COLLEGE PARK — For at least one day, Mark Turgeon is the coach who banned Christmas.
Not that the Terps are not going to be allowed to celebrate with their families next week, but until after the game against Saturday's Boston University (6-5) at Comcast Center, the word itself is banned from Maryland's collective vocabulary from the moment they get up Saturday.
"He's being a Grinch right now," junior guard Dez Wells said of his coach. "After tomorrow, he'll be better."
Coming off final exams, Maryland (7-4) is hoping to stretch its winning streak to three straight and give its coach his 300thcareer victory. Turgeon will give his team a five-day break after Saturday's game.
The Terps play against Tulsa on Dec. 29. It will mark the first time many of the players will have gone home since August.
"I have a rule. Today they can talk about Christmas break, pack their bags, get their rides lined up, all that kind of stuff. When we wake up tomorrow, I cannot hear the word 'Christmas' until after the game is over -- from anybody, including you guys," Turgeon told the media after Friday's practice. "