Big Ten awaiting wavering Terps

Turgeon likes way his team has progressed through challenges of ‘crazy lineups’

The Maryland men’s basketball team’s final nonconference game of the season was supposed to be nothing more than a simple tuneup: Clean off the rust from an eight-day Christmas break and drive smoothly into the restart of the Big Ten season off an easy victory.

Though the margin of victory in a 66-45 win over UMBC on Friday night might appear to follow that formula, a horrific first-half performance against the Retrievers could have been a red flag as big as one the Maryland students use during their flash-mob dances at Xfinity Center.

Asked whether he was more concerned about his team’s lowest scoring first-half in four years — the Terps trailed 24-18 after hitting just six of 26 shots and committing 10 turnovers — than he was pleased with a strong second half, Maryland coach Mark Turgeon was clear.

“Much more pleased with what happened in the second half,” Turgeon said. “I said it on radio [after the game], that was the most fun I’ve had all year coaching this team the second half. Guys were responding. We were playing crazy lineups.

“We just had a lot going on with our team, and guys responded. They listened and we got better. So I really enjoyed it. Am I concerned about our team? Not really. … I think we know that we have a fine, small margin for error with this team. … We’ll get better.”

The Terps will have only three days to prepare for Tuesday’s game against Penn TV: Radio: