Bob Haynie: Allen's Injury A Tough Break For Maryland
The University of Maryland begins it's 2013-14 college basketball season on November 8th against the UConn Huskies in Brooklyn, NY. Unfortunately, head coach Mark Turgeon will be without starting point guard Seth Allen. Allen, a sophomore, sustained a fracture of the fifth metatarsal in his left foot. According to a release from the University yesterday, Allen is expected to miss 8-10 weeks.
Make no mistake, this a big setback for the Terps and for Allen himself.
After averaging 7.8 pints and 2.3 assists as a freshman, Allen seemed ready for a breakout campaign. "We are devastated for Seth," said Turgeon. "He was playing at a very high level throughout the summer and fall and was poised to have an excellent start to the season."
Allen was hurt near the end of practice on Tuesday night when he landed awkwardly on his left foot as he drove to the hoop.
Turgeon said in a text to The Baltimore Sun that junior Dez Wells will move over to the point guard position. Wells is explosive and one of the top players in the country when it comes to attacking the rim. Unfortunately, he is also prone to the turnover.
Last season, turnovers were not exclusive to Wells. The Terps were last in the ACC in turnover percentage in 2012-13. In conference play, Maryland turned the ball over on 22 percent of their possessions. That is the main reason they were relegated to the NIT.
Protecting the ball is something that Turgeon would like to see his team do much better, obviously. An improved and more mature Seth Allen was going to be huge in that area.
Let's not forget that highly-regarded freshman Roddy Peters in on board and is the future at point for the Terps. Because of Allen's unfortunate injury, the future might be now for Peters.
Maryland is expected--by me and many others--to be an NCAA Tournament team in their last year in the ACC. If Wells and Peters can hold down the PG duties until Allen returns in January, the Terps should be on pace to Dance for the first time since 2010.
