Maryland was upset for the second straight game Thursday, losing to the undermanned Seton Hall Pirates 52-48. The Pirates were without their leading scorer Myles Powell (concussion). However, Maryland couldn’t score.
The Terrapins shot a dismal 26.9% from the field. Seton Hall blocked 15 shots. Maryland made just 14 field goals.
The loss is certainly to drop the Terrapins out of the top 10 for the first time this season. It appears the struggles are deeper than playing stiffer competition — Penn State and Seton Hall.
Following the loss, senior point guard Anthony Cowan was critical of Maryland’s practices leading into the game.
Anytime a player is vocal against practice, eyes turn to the head coach. Mark Turgeon isn’t a lovable guy right now in College Park. Despite having endless talent throughout his tenure, the Terrapins have under-preformed.
This season already has not been any different. Maryland has struggled against quality opposition with the exception against Marquette. Playing Seton hall without Powell on the road was a golden opportunity for Maryland, however, they dropped the ball.
Frustration has set in with Cowan, as well as Maryland fans, with Turgeon seemingly being the target.
Turgeon said Maryland hadn’t hit “rock bottom” yet and challenged his team to get better.
Maryland drops to 10-2 with the loss. More importantly the narrative of their season has been altered for the negative.
Has Turgeon lost the locker room?
How will Cowan’s comments be perceived and how will it affect the chemistry on the team moving forward?
Those are questions that Maryland now faces as their Big Ten schedule revs following a tuneup against Bryant after the break. Certainly, not the questions a preseason Final Four contender wants to face in late December.
