Maryland men's basketball coach Mark Turgeon said Monday that he likes his rotation with freshman Jared Nickens starting on the wing, with fellow freshman Dion Wiley and senior Richaud Pack coming off the bench.
Nickens had just three points – with no rebounds or assists – in 15 minutes of Saturday's 69-60 win at Purdue. Wiley had nine points – with two assists, one block and a rebound – 16 minutes. Pack had 11 points in 23 minutes.
Wiley shot 3 of 5 from the field and 2 of 2 from the free-throw line. Not only did he make his only 3-point shot, he also made a couple of difficult drives. Nickens took four 3-pointers, making one. Pack was 4 of 6 from the field, and hit 2 of 4 on 3-pointers.
"I don't think Dion's comfortable starting. ... I know Jared's comfortable starting," Turgeon said Monday on the weekly Big Ten coaches teleconference. "I like having one of the two young wings out there. It helps stretch the defense and it kind of helps me from playing them all together."
Nickens started in place of Pack, who had been starting but was struggling with his shooting. Turgeon wouldn't say whether he will keep the same lineup when the 11th-ranked Terps play host to Rutgers on Wednesday.
"Things change daily in this profession, but I like the way Richaud responded coming off the bench," Turgeon said. "I thought he had one of his better games."
NOTE: Maryland dropped three spots in Monday's AP poll, to No. 14.
Wisconsin, the only other Big Ten team in the top 25, also dropped three spots this week, to No. 7.