Lost in the wake of the Terrapin men's basketball team's first two losses of the season was a pleasant surprise from a starter far removed from the spotlight.
With forward Jordan Williams suffering from early foul trouble in both of the Terps' games in New York last week, forward Dino Gregory emerged as a threat both offensively and defensively, putting together two of the best performances of his career.
Against then-No. 4 Pittsburgh on Thursday, Gregory recorded a team-high 35 minutes and led the team with four blocks while drawing three timely charges. Against then-No. 13 Illinois the next night, Gregory posted his first career double-double.
As defenses continue to key on Williams, a preseason candidate for national player of the year honors, frontcourt players such as Gregory figure to play vital roles for the Terps (3-2), who face Delaware State tonight in Comcast Center.
"Dino stepped up, and I think he played the best two games of his career up there," guard Cliff Tucker said.
Between the back-to-back games, Gregory played for a team-high 66 minutes and recorded a combined 17 points, 12 rebounds and six blocks.
"I thought the game against Illinois was his best game here," coach Gary Williams said. "Again, it's doing it against people that can play and not against guys he's bigger than. I thought he was really good."
The Terps needed the extra boost from Gregory to stay competitive last week, and contributions from reserve forward James Padgett and center Berend Weijs helped the team compensate for Williams' first early foul trouble of the young season.
"They definitely stepped up and kept us in the game," said Williams, who made early first-half exits against the Panthers and Fighting Illini. "It was tough for me to sit there and watch them. You feel helpless on the sidelines."
When Williams left Friday's game against Illinois with a pair of fouls, the Terps trailed by four. When they entered halftime with him on the bench, though, the Terps trailed by the same margin.
"We went through a situation I didn't want to go through, but we didn't get blown out when he was on the bench," Gary Williams said. "That gives us some confidence that we have some guys that are good basketball players."
Still, the Terps aren't exactly deep in the frontcourt. When Jordan Williams and Gregory both picked up two fouls against Illinois, they had to rely on newcomers Weijs and Haukur Palsson, who was forced into an unnatural position in the post, to keep the pressure off the Terps' guards. Padgett, who endured an injury-riddled freshman season, has also played important minutes in a role that has fluctuated this season.
"Coach Williams had to throw guys in there," Tucker said. "They all did pretty well. It's not like they came in and gave up a big lead."
Their contributions, along with Gregory's development, will be key when Williams inevitably finds himself in foul trouble later this season.
And while the Hornets (1-0) don't present the same challenges inside as Pittsburgh and Illinois did, tonight's game will offer another teaching moment for the Terps since their back-to-back losses in Madison Square Garden.
"I know we're a tough team," Tucker said. "We just have to figure out the things to get over the edge."
ceckard@umdbk.com
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