COLLEGE PARK -- If a sequence could summarize Braxton Dupree's freshman season at Maryland, it happened in the second half of Wednesday night's home loss to Virginia Tech.
Dupree appeared to run out of steam, and Terps coach Gary Williams ran out of patience.
Given a chance to play in the first half because of foul trouble to seniors James Gist and Bambale Osby, Dupree responded. On one play, he ripped down a rebound and fired an outlet pass to Greivis Vasquez, who hit a three-pointer.
But in the second half, shortly after replacing Osby with 10 minutes left, Dupree was stripped of the ball under the basket, then didn't get back on defense. Only a block by Gist prevented Jeff Allen from scoring easily.
Osby soon returned and Dupree, having played seven minutes, was done for the night. Former Calvert Hall coach Mark Amatucci has seen this happen before.
In Dupree's first season on the varsity at Calvert Hall, Amatucci watched a talented but tentative sophomore struggle with his confidence, intensity and conditioning.
It turned into a three-year battle that resulted in a lot of "one-way conversations," Amatucci said, but Dupree eventually turned into a Division I basketball prospect who chose Maryland after his junior year.
"I probably beat up on him as much as any other kid that ever came through here," Amatucci said. "I was hard on him, and I made him accountable, and we had our ups and downs.
"He's a wonderful kid, but I think he's still fighting those bugs, commitment and accountability."
Going into today's game at Miami, Dupree has struggled as his playing time and productivity fluctuate with his confidence and conditioning. It has been a four-month battle during which the 6-foot-8, 260-pound center has gone from a part-time starter to a player mostly buried on what is not a very deep bench.
Asked the day before the game against Virginia Tech whether it has been difficult to live up to the expectations heaped on him coming out of high school, Dupree said: "In a way, it is. Everybody has their own expectations, but at the same time you've got to be out there to make things happen."
Early on, Dupree seemed to be taking advantage of an opportunity when others, including Gist and Osby, weren't. Dupree started seven straight games, and he averaged 12 points and five rebounds in a combined 45 minutes in back-to-back wins over Lehigh and Illinois.
Dupree hasn't scored in double figures since and didn't play at all on two occasions, against Duke last month and more recently against Florida State.
Osby, who lost his starting job to Dupree early in the season, understands the transition Dupree and Maryland's other freshmen are going through. He experienced the same thing when he started his college career at New Mexico.
"One of the things a young guy doesn't understand is how physical it is in the middle," Osby said recently. "You just don't understand what playing hard really is."
If Dupree has an advantage over fellow freshman Dino Gregory and redshirt freshman Jerome Burney, neither of whom has played in more than a month, it is that three years of Amatucci's prodding have helped prepare Dupree for playing under Williams.
Dupree acknowledges that he cowered a bit earlier in the season.
"Now whatever Coach says, I make it more of a challenge," Dupree said. "Whatever Coach says I need to work on, I make that more of a priority to work on to get better in my game."
Ongoing issues have been Dupree's weight and lack of conditioning.
Those who know Dupree, and others familiar with the Terps' program, tell the same story: Dupree went home to Baltimore for a few days over Christmas and came back with an extra 10 pounds.
Dupree said conditioning is no longer a problem, though he still seems to tire quickly.
"You can always work on getting in better shape. Now that I'm not playing as much, I can still work on running a little extra," Dupree said. "It's a big difference. You're not home with your family, with your friends. You're on your own. You've got to be responsible to make the best decisions."
Having been down this path before, Williams knows that some players who struggle as freshmen can turn themselves into pros, while others wind up eating their way out of the rotation or even the program.
"I've already talked to Braxton, and the big thing for Braxton is to really look at this year and whatever happens the rest of the way, and then be a Lonny Baxter, be an [Obinna] Ekezie in the spring and summer. Because that's when both of those guys really made big changes from their freshman year," Williams said. "Braxton has the ability to do the same thing."
With Gist and Osby being seniors, there will be a void in the frontcourt next season. For his part, Dupree hasn't given up on this season.
"Whatever time I get the rest of the season, I'm going to try to go as hard as I can when I'm out there and I'll go from there," Dupree said. "I'm not looking ahead to next year because the season's not over yet. I don't know how it will pan out."
don.markus@baltsun.com
FRESHMEN OF (LITTLE) INFLUENCE
By Don Markus
Cliff Tucker
Has missed the past two games because of illness after having the most impact of any newcomer (4.2 points, 2.2 rebounds, 16.3 minutes a game).
Adrian Bowie
Had two straight double-digit scoring games in which he averaged 30 minutes when Eric Hayes was hurt. Has 14 points total since Hayes returned.
Braxton Dupree
Only one point, four rebounds and 41 minutes in past eight games played.
Shane Walker
The 6-foot-10 center has blocked only six shots, none while getting 34 minutes in past seven games played.
Dino Gregory
Hasn't played in nine straight games and 11 of past 13.
Jerome Burney
Redshirt freshman has played less than any other scholarship player and resembles Joe Smith in only one area - same jersey number.