Maryland Basketball: Packing Up The U-Hall

Maryland Terrapins (17-11, 7-8 ACC) at
Virginia Cavaliers (14-12, 7-8 ACC)
University Hall - Charlottesville, VA

“I think we'll see the Aggies net a big win over Texas this week to end all doubts.”
-2/27/06
“This is the ultimate trap game for Duke. I’ll pick it, what do I have to lose. Pick: Florida State 83, Duke 80”
-2/28/06

Well well. I picked two huge upsets in two consecutive days. Most people would call that superb. I call it an average week.

Suddenly, all the optimism returned to College Park after Maryland eked out a four-point win in a game they should have won by 20. Miami’s guards looked abysmal for the entire first half. And if Diaz and Hite aren’t making shots, Miami usually loses by a whole bunch. But the Terps went to the break up by only one.

I was able to attend my fifth game this season at Comcast (the combined cost of admission: $0). This was my second game as a member of the media. I’m glad to see that nothing has changed. The university still treats the media like dirt. The pregame meal is still barely edible (I met my sister for a late lunch before the game at one of Maryland’s dining halls. It’s sad when the dining hall food is better than the media pregame meal.) And the fans, as Yogi Berra once said, are still staying away in droves. It’s amazing. Two years ago Maryland fans were, without a doubt, one of the best, loudest and most dedicated in the country. Now, once you get past court level, there are rows and rows of empty seats. And even the one’s that are filled are usually occupied by the next generation of fans that don’t know it’s OK to make noise at a basketball game.

Anyway…sure, it’s great that they finally won a game. This is not a performance that is going to be noticed by the NCAA committee. In fact, I doubt the committee even considers Maryland at all.

If the Terps beat the Cavs and then win a game in the ACC tournament (which would mean Maryland would probably have to figure out a way to beat mighty Clemson), then it gets interesting. The Big 12 and SEC are down this season. I don’t think the selection committee wants to take more than three or four teams from the Missouri Valley. Nor should they. I’m all for more bids to mid-major conferences. But potentially giving the MVC six? That’s getting to be ridiculous (Which is exactly what St. Joe’s worshipper Joe Lunardi had in his Bracketology a few days ago. Along with Wichita State, Missouri State, Creighton and Northern Iowa, Lunardi threw in undeserving Southern Illinois and completely worthless Bradley. If you can’t name one decent team that Bradley has played all year, join the club). Do you really think the MVC could go toe-to-toe with any major conference in the country? Imagine a MVC/ACC challenge if you will (not a bad idea in reality, I wouldn’t mind seeing that). Do you think the MVC could win more than three games? Could they win any games? Even if they were played on MVC home courts? What about a MVC/Pac-10 challenge? I still don’t see the Missouri Valley being able to notch more than a couple of wins. So why would you give the MVC six bids, while only giving the ACC five, the Big 12 four and the Pac-10 three?

This is the exact question the selection committee is going to look at. They are looking for any kind of excuse not to take more than four teams from the MVC and take six teams from the ACC. They’re just begging these bubble teams from power conferences to make a run in their tournaments. I don’t think we’ll see the MVC get more than four bids. So there should more spots open for power conference teams than most people expect.

So the tournament bid is, remarkably, still there for Maryland’s taking. But it isn’t going to happen. I don’t think the Terps have a chance against the Cavs on Sunday. Remember, not only will this be senior night for Virginia, it will be the last game ever played (NIT games not withstanding) at University Hall. The Hoos move into the John Paul Jones Center next season. So the house will be packed with that disgusting fanbase who loves to make fun of opposing players’ dead parents, and all three of the great Virginia players will return and get the crowd even more worked up. It’s not a great environment for a team on the brink to try and get a win.


Despite the chants of "Crackhead Parents", Juan Dixon owned the Cavaliers...especially at University Hall

Sean Singletary should go off against the Terps. Look for J.R. Reynolds to create matchup problems as well. And Dirty Sanchez Cain, for some reason, usually gives the Terps problems on the glass.

Dave Leito continues to impress me. I’m trying to figure out if he is actually a good coach, or if he just looks good compared to the previous leader that Virginia employed. I’m beginning to think it’s a combination of both. Let’s put it this way. I would look pretty good coaching next to Pistol Pete Gillen.

The loss to Florida State last week effectively ended Maryland’s chance at the NCAA’s. Still, several teams that appeared to have bids a couple of weeks ago have started to fall apart and are landing square on that proverbial bubble. The 2006 dream dies in Charlottesville, with Ralph Sampson, Dan Bonner and Curtis Staples looking on.

Virginia 82
Maryland 73

Elsewhere in the ACC…

Another good mid-week for me. My overall predicting record is 52-23.

Saturday
Virginia Tech at Boston College
I would really like to see BC go on a run in the conference tournament. They looked alright against Wake this week. A strong showing here, and a run in the ACC’s could put BC back on track to be a darkhouse in the NCAA’s.
Pick: Boston College 62, Virginia Tech 58

Georgia Tech at Clemson
A season to forget for Paul Hewitt. Fortunately, help is on the way next season. The Bees will be a tough out next year.
Pick: Clemson 66, Georgia Tech 62

NC State at Wake Forest
A season to forget for Skip Prosser. Unfortunately, help is not on the way next year. Don’t be surprised to see the Deacs at the bottom of the conference again.
Pick: NC State 75, Wake Forest 62

North Carolina at Duke
I think it’s safe to say that ESPN is showing enough coverage of this otherwise worthless matchup. You can watch the game on ESPN, a simulcast from an above the court camera angle on ESPN 2, another simulcast on ESPN U that has a camera in the middle of the caffeinated nerd student section, a third simulcast on ESPN 360 that takes you behind the scenes and shows you just how Ratface is able to pay the officials before each and every game, and a final simulcast on ESPN Classic that will show their new sports documentaries called “Dazed and Confused: The J.J. Redick Story”, followed by “No Means No: A Shelden Williams Biography.” I will not be watching any of it, although I hear the Redick story is pretty accurate. By the way, Backne, as I’ve been repeatedly predicting FOR THE PAST THREE MONTHS, is starting to show signs of fatigue. For the millionth time, he shoots almost 15% worse in March than in the other five months combined. But all of a sudden, you hear it on ESPN like they just figured this out. It’s like they discovered uranium. Remember, you heard it here first (however, look for him to go nuts against UNC on senior night…it will be his last hurrah).
Pick: Duke 90, North Carolina 78


You'll see plenty of this tonight. Are they just innocent spoiled rich kids, or Hitler enthusiasts? You decide.

Sunday
Florida State at Miami
The definition of “letdown”: what will happen when FSU plays at Miami on Sunday.
Pick: Miami 81, Florida State 71