COLLEGE PARK — Maryland men's basketball coach Mark Turgeon said Friday that he and his assistant coaches spent time the past two days trying to boost the confidence of freshman Dion Wiley, after the shooting guard struggled mightily in a starting role during a 67-56 victory Wednesday over North Carolina Central.
"A lot of us talked to him, and he's responded the right way," Turgeon said during a teleconference Friday. "He knows he didn't play well, and the competitor wants to get out [and play again]. I thought today in practice, he really competed and tried to do the right thing."
Wiley committed turnovers on each of the Terps' first three possessions and quickly was replaced by fellow freshman Jared Nickens. After returning to the game a few minutes later, Wiley had a lapse on the defensive end when he failed to box out a shooter who had missed a field-goal attempt.
In 16 minutes, Wiley failed to score for the first time with the Terps. He also finished with five turnovers, after having just eight over the first nine games.
It was Wiley's second start, and the second time he struggled early. The first time, against Virginia Military Institute, Wiley scored 17 of his season-high 19 points in the second half.
"Did he lose some confidence? I'm sure he did. Hopefully, he'll gain it back right when he gets on the floor [Saturday against USC Upstate] and positive things happen for him early," Turgeon said of Wiley, who is averaging a little over seven points per game.
Wiley likely will not start Saturday or in the near future as the Terps await the return of senior guard Dez Wells from a fractured wrist. Wells, who had the cast taken off earlier this week, is expected back later in the month.
Not that Turgeon has completely ruled out the possibility of a third start at some point.
"I don't think there's any question he's not ready [to start], and he's not comfortable with it, and he's told us that," Turgeon said of Wiley. "I said to him, 'Where we are right now and who we have to play and the lineups we have to be playing, you might have to be a starter. You might not. We'll see.' "