While former Maryland men’s basketball coach Mark Turgeon might not be coaching anymore, he is still making his presence known in the Baltimore basketball scene.
About once every two weeks, Turgeon visits Morgan State’s basketball practice to help out the players.
“Coach Turge has adopted us, if that makes any sense,” Morgan State head coach Kevin Broadus said on Glenn Clark Radio Nov. 2. “I laugh about it to my guys. He’s been around Larry Brown so long and Larry Brown did that with him. When he comes in the gym, he always asks, ‘Can I talk to them?’ ‘It’s your floor.'”
Broadus, who was an assistant under Turgeon at Maryland from 2017-2019, says Turgeon brings knowledge to the team because of all the coaching he has done in his career, including stops as the head man at Maryland, Texas A&M, Wichita State and Jacksonville State.
“Everything he brings to the table helps not only me, I think it helps out other coaches and our players as well,” he said. “The guy is a wealth of knowledge. … I don’t think he gets his due that he’s owed around here.”
Last year, Morgan State went 15-16 overall and 7-7 in the MEAC. The team put together a six-game winning streak in the middle of the season, but the campaign ended with a loss in the first round of the MEAC tournament, an 80-64 decision to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
Morgan State returns a couple of key players from last year’s squad in senior guard Kam Hobbs and redshirt junior forward Will Thomas. Hobbs averaged 8.4 points per game and started 16 contests last year. However, he had double-digit points in seven of the team’s last nine games.
Thomas, a Baltimore native and Mervo graduate, averaged a career-high 8.9 points per game last year, but struggled to consistently put up points.
“It’s all on Will,” Broadus said. “It’s a good chance he will find his stride and take it to the maximum. It’s all on Will, nothing to do with anyone else, coaches or other players. Will is sometimes his best critic and sometimes his best enemy, but sometimes his best friend, too. Will has a chance to be very good this year. He’s put in the work.”
The Bears will rely heavily on two transfers, one being former East Carolina and Boston College guard Wynston Tabbs. He is now healthy after a string of knee issues.
“Special talent,” Broadus said. “I had a couple guys come in and watch him — John Thompson, Mark Turgeon. They were like, ‘Wow, he is a high-major offensive player.’ Can really play, knows the game, high IQ. Just love what he brings to the table.”
Another transfer who will make an impact for Morgan State is Kiran Oliver, who redshirted at New Mexico State in 2021-22 and played JUCO ball a year ago.
“[Oliver] is a high-energy guy. He brings energy every single minute of practice, every single day,” Broadus said. “We love this kid. … This kid is a high-major athlete, and he loves to play the game.”
Forward Trent Edwards could be a starter this season for the Bears, something that Broadus has not typically done with freshmen.
“Trent has taken leaps and bounds,” Broadus said. “He is a pogo stick [at 6-foot-9]. Like I told him, ‘Trent, I’m not going to run one play for you. But every ball that goes up against the glass, you go get it and that’s your play.’ He’s been really good at that.”
Turgeon’s presence, along with a mix of productive returners and promising newcomers, has Broadus hopeful that his team can compete for a MEAC title this season.
Morgan State’s home opener is on Nov. 9 against Cheyney University of Pennsylvania.
“Injury-free,” Broadus said of how the Bears can compete for a league title. “The cohesiveness of guys loving to play with each other, sharing the game, sharing the responsibilities on defense. Everything has to come together at the right time. The right time is now, all the way through to April.”
For more from Broadus, listen to the full interview here:
Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox