The big picture

Before he ever put on a Terrapins men's basketball uniform, Alex Len was up against a mountain of expectations so outsize they threatened to tower over even his giant stature.

His teammates had already showered him with praise. They said that the 7-foot-1 Ukrainian ran the floor like a guard, that he did things in practice they'd never seen from a player that size, that he was athletic and strong and could shoot.

The 14-point, eight-rebound performance he opened his collegiate career with did little to dispel those notions. In reality, that game against Albany in late December only inflated expectations as fans and commentators started to label Len a future NBA lottery pick.

But since his double-double performance at N.C. State on Jan. 8, Len has become relatively invisible. His minutes have slowly decreased, his health has somewhat faded, and his production has fallen short of the precocious talents on display earlier this season.

Saturday, the former ACC Rookie of the Week scored three points in 13 minutes in the Terps' 73-69 win against Virginia Tech.

"I expect Alex to be great when the year is over," coach Mark Turgeon said after the game. "I expect our team to be great when the year is over. We have five weeks and 10 games to get him there."

Turgeon was fairly candid when talking about his freshman center this weekend and just why his production has dipped of late. For one, he suffered an ankle injury at Temple. And despite his mammoth frame, Len still is only a freshman going through the typical progression of a player adjusting to the college game away from home.

But what may have most hurt Len was the 10-game suspension he served due to a violation of the NCAA's amateur rules. Turgeon seemed upbeat about the decision when it was levied in October, mainly because it meant Len was finally cleared to practice, but the full consequences of the suspension are only starting to become evident.

The 10 nonconference tune-ups — or as Turgeon accidentally called them Saturday, "exhibitions" — he missed were crucial. In the three games he did see before conference play, the center averaged 14 points and eight rebounds. He had a number of highlight dunks and alley-oops and blocked seven shots.

But before he truly got comfortable, the Terps were in the throes of conference play, and he was up against the ACC's best big men.

In the six games since a 12-point, 11-rebound showing against N.C. State, Len has scored more than three points just once. He's averaged 2.2 points and 2.7 rebounds in that stretch, often relegated to the bench with foul trouble.

"We're in the grind now," Turgeon said. "I can't let guys go out there and play through mistakes, which we could have in these early-season games that we play in. Unfortunately for him, every game is hard for us, so he doesn't get much of a chance to play through those mistakes."

Against the Hokies, Len threw down a thunderous dunk but also let a couple other feeds fall through his hands. Because Virginia Tech turned to a smaller lineup in the second half, Turgeon had trouble finding Len minutes.

Len, who did not start Saturday for a second straight game, hasn't been made available to the media since he enrolled in the university in August, but his teammates' public support of him has been unwavering.

"It's hard," forward Ashton Pankey said. "He's real young. He's not really used to the American game right now. Like I said, he's in a slump. I had one as well and I've been talking to him. You have to play out of it, come to practice early and get up your shots. It's just about getting your confidence back. It's hard, but I know he'll get it back."

Pankey said he's been trying to teach Len how not to pick up quick, needless fouls and stay in the game longer. And despite his physical nature — Pankey called the spindly Len a "pretty strong guy" — the 7-footer still hasn't quite adjusted to ACC forwards and centers.

"That's the biggest thing," Pankey said. "Guys are more physical and a lot better players. He just has to get used to it."

When asked about his realistic expectations for Len the rest of the season, Turgeon told reporters he honestly couldn't say. He has the utmost confidence, though, that he will develop into a top-notch player in his career in College Park.

As it's seemingly always been with Len, it's just a matter of waiting — and hoping it comes soon.

"We need him," Turgeon said. "For us to win some games down the road, we need Alex to step up and play well for us."

ceckard@umdbk.com