By Jack Rothenberg
Head coach Kevin Willard along with the team spoke to the media Thursday, which brought more anticipation, excitement, and insight to the upcoming season.
Maryland opens the season two weeks from today against Niagara, but Willard explained that the team is still learning how to play under his scheme. “We’re going to play probably way too fast. We’re going to shoot a ton of threes,” Willard said. “And probably at times we won’t look good, because I have 13 guys who have played five different styles and now they’re trying to get my style,” he added.
In the Big Ten, which is known for having tough play and dominant centers, the Terps might have a hard time matching up against teams with size. Willard alluded to Maryland having an advantage on the wing, where they’ll need to shoot well in order to have success.
Willard also explained that he’s been communicating with old Maryland players, coaches and alumni to see what different things they want to see change in the program. All of them have different opinions, he said, that he’ll work to incorporate along with his own.
“We sat down and we talked to everybody. It was great feedback…it was kind of just a mixture of everything. (But) everyone all had the same thing, they all kind of wanted to see the passion from the players back,” Willard said.
Senior forward Donta Scott likes how alumni have been around, and the fact that it brings a blast from the past with traditions and championships. “(It throws) a picture in our mind, of like, this is a place of greatness and that even though we had our ups and downs, we’re always going to get back to greatness,” Scott said.
Scott, the leader of this year’s team, dropped 30 pounds this offseason and according to Willard has been their best player in practice thus far.
The players all seem re-energized and focused following the regime change, but we’ll see if the off-season moves are on display on the court come game time.
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