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2015 Maryland Terrapins Predictions and College Basketball Futures Odds

by Victor Ryan - 11/9/2015

Melo Trimble Maryland Terrapins

Maryland enters the 2015-16 college basketball season primed for a national title run. A season after winning the Big Ten, the Terrapins are loaded with high-quality players of all types. Returning starters, big-name transfers and McDonald's All-Americans fill the roster for Coach Mark Turgeon, providing a potentially explosive combination.

Maryland reached the NCAA Tournament last season for the first time since 2010 and finished above .500 in conference for the first time since the 2009-10 season. The Terrapins certainly appreciated the switch from the ACC to the Big Ten, but it was much more than a change of conference that produced last year's results.

Turgeon has hit on some big-time recruits the last couple of seasons to replenish a program that had been lacking in high-end talent since the retirement of Gary Williams. The result has been improvement from 8-10 in conference in 2013, to 9-9 in 2014 and 14-4 with a conference title last season. Turgeon is particularly excited about this year's squad-and a main reason why they are a national title contender-is its potential to play any style of basketball. The Terrapins are likely the most complete team in the NCAA. Big men, wings, shooters, an elite point guard, Maryland has it all. If a team wants to go big, Maryland can match you with plenty of size. Want to go small and play up-tempo? Point guard Melo Trimble shined in such a scenario last season, and this year will have the alongside Duke transfer and former All-ACC defender Rasheed Sulaimon.

Maryland hasn't won a national title since 2002, and its last Sweet 16 berth came the following year. However, that all seems like ancient history now. Expectations this year in College Park are to win it all.

2015 Maryland Key Losses and Additions

Maryland's only big loss is physical guard Dez Wells, who last year averaged 15.2 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, both of which ranked second on the team. Wells loss will certainly hurt, but sliding into his spot is the very capable Sulaimon, who played a significant role at Duke for three seasons before being dismissed from the team midway through last season.

Sulaimon is one of two transfers expected to make big contributions for Maryland this season. The Terrapins also added some size and skill down low by way of Georgia Tech transfer Robert Carter Jr. In his final season as a Yellow Jacket in 2013-14, the 6-foot-9 junior averaged 11.4 points and 8.4 rebounds.

The other major "get" for Turgeon was McDonald's All-American Diamond Stone. The 6-foot-11 center was one of the most coveted big men in the nation. He enters in an ideal situation as the inside depth for the Terrapins will allow Stone to ease his way into his role rather than being asked to dominate like many top incoming freshman are tasked.

Maryland this year has also added incoming freshman from Europe, Ivan Bender, as well as junior-college transfer Jaylen Brantley, who will likely be the backup to Trimble at the point.

2015 Maryland Backcourt

Trimble was a force for the Terrapins last season as a freshman and very well could be the best point guard in the nation this year. The 6-foot-3 Maryland native started all 35 games last season and averaged 16.9 points and 3.0 assists per game-both team-highs-as well as 3.9 rebounds per game. Trimble wasn't nearly as good on the defensive end a season ago, but that has every right to improve with a year of college experience under his belt.

Sulaimon is a great on-ball defender who will certainly aid Maryland's perimeter defense. The graduate transfer also figures to be playing with a chip on his shoulder after getting the boot mid-season at Duke and then watching his former teammates win the National Championship. If Sulaimon plays up to his talent with this second chance, the Terps will be tough to beat.

Also expected to contribute in the backcourt are Jared Nickens and Dion Wiley, who were solid in reserve roles as freshman last year. The other big change in the backcourt is Jake Layman (12.5 points, 5.8 rebounds per game), who will return to his natural wing position after playing more as a stretch-four last season.

2015 Maryland Frontcourt

The addition of Carter and Stone to the Terps frontcourt is huge. Carter was a force during his time at Georgia Tech. The junior thrives in the low-post, but he can also slide out and hit a mid-range jumper or even the occasional 3-pointer. Of Carter, Turgeon said "we expect Robert to make a huge impact."

Stone was a five-star recruit who Turgeon was able to lure east from Milwaukee. He has already shown he's an excellent passer in the post, which is certainly good news given all the surrounding talent. As noted, Stone won't be asked to carry the load but should be a significant contributor from the get-go.

Rounding out the frontcourt rotation are returners Damonte Dodd and Michal Cekovsky. The former is an excellent shot-blocker who shot 60.7 percent from the field last season, while the latter has added more than 20 pounds of muscle from his freshman season.

2015 Maryland Future Odds

Maryland is ranked No. 3 in the preseason AP poll and is also the third-choice in Vegas at odds of 9/1. Only Kentucky (8/1) and Duke (17/2) are currently shorter prices.

2015 Maryland Terrapins Predictions and NCAA Basketball Picks

Anticipation in College Park for this season is off the charts, and for good reason. The Terps are loaded with talent both inside and outside and have a proven floor general in Trimble. If the two high-profile transfers fit in at Maryland, and Stone develops up to expectations, there is no reason this team can't be cutting down the nets at the Final Four in Houston.

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