Gameday Feature: Pe'Shon Howard
2/7/2012 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 7, 2012
LIKE! Maryland Athletics on Facebook
This story appeared in the January edition of the Maryland Gameday program.
By Keith Sneddon, Maryland Athletics Media Relations
Just eight days after returning from an ankle injury that sidelined him for the first two months of the season, Pe'Shon Howard was starting to hit his stride.
The sophomore point guard, who has shown flashy passing skills and an astute basketball IQ in his short time in College Park, had dished out a game-high five assists, grabbed a career-high nine rebounds and logged 28 minutes in Maryland's 75-63 victory over Samford on Dec. 31, the Terrapins' largest margin of victory this season to that point.
"It's very good for us to get these types of wins," Howard said after the game. "With Alex [Len] and me coming back it helped us a lot; it changed our team. Each game you see us growing."
After a 3-3 start, it looked as though Maryland would be in for a tough transition season with a new head coach and staff. Without a doubt, Howard's return to the rotation has given Mark Turgeon's first Terrapin squad the floor general it needed.
Since his return, Maryland went 4-0, including two double-digit wins against Albany and the aforementioned Samford. The team has also averaged over six more assists per game during the stretch, evidence of Howard's value on the offensive end.
Howard was forced to miss the first nine games of the season due to a foot injury suffered in October, but returned much sooner than many expected against Radford on December 23. Howard credits his dedication to the recovery process for his speedy return.
"The main thing for that type of injury is rest, so the biggest thing that helped was the cast being on for three weeks so I couldn't move my toe at all," said Howard. "When it came off, it really healed a lot faster because I wasn't moving [the toe] at all."
In his season debut against Radford, Howard finished with seven points and three assists in 32 minutes, adding much needed depth at the point guard position. Although he didn't play as well as he would have liked, Howard was happy to once again take the floor at Comcast Center with his teammates.
"I was really excited and I think it almost affected my play a little bit because I was trying to move so fast," said Howard. "I didn't think about responsibilities and getting people involved and stuff like that; trying to get my teammates going."
Four games into his sophomore campaign Howard is averaging 7.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists. With his freshman season under his belt, Howard has an increased maturity and is well aware of the expectations in the ACC.
"Last year over winter break I didn't know what the crowd would be like or how many people would come, and now with everything I know what to expect," said Howard. "Coming in as a sophomore, I'm a lot more comfortable, I'm not as nervous when I get on the court."
With Howard out of the lineup early in the season, coach Mark Turgeon was forced to devote playing time at point guard to Terrell Stoglin and freshman Nick Faust, who normally play off the ball.
Even though he's running a different style of offense than he was used to last season, Howard has embraced the adjustment and has begun to fit nicely into the role of the team's primary ball handler.
"It helps me a lot to play up-tempo where I just pitch the ball around and get guys open, but at the same time I still have to be in control, like coach says all the time," said Howard. "I have to grow with my decision-making. I just have to know the timing for it."
The 6-foot-3 Los Angeles native originally committed to play for coach Gary Williams as a freshman in 2010. With his retirement at the end of last season and the hiring of Turgeon, Howard recognizes the similarities between the coaches as well as the contrasting offensive ideals.
"Mentality and expectations are the same, it's just strategies are a little different," said Howard. "Coach Williams was more of a grind-it-out, go inside type, whereas coach Turgeon has more of a fast-paced lets run and if you have the open 3 on the fast break shoot it."
After his much-anticipated debut this season, Howard is looking forward to the opportunity to improve and win games.
"We started a little slow at first but with Alex joining us now we can really see the difference. We just have to get better and grind it out everyday and I think we'll be all right. If we win, then everything else just takes care of itself. I just have to make sure I'm running the team and contributing to winning."
