Howard confirms he'll return on Dec. 23

When Terrapins men's basketball guard Pe'Shon Howard broke a bone in his foot in late October, the dominant question became whether he would play at all this season.

The issue now isn't when he will return, but how he'll look when he does.

The sophomore confirmed to The Diamondback yesterday via text message that he expects to return for the Terps' game Dec. 23 against Radford.

"We're going to add a little more each game," Howard told CBSSports.com on Saturday. "The 23rd, that's four games until N.C. State, so I should be back at 100 percent with no hesitation."

Howard, who averaged 5.4 points and 3.2 assists in his freshman season, broke a sesamoid bone in his left foot in October and was expected to miss 10 to 12 weeks.

But his rehab has gone well enough that his expected return will come not even two months after the injury. Howard was dribbling around on the Comcast Center floor in street clothes before the Terps' win against Mount St. Mary's last Wednesday.

"We went to a few different doctors, was in a boot for about a week or so," Howard told CBSSports.com. "They said it's a feel process."

The loss of Howard limited an already thin roster for first-year coach Mark Turgeon. Without Howard, freshman guard Nick Faust was thrust into the point guard position, with dynamic scorer Terrell Stoglin sharing some of the load as a ball handler.

Though the Terps are 5-3, their lack of a true point guard has shown. The team's 9.3 assists per game rank No. 334 nationally.

"I think the team can use me, for sure," Howard said in the report. "But I think they're doing fine, they took big steps against Illinois and Notre Dame. They've grown up a lot; Nick Faust has learned to play point guard. It's a good adjustment for the team. It could be a blessing in disguise."

schneider@umdbk.com