Deep-6 or deep run? Only time will tell

What the numbers reveal about the Terps’ rotation

Entering the 2019-20 season, the strength of the Maryland men’s basketball team was undoubtedly its depth. The team lost just one player from last season’s rotation in Bruno Fernando. After having one of the youngest teams in college basketball last season, the freshmen from the 2018 recruiting class had a year’s worth of experience, plus they were tested in the NCAA tournament. Associated Press voters noticed that, combined with another solid recruiting class in 2019, and ranked the Terps No. 7 in the preseason poll.

Entering Sunday’s matchup with No. 25 Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio, seventh-ranked Maryland sits at the top of Big Ten standings, but it hasn’t been because of its depth, but because of its heavy workloads for its top six players. Coach Mark Turgeon has increased minutes for his top six since the departure of Makhi and Makhel Mitchell and especially in the last month.

“I wish we were a little deeper. Hopefully we’ll get deeper as the season goes on,” Turgeon said after Maryland’s 67-60 win at Michigan State on Feb. 15.

The Baltimore Sun gathered numbers on Turgeon’s workload for his six-man rotation, how it has changed over the course of the season, which players’ minutes have been most affected and whether the method can last for a deep run in the NCAA tournament.

How has Turgeon used his top 6 over the years?

The top six players in Turgeon’s rotation — Anthony Cowan, Eric Ayala, Darryl Morsell, Donta Scott, Jalen Smith and Aaron Wiggins — have combined to play an average of 177.9 minutes per game