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Maryland Basketball: Is a True Leader Needed?

By Wesley Brown

COLLEGE PARK, MD - MARCH 03: Fans hold of 'Thank You Seniors' signs before the Maryland Terrapins play the Illinois Fighting Illini at Xfinity Center on March 3, 2016 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MD - MARCH 03: Fans hold of 'Thank You Seniors' signs before the Maryland Terrapins play the Illinois Fighting Illini at Xfinity Center on March 3, 2016 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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So far during the 2017-2018 season, Mark Turgeon and his team have survived without a singular leader.

During the past three seasons, Maryland relied on the leadership strength of Melo Trimble to guide them, but have yet to find a replacement.

Anthony Cowan came into this season looking to show fans that he can run this program and become the scorer that Trimble was. His early games showed improvement, and he has maintained those numbers.

As we pointed out recently, his numbers are truly something spectacular. He is taking better shots and commanding the offense more than ever before.

But, toward the end of November, Cowan’s numbers seemed to go stale, and the team was relying on Kevin Huerter to keep them in games.

The two most important games of the season so far, a loss at home against Purdue and a road loss against Syracuse, really showed that Cowan can’t carry the team on his own.

Huerter was shooting lights out in his return to New York, going seven of nine from three-point range and finishing with 23 points.

Both Cowan and Huerter have shown their abilities to command the Maryland team, but neither has stuck out as “The Man” yet.

A case could possibly be made for Freshman Bruno Fernando, who posted his first double-double against the Nittany Lions. He finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds, but his statistics are not what makes him a potential leader.

His energy and enthusiasm is next-level and fans have quickly noticed that. Ever since Alex Len and Dez Wells, Maryland hasn’t had many players that truly invigorated not just fans but the team.

Fernando has all the talents of a leader, but his youth is something that restricts his ability to be “The Man” for Mark Turgeon this season.

But, does Mark Turgeon and this team truly need a singular leader? Maybe not this season, but moving forward one will be required to raise Maryland back to a high national ranking.

Turgeon and his coaches have two years left with Cowan, Huerter,  and Justin Jackson plus four with Fernando. With all the injuries this season not much is expected of this team, but if Maryland finds their leader, next season could start off much better than this one.