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  4. title => "2019 NBA Draft: Maryland's Bruno Fernando developed into a potential 1st-round pick by swatting away doubters -- like his head coach"
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  6. article_body => "<p>COLLEGE PARK \u2013 As the Terrapins prepped to leave for their 2019 NCAA Tournament opener, Mark Turgeon revealed his thoughts on Bruno Fernando\u2019s play last season.<\/p>\n<p>In terms of the center\u2019s on-court performance, Maryland\u2019s head coach wasn\u2019t a fan.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWith Bruno, it\u2019s been a lot of things,\u201d Turgeon said Tuesday. \u201cI think about last year at this time. He had trouble catching passes. He had trouble finishing. He was always in foul trouble. He was emotional in the wrong way.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>These assessments would seem harsh even if accurate considering the public airing. That is unless the follow-up sentences from Turgeon offer a narrative shift toward the affirmative based on the 6-foot-10 sophomore\u2019s contributions this season for the 22-10 Terps.<\/p>\n<p>Good news: There is.<\/p>\n<p>Fernando\u2019s energy, defense and offensive efficiency earned the Angola native Big Ten First-team and All-Defensive Team honors. He led the conference in field goal percentage (62.4), ranked second in rebounding (10.5) and third in double-doubles (20). The growth raised his stock among NBA talent evaluators \u2013 and his head coach.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNow he can catch, now he can score against the double-team. He\u2019s been an all-league first-team defensive player. He\u2019ll stay out foul trouble. Been a great leader,\u201d Turgeon said. \u201cThere\u2019s been a lot of things he\u2019s improved on and continued to improve on as the season goes on. I\u2019ve said it a lot this year, but he\u2019s one of the most improved players from one season to the next that I ever coached.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Turgeon finished his statement on Fernando\u2019s development with a line NBA scouts will consider ahead of June\u2019s NBA Draft: \u201cHe\u2019s still got a good upside to him too.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s interesting considering the 2019 class lacks quality big man depth. ESPN\u2019s latest draft rankings slot Fernando 31st overall. Maybe he doesn\u2019t zoom into the lottery range where the Wizards\u2019 first-round pick projects, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/ncaa\/2019-nba-draft-top-prospects-worth-watching-ncaa-tournament-not-named-zion-williamson\">but there\u2019s a chance for a rise with good work during the NCAA Tournament<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf he catches it with his back to the basket, you\u2019re dead. He\u2019s going to bury you,\u201d NBC Sports college basketball insider Rob Dauster told NBC Sports Washington. \u201cHe\u2019s really athletic and explosive. If in the NBA you\u2019re asking him to go 20 minutes a night and be a like a DeAndre Jordan, a big body in front of the rim and go get some rebounds, score on you and catch some lobs, he can do that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>His rim protection (1.9 blocks per game) and lane activity standout most not just to observers, but his teammates.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOn the defensive end knowing that he\u2019s my behind me, gives me a lot of [comfort],\u201d freshman guard Eric Ayala said of Fernando.<\/p>\n<p>Yet it\u2019s the other end where Fernando\u2019s presence may make the most difference for a Maryland team that struggles with offensive consistency in the half-court sets. After reaching double-digit points in 27 of 31 games, Fernando had only four points on 1 of 4 shooting in Maryland\u2019s 69-61 loss Thursday in its Big Ten Tournament opener against Nebraska.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTeams are going to double (Bruno), and we have to make them pay like we have all year. We didn\u2019t do that in our last game,\u201d Turgeon said. \u201cA lot of it was him, a lot of was the guys around him. You can argue that our team\u2019s best offense is when teams double-team Bruno. When they start to double him, and we start to make him pay that we\u2019re going to win these games.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The bounce-back chance for Maryland, no. 6 seed in the East Regional, comes Thursday afternoon against 11th seeded Belmont.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think we've got to just stay positive,\u201d Fernando told reporters Wednesday in Jacksonville, site of Thursday\u2019s and Saturday\u2019s game should Maryland advance. \u201cI think our team is progressing as the game goes on, as the season goes on. \u2026 It\u2019s an opportunity for us to really leave everything else behind and just focus on what we got in front of us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He means the madness of March. Soon that changes to the prepping of the NBA Draft. Insiders project Fernando will forgo his final two seasons of collegiate eligibility. Then we\u2019ll learn how much the professionals value the center\u2019s development and believe in his upside. At least we know Fernando made his Coach a believer this season.<\/p>\n<p><strong>NBA Draft profiles:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u00b7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/wizards\/nba-fans-think-zion-williamson-could-save-their-team-hes-just-trying-have-fun-duke\">Zion Williamson, Duke<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00b7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/ncaa\/nba-draft-jessie-govans-next-level-needed-georgetowns-postseason-hopes?cid=Yahoo&amp;partner=ya4nbcs\">Jessie Govan, Georgetown<\/a><\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nbcsportswashington.com\/bracket\"><strong>Click here to join NBC Sports Washington\u2019s NCAA Tournament Bracket Challenge<\/strong><\/a><\/em>&nbsp;<em>and compete against Wizards analysts Drew Gooden and Jimmy Patsos for a chance at great prizes.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Grand Prize:&nbsp;if you have the highest-scoring bracket in the NBC Sports Washington Bracket Challenge, you will win a 3-night trip for four people to Universal Resort, including round trip airfare, lodging, admission to Universal Studios and tickets to Blue Man Group.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Secondary Prize:&nbsp;If your bracket scores higher than both Drew Gooden and Jimmy Patsos, you win a coupon code for a free Jersey Mike's sub!<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>MORE NCAA NEWS:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>March Madness 2019:<\/strong>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/ncaa\/march-madness-2019-five-upset-picks-make-opening-weekend\">Five upset picks to make in the opening weekend<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>The Other March Stars:<\/strong>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/ncaa\/seven-best-players-watch-ncaa-tournament-other-zion-williamson\">7 players to watch not named Zion Williamson<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Path<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;to a Final Four<\/strong>:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/ncaa\/march-madness-2019-five-teams-easiest-path-final-four\">5 teams with the easiest journey<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"
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NCAA

NCAA

COLLEGE PARK – As the Terrapins prepped to leave for their 2019 NCAA Tournament opener, Mark Turgeon revealed his thoughts on Bruno Fernando’s play last season.

In terms of the center’s on-court performance, Maryland’s head coach wasn’t a fan.

“With Bruno, it’s been a lot of things,” Turgeon said Tuesday. “I think about last year at this time. He had trouble catching passes. He had trouble finishing. He was always in foul trouble. He was emotional in the wrong way.”

These assessments would seem harsh even if accurate considering the public airing. That is unless the follow-up sentences from Turgeon offer a narrative shift toward the affirmative based on the 6-foot-10 sophomore’s contributions this season for the 22-10 Terps.

Good news: There is.

Fernando’s energy, defense and offensive efficiency earned the Angola native Big Ten First-team and All-Defensive Team honors. He led the conference in field goal percentage (62.4), ranked second in rebounding (10.5) and third in double-doubles (20). The growth raised his stock among NBA talent evaluators – and his head coach.

“Now he can catch, now he can score against the double-team. He’s been an all-league first-team defensive player. He’ll stay out foul trouble. Been a great leader,” Turgeon said. “There’s been a lot of things he’s improved on and continued to improve on as the season goes on. I’ve said it a lot this year, but he’s one of the most improved players from one season to the next that I ever coached.”

 

Turgeon finished his statement on Fernando’s development with a line NBA scouts will consider ahead of June’s NBA Draft: “He’s still got a good upside to him too.”

That’s interesting considering the 2019 class lacks quality big man depth. ESPN’s latest draft rankings slot Fernando 31st overall. Maybe he doesn’t zoom into the lottery range where the Wizards’ first-round pick projects, but there’s a chance for a rise with good work during the NCAA Tournament.

“If he catches it with his back to the basket, you’re dead. He’s going to bury you,” NBC Sports college basketball insider Rob Dauster told NBC Sports Washington. “He’s really athletic and explosive. If in the NBA you’re asking him to go 20 minutes a night and be a like a DeAndre Jordan, a big body in front of the rim and go get some rebounds, score on you and catch some lobs, he can do that.”

His rim protection (1.9 blocks per game) and lane activity standout most not just to observers, but his teammates.

“On the defensive end knowing that he’s my behind me, gives me a lot of [comfort],” freshman guard Eric Ayala said of Fernando.

Yet it’s the other end where Fernando’s presence may make the most difference for a Maryland team that struggles with offensive consistency in the half-court sets. After reaching double-digit points in 27 of 31 games, Fernando had only four points on 1 of 4 shooting in Maryland’s 69-61 loss Thursday in its Big Ten Tournament opener against Nebraska.

“Teams are going to double (Bruno), and we have to make them pay like we have all year. We didn’t do that in our last game,” Turgeon said. “A lot of it was him, a lot of was the guys around him. You can argue that our team’s best offense is when teams double-team Bruno. When they start to double him, and we start to make him pay that we’re going to win these games.”

The bounce-back chance for Maryland, no. 6 seed in the East Regional, comes Thursday afternoon against 11th seeded Belmont.

“I think we've got to just stay positive,” Fernando told reporters Wednesday in Jacksonville, site of Thursday’s and Saturday’s game should Maryland advance. “I think our team is progressing as the game goes on, as the season goes on. … It’s an opportunity for us to really leave everything else behind and just focus on what we got in front of us.”

He means the madness of March. Soon that changes to the prepping of the NBA Draft. Insiders project Fernando will forgo his final two seasons of collegiate eligibility. Then we’ll learn how much the professionals value the center’s development and believe in his upside. At least we know Fernando made his Coach a believer this season.

NBA Draft profiles:

·        Zion Williamson, Duke

 

·        Jessie Govan, Georgetown

Click here to join NBC Sports Washington’s NCAA Tournament Bracket Challenge and compete against Wizards analysts Drew Gooden and Jimmy Patsos for a chance at great prizes.

Grand Prize: if you have the highest-scoring bracket in the NBC Sports Washington Bracket Challenge, you will win a 3-night trip for four people to Universal Resort, including round trip airfare, lodging, admission to Universal Studios and tickets to Blue Man Group.

Secondary Prize: If your bracket scores higher than both Drew Gooden and Jimmy Patsos, you win a coupon code for a free Jersey Mike's sub!

MORE NCAA NEWS: