Terps Kick off New Year with First Practice Monday
10/3/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland men's basketball team kicked off the 2016-17 season with its first practice on Monday afternoon at XFINITY Center.
Head coach Mark Turgeon and his staff welcome back eight letterwinners from a year ago, including two-time All-Big Ten selection Melo Trimble.
Trimble was happy to get back on the court for the first time this season.
“Coach Turgeon covered defense at our first practice today,” Trimble, an Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American last season, said. “Our young guys were ready and focused. We are off to a good start and ahead of schedule.”
It was the first practice at Maryland for seven newcomers, including graduate transfer L.G. Gill and freshmen Anthony Cowan, Kevin Huerter, Justin Jackson, Micah Thomas, Joshua Tomaic and Travis Valmon.
“We got a lot done today. We worked on defense. Our young guys played well with a lot of effort and energy,” senior Damonte Dodd said.
“We devoted the entire time focusing on defense,” Turgeon, who is entering his sixth season at the helm of the Maryland program, said. “Our guys gave great effort, communicated well and our energy level was tremendous.
Maryland finished the 2015-16 season ranked No. 18 in the Associated Press and No. 12 in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches poll with a 27-9 overall record, marking the first time in program history the Terps put together back-to-back 27-plus win seasons. The Terps advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2003.
The Terps join the women's basketball team to host Maryland Madness on Oct. 14 at XFINITY Center beginning at 8 p.m. For more information on this year's event, please click here.
