Maryland Basketball: 20-Point Lead Not Required

Maryland Terrapins (18-12, 8-7) at
Virginia Cavaliers (14-14, 4-11)
John Paul Jones Center - Charlottesville, VA

Bad time for a week off, huh? Sure I picked Maryland to lose to Clemson, but no one told me that they’d blow a 20-point lead in the process. Was this the worst loss in the recent history of the program? You could say that. The 22-point lead that evaporated in the 2001 National Semifinal will forever have an asterisk next to it since Maryland became the first team in NCAA history to play a Final Four game 5-on-8 (Arizona became the second team to play 5-on-8 two nights later). It’s hard to be bitter about that game since it didn’t matter what Maryland did, the refs would have found a way to allow Scrotum-Head Shane and company to advance. There was another game earlier in that 2001 season that was similar, but I long ago took a vow to never bring any of the details of that contest up on this website. So as far as I’m concerned, that game in College Park never really happened.

So yes, Sunday’s loss would probably be one of the worst in recent memory. Maryland blew that lead all on their own. Gary blew it. His coaching staff blew it. The players, with the exception of James Gist and Adrian Bowie, blew it. Hey Greivis, during all that time I’m sure you stand preening in front of a mirror everyday, did you ever pick up a playbook and figure out how to beat a full-court press? Just wondering, since I didn’t see you do it once on Sunday. Eric Hayes, same to you. And if anyone sees Landon Milbourne please inform him that James Mays is not on his team. Thanks.

For all the mistakes that the Maryland backcourt made, there were a couple of head-scratchers from the head coach as well. I know why Jason McAlpin started on senior night, but why was he in the game with 10 minutes left to go as if the game was already over? Why was Jerome Burney still in the game down the stretch? Sure he played well of the bench, but after the third time Trevor Booker dunked on him, he probably should have been removed from the game. And why was Milbourne allowed to play swing man while the Terps tried desperately and without success to break the press?

Vasquez continues to hinder this team. He can win a few games here and there, but he is costing Maryland over this recent poor stretch a lot more than he’s helping. He now averages 4.5 turnovers a game, which is SECOND HIGHEST IN THE NCAA. His 136 turnovers are the MOST IN THE NCAA. Those turnover marks don’t even include the multitude of bad shots he takes over the course of a game.

Nothing more really needs to be said. I’m trying to keep this addition short anyway with the amount of content that I’m going to put on this site over the next few weeks. Virginia is the same team that Maryland faced back on January 30th. They’ve been playing better as of late, but they’re still Sean Singletary and everyone else. Baker and Joseph get frisky every once and awhile, but other than that, discussion about Virginia can begin and end with Singletary.

Normally, I wouldn’t be worried about this game, even on the road. But, taking into account that Maryland has had a week to stew (or sulk) about their latest setback and the fact that it’s Singletary’s senior day, this game is really up in the air. Not to mention Maryland’s recent penchant (in the last few years) to lose just about every crucial game when it comes to determining the NCAA bubble. There are a lot of reasons to wince and worry about this game. It all comes down to which Maryland team shows up…and really, how many times have I had to say that recently? Singletary is going to score 20-something, at least one role player from Virginia will have the game of his life, and Baker will probably chip in a couple of big baskets. So it all comes down to Maryland’s mind frame. If they are still reeling from their loss a week ago, we’ll know in the first five minutes. If they are over it, then we’ll also know in the first five minutes.

Gist, as usual, has to have big game. It would be nice if Vasquez could hold on to the ball for two consecutive possessions. And if anyone knows where the real Boom Osby has been the past two weeks, make sure he gets on the team bus before the game. Maryland needs two more wins, and this game has to be one of them.

Maryland 73
Virginia 70