 buyout if he leaves for another job.

[Wizardspride]

Maryland Meeting with Dalonte Hill: Who He Is and Why He Matters

If you don't know who Hill is, he's basically the guy who made Kansas St. relevant.

A native of Washington D.C., he played at both UNC-Charlotte and Bowie St. After graduating, he became the head coach of D.C. Assault, the infamous local AAU squad that produced stars like Michael Beasley, Wally Judge, Josh Hairston, and Quinn Cook.

After two years at the helm of DCA, he was an assistant at Charlotte. After three seasons down there, he was hired by Bob Huggins at K-State. He brought with him Michael Beasley, who obviously transformed the program. There is quite a bit of controversy surrounding this aspect of his career, as the two were essentially a package deal. When Gary was at Maryland, he very noticeably balked at this, and has made a few thinly-veiled references to it in the past.

But Hill wasn't a one-hit wonder. His presence and connections led to the commitment of three other highly-regarded DCA alums, Dominique Sutton, Wally Judge, and Rodney McGruder. He also played some role in the recruitments of Bill Walker and Jacob Pullen, among others. He's also built some in-roads with the NY Gauchos AAU team, getting commitments from Jordan Henriquez and Shane Southwell in the past.

His production at this point isn't even the most important thing anymore. It's his connections and relationships. Gary and DCA had a notably terse relationship. The two were oil and water. In fact, I can't remember any DCA player to ever suit up for Gary, at least not off the top of my head. Hiring Hill - one of DCA's own - would go a very long way towards repairing the relationship between Assault and Maryland. And lest you think that the hiring of Hill would anger the other premier DC-based AAU squad, Team Takeover, Josh Barr says that Hill and Takeover are friendly as well:

Essentially, Hill is to D.C. what Bino Ranson is to Baltimore. Just look at some of the reactions from bbasketball people to see what this would mean.

The hold-up is going to be money. Hill is the highest-paid assistant in the country at upwards of $400k a year. He's supposedly willing to take a pay cut to move home, but no one knows exactly how much of a cut he'll be cool with, especially with the differing costs of living. I always say that assistants assist for experience and the chance to be a HC one day, and Hill isn't getting either of those under Frank Martin, but at some point the money starts to be enough to keep you where you are.

If Maryland is able to come to terms with Hill and retains Ranson, you might as well just take some rope, go to Towson, and just start fencing the area off until you reach Fredericksburg. If those two end up being assistants, Turgeon would have one of the most high-powered staffs in the country, and the long-time fan dream of "being able to rope off the DMV" would finally be achievable. No, really, it would be.

[Halcyon]

We'll know on Monday is Hill to the Terps is a done deal. It looks like Hill will be getting compensated pretty well, if reports are true.

If this is the case, this is a huge coup for Turgeon. If we can have Hill, Bino, and Spinelli (former #1 Assistant under Turgeon) we will have a very strong recruiting team to build up our team. We shall see though, I won't believe anything until the papers are signed and they are officially the assistant coaches.

[closg00]

Maryland Coach Mark Turgeon needed less than a week on the job to land his first recruit.

Fredericksburg Christian guard Seth Allen, who had never been to College Park before Saturday, arrived on campus around 1 p.m. and less than four hours later had given Turgeon his pledge to be a Terrapin.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/rec ... _blog.html

[Wizardspride]

http://www.testudotimes.com/

For the recruitniks among us, there's even better news: Justin Anderson just earned his fifth star on Rivals. They updated their rankings earlier today for the 2012 class, and Anderson was bumped up to #23 (he was #43). If he holds onto this ranking, he has a legit shot at being in the McD's All-American Game. He'd be the Terps' first participant there since Mike Jones (who?) back in '03. Even if he didn't make the game, he'd still be the Terrapins first five-star by any service since MJ. Assuming, of course, he stays on board.

Edit: Sterling Gibbs has commited to Texas.