NCAA Preview 2013: Maryland

The Terrapins have reached the past two NCAA Tournament title games. However, what third-year coach John Tillman sees as much as the postseason success are two consecutive regular seasons that have not gone as planned ? Maryland entered the postseason 9-5 last year and 10-4 in 2011.

?Some people remember the most recent things,? Tillman says. ?For a lot of them, the most recent image of us is playing on Memorial Day [for the national title]. They don?t see that we were unseeded and barely got through the first round on the way to the championship game. They don?t see all the losses and the ups and downs.

?We want to be more consistent. It?s all the boring stuff coaches say but it?s true.?

Maryland enters 2013 with an elite goalie, longstick middie and shortstick middie; a deep offensive midfield; a smart quarterback and improving lefty on attack; and an experienced and talented defense.

MAGIC NUMBERS

Maryland led the nation in fewest average turnovers per game last year (11.8).

Moreover, the Terrapins shot 31.8 percent.

It was their highest percentage since the 1998 team shot 34.3 percent en route to a NCAA runner-up finish.?Here is Maryland?s shooting percentage among its recent teams that reached an NCAA final. Note, all but one shot 30.5% or better.

2012: 31.8%
2011: 31.7%
1998: 34.5%
1997: 27.7%
1995: 30.5%

MAGIC NUMBERS, PART II

The last time Maryland shot 31 percent or better and failed to reach the NCAA Tournament title game was 1991. That team shot 32.5 percent and reached the NCAA Semifinals before falling to Towson.

POSSESSED

According to a study by IL stats guru Brian Coughlin, games involving Maryland last season averaged a combined 57.76 possessions. (The highest total came from games involving Colgate ? 68.92 possessions.)

Maryland?s high shooting percentage, low turnovers and its mantra to ?take the best shot, not the first shot? may not have been visceral entertainment but it was extremely effective.

?Maryland is so good at playing slow,? says a coach who has faced Maryland in recent years. ?They have good sticks, they don?t turn it over and when they win face-offs so you can?t get the ball back. They are very skilled on offense and how they play doesn?t give you many chances to score on them.?

The offense has back senior attackman Owen Blye (20G,20A), junior attackman Billy Gribbin (22G) and at least four talented midfielders. Blye is the quarterback, Tillman says. He can play righty or lefty, on-ball or off-ball and makes good decisions with the ball.

Blye also showed his scoring touch with four goals in the second half of the regular season victory over Johns Hopkins. ?He gives us so much flexibility,? Tillman says.

Among the midfielders, back are seniors John Haus (16,17) and Kevin Cooper (10,16) and junior Mike Chanenchuk (18,7). Also back is senior Jake Bernhardt; he missed last season with an injury sustained in a preseason scrimmage. In 2011, Bernhardt had 15 goals, 3 assists and 19 groundballs.

NEW FACES

Maryland?s close defense has back all three starters. Also back is senior LSM Jesse Bernhardt (3G,3A, 60GB,33CT), senior SSDM Landon Carr (6G,2A,29GB) and junior goalie Niko Amato (7.5GAA, 54%).

But there is a new defensive coordinator. Kevin Conry spent the previous five seasons at Fairfield. He replaces Kevin Warne, now the coach at Georgetown.

?We?re not going to go out and chase and check people for four quarters,? Tillman says. With Conry, ?we?re not going to change too, too much of what we do. ? Our challenge is, how strong will we be collectively over the long haul of the year. We?re talented but we need to be more consistent.?

Among the freshmen likely to play this year are attackman Bradlee Lord, defensemen Matt Dunn and Ryan Lehman and midfielders Nick Manis and Andrew Walsh,

MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS

Tillman appears to have combined successfully two mindsets at Maryland: The gritty, hard-nosed approach of Dick Edell?s teams merged with the acumen and recruiting savvy of Edell?s successor, current Chesapeake Bayhawks coach Dave Cottle.
Yet Tillman has his own stamp on things, says former Maryland starting goalie Harry Alford.

Under Tillman, ?Each [Maryland] player has his own individual style,? Alford says. ?I don't see a single robot out there. No cradle is the same. Different body types at every single?position.?

Alford says the foundation is the defense that mirrors those of Edell and longtime assistant Dave Slafkosky.

?Then Cottle comes and turns it into an offensive-minded game in College Park,? Alford says. ?He looked for athletes, lefties, ball-handlers and most importantly recruits with?clout. ? Tillman is reaping the rewards of a decade of change, adaptation and evolution. Not to mention, the school itself has changed for the better.

?Slaf/Edell built tradition and name recognition. Cottle planted the seeds in Connecticut, D.C., the MIAA and the Main Line. Tillman has the personality to seal the deal as well as bring in first-class student-athletes.?

BEST BET: Jesse Bernhardt, Sr., LSM

Do-everything player contributes to defense, clearing, offense and as a wing on face-offs. He will be important especially given that Maryland faces eight teams that made the NCAA Tournament last year.

SLEEPER PICK: Kevin Cooper, Sr., A-M

Had biggest games on big stages: Two goals and an assist in the regular season against Johns Hopkins and a goal and four assists in the NCAA Semifinals against Duke. At 6-feet-4, 190 pounds, Cooper has good size, speed and vision and is comfortable on inverts or dodging from the top of the offensive box.

GAME TO WATCH: at Loyola, Feb. 23

Rematch of the 2012 NCAA championship game won by Loyola and a chance to see the two best LSMs in the game, Bernhardt and Loyola senior Scott Ratliff. The teams have not met in the regular season since 1989. Before Loyola, the Terrapins have a tricky opener against talented Mount St. Mary?s on Tuesday. The Terrapins won last year?s meeting, 12-8.?

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