Maryland Coach Mark Turgeon may have been ready to declare freshman Bruno Fernando as his starting power forward in October, but that changed after the highly touted Angolan suffered a left ankle sprain that kept him out of practice for nearly two weeks. For Turgeon, that could have brought the same kind of dread as a year ago, when Maryland’s front court was plagued with injuries and a complete liability late in the season.
But Turgeon was at ease before this season, knowing that he wouldn’t need to rush Fernando back into the fold because of replenished personnel on the interior.