. . World News – USA – Walt Williams: After major off-season losses, Terps are relying more on Aaron Wiggins – PressBoxOnline. com

After a 24-hour season and a stake in the Big Ten regular season title, the Maryland men’s basketball team returns to court Nov.. . 25, but the Terps don’t have quite the same roster as they did last year since security guard Anthony Cowan Jr. . and center Jalen Smith.

Maryland radio analyst and Terps basketball legend Walt « The Wizard » Williams says veterans like Aaron Wiggins and Darryl Morsell must stand up for the Terps as the team loses Smith and Cowan.

« I think it will ultimately be a team effort, » Williams said on Glenn Clark Radio Nov.. 19th. « I think you have some people who come back and played important minutes last season and I think it will be more of a team effort. I don’t think they will rely on individual people to make up for the loss of Jalen and Cowan. ”

Wiggins, a junior guard, had a huge impact on the team’s success last season, finishing third in the standings (10). 4 points per game) and rebounding (4th. 9) and made second on the team in 3-pointers (53). As a newbie, Wiggins averaged 8. 3 points and 3. 3 rebounds and 62 3-pointers.

However, Wiggins only hit 31. 7 percent of his 3-handers in the second year, from 41. 3 percent as a newbie.

« I think one guy they’ll rely on is Wiggins, » said Williams. “In his first year he showed that he can shoot the ball very quickly from the outside. But more importantly, I think, in his sophomore year he showed the ability to influence games outside of dribbling, beating dribble boys, creating yourself and being someone to count on. I think the team will rely a little more on it in the coming season, especially all along the track. ”

Another key player the Terps are relying on this season is Morsell, a senior security guard from Mount Saint Joseph. He averaged 8. 5 points, 4. 7 rebounds and 2. 1 assists last year and he had numbers similar to a freshman and sophomore. He shot a career best 33. 3 percent from the 3-point range as a junior.

« [Morsell] is a guy who is both mentally and physically very tough, gets into the basket very aggressively, is very athletic and plays with a lot of heart. That will affect the game, ”said Williams. “I think he will step it up and become more of a focus on the offensive. ”

« He’s shown in the past that he’s a guy to rely on, » added Williams. « Not just his skills, but the attitude he brings to the game is contagious across the team. I think that will put them in a position where they’ll be one of the better defensive teams in the league. « . ”

Maryland’s 2020-21 roster also includes a handful of transfers, including junior forward Jairus Hamilton (Boston College) and the Galin Smith, Alabama senior center. . Last year at Boston College, Hamilton averaged 9. 5 points and 4. 3 rebounds and 11 double digits. Last season in Alabama, Smith averaged 3. 1 point and 2. 5 rebounds and second on the team with 24 blocks.

« I think the [Transfers] are very capable of keeping people in front of them. All of these guys are versatile in the way they can defend basketball, ”said Williams. « I think that will be huge for [the terps]. . ”

The Terps need these players to improve this season after losing Smith, who was ranked 10th overall by the Phoenix Suns after two seasons with the Terps in the 2020 NBA Draft. In these two seasons he was an average of 13. 5 points, 8. 6 rebounds and 1. 8 blocks per game.

« His wingspan is going to cause problems when guys go into the basket, » Williams said. « Moving sideways allows him to penetrate the paint and come back to people who can shoot the ball. Pick and roll action, being able to stay in front of guys, smaller guards. I think on the defensive he’ll be someone who can make a difference right away. ”

Maryland Terrapins Men’s Basketball, Basketball, Big Ten Conference, University of Maryland, Mark Turgeon, Maryland Terrapins Soccer, Jalen Smith, Old Dominion Monarchs and Lady Monarchs