Which team was going to be worse. The less worst team was going to win. Not a stellar game in any way. This Bruin team has been up and down all season and I fear it's trending down - with its downs lower and its highs also lower. This does not look good at all. I think if Cronin can turn things around it would be a miracle and I don't see any miracles on the horizon. One never knows what is going to happen - especially with team sports - but it doesn't look good.
The Bruins have their moments - individually and as a team. But overall this team doesn't shoot well, doesn't rebound well, doesn't defend well, and doesn't run well. What's left?
Booker is an empty jersey. 16 minutes and no rebounds. He often looks lost out there and he continues to watch and reach rather than move his feet. He's often in poor position and mostly is late in his reactions. But he isn't alone. There was one play early on that typifies the Bruins' rebounding. A Maryland player shot the ball and missed. The rebound came off the rim into the key amid three Bruins (one of them might have been Booker). The only player who moved toward the ball with any urgency was a Maryland guy. He grabbed the rebound as he beat the three Bruins to the ball as they mostly watched and were slow to move and still mostly flat footed. In terms of the five, when Jamerson, who often looks lost out there, is your most effective post player you are in trouble. On a good team he would be a competent, sometimes reliable, sub.
How can the Bruins hit their free throws one night and not the next night? That's just mentally weak and lazy. There are some talented players on the roster. Some, maybe all, of those players aren't complete players and have holes in their game. Overall, however, this team is inconsistent, mentally weak, and doesn't play very smart. To my eye this team often looks like a pick-up team.
If the Bruins could stay in front of their man, block out, not foul, don't turn the ball over, take good shots, and hit their free throws consistently that would go a long way toward their improvement. From what I've seen and continue to see I don't think that will happen.
I will say that I was wrong about Trent Perry. He still has some weaknesses in his game IMO but I can see his ceiling is higher than I thought at the beginning of the season. Without Perry last night the Bruins wouldn't have won IMO. He and Dailey carried the Bruins for most of the night. Still, this Maryland team isn't very good and they were right in the game with a few minutes to go. They could have easily won if the ball had bounced a little differently. Not a huge endorsement for the Bruins.
I don't know what Cronin should do. Does he give up on this season and build for next year? He doesn't have much coming back. He has Perry, Dailey, and Booker. I would assume he wants to retain Perry and Dailey. Does he want Booker? If so then he's going to have to play him and keep working on him to improve - encouraging and nursing him along. Does he give up on Booker and bench him for Bilodeau and Jamerson, trying to win as many games as possible? Even with that I don't see a lot more wins this season.
If Booker was effective and showing signs of growing and improving, then he and Perry and Dailey and Williams and Freeny coming off the bench would be a good base to build on for next season. But that's not what Cronin has. Booker, incredibly, might be the key for next year. Right now, if it were me, I don't think I would be putting any hopes on Booker. We'll see what Cronin decides to do.
Looking ahead, will the basketball program have enough money to bring in 6 or 7 (maybe even more) significant transfers and recruits? I believe that's what Cronin is going to need, and that's assuming Perry and Dailey return. The rest of the season and next season's transfer and recruiting periods are going to be interesting and crucial. If UCLA still wants Cronin for next season, which is what i suspect, maybe Cronin wants out. From my perspective next season doesn't right now look promising. Like I said, interesting - to say the least.