Former Maryland players, Vasquez, Hayes and Milbourne had been starting for so long in College Park, it’s easy to forget that there was anyone else playing for the Terps. The trio accounted for 55% of the scoring, 67% of the assists and 32% of the rebounds.
To put it simply…Maryland is starting over in 2010, but that doesn’t mean the pieces/players to a successful puzzle hasn’t been there, waiting to be put together. Players like…Sean Mosley.
Prior to 2010, Sean Mosley was simply asked to be the garbage man and do the dirty work, defend the opponent’s best player, dive for loose balls, crash the glass. He did all of it, particularly on the defensive end.
Heading into 2010 though, Sean Mosley’s duties are going to change. The junior guard is suddenly the Terps leading scorer (10.1), leading assister (2.6) and second leading rebounder (5.1).
While he didn’t take a ton of shots last year (just under seven per game), when he did, he was quite successful introducing the ball to the bottom of the net. He shot 51% from the floor (pretty amazing for a guard/forward) and a respectable 39% from three. The only minor problem was, his numbers dipped in conference play (he shot 41% from the floor), which tells you how good he was shooting before conference play.
Over the last four years, opponents had one goal when facing Maryland…stop Vasquez. The kid did it all, as everything ran through him. No more. Now someone needs to step up and fill both that scoring void and the leadership void. With sophomore Jordan Williams expected to become a force inside, Maryland in particular needs an outside scorer to step up, produce some points and lead this team. The pressure lands squarely onto Mosley’s 6’4 frame.
As the shooting guard in Coach Williams’ flex offense, Mosley will get plenty of screens and plenty of opportunities with the ball in his hand. Yet, he’s rarely shown the kind of skills that he’ll be asked to deliver next year.
First, he needs to take the three-point shot more. There is a reason why they are called “shooting guards. Like I said, he shot 39% from three last year, but the sample size may not be big enough to accurately judge. In 320 career shots, he’s only taken 57 three-point shots (Last year, 36 of his 220 shots were threes).
Second, he needs to be able to create his own shot and get into the lane. There will be no double-teaming of Vasquez. While Williams could see some double-downs, most of the time, Mosley will need to beat his defender. Now Sean isn’t going to impress your grandmother with his high-flying athleticism, but as Nolan Smith has taught us all, you don’t have to be Carl Lewis to get into the lane.
With Vasquez gone, look for a number of Terps players to step up their game, particularly on the offensive end. Look for Mosley and Williams to become one of the stronger inside-outside duos in the ACC. Sure Mosley won’t win All-ACC honors, but as one of the conference’s best defenders, adding about five more points per game in 2010, without sinking his shooting percentage too far south, that should be all that is needed from the junior guard.
#23 – JOE TRAPANI, FORWARD – BOSTON COLLEGE
#24 – MIKE SCOTT, FORWARD – VIRGINIA
#25 – IMAN SHUMPERT, GUARD – GEORGIA TECH