Tyler: What games do you think Maryland has to win to get into the NCAA Tournament?

Don Markus: I think the Terps have to win their last two regular season games because if they beat Clemson but lose to Virginia, the bad loss will negate the good win. As for the ACC tournament, getting to the quarterfinals would also be a must if they don't get a first-round bye.

Tony: There is a good chance that the Terps will need at least one win in the ACC tourney to get in the big dance. Could it actually be beneficial for the Terps to be the five seed in the ACC so they get to play in the first round against an easier opponent?

Don Markus: I don't think it will help to be a No. 5 seed since that opens up the possibility for another bad loss. Though the NCAA selection committee is not supposed to put the league tournament into the equation unless a team gets an automatic bid, you know it does and that opening round game can't help -- but could hurt -- the Terps, .

Adam Goldman: What's the deal with the Terps bench? What happened to these guys? They were scoring points earlier in the season and now they've completely disappeared? This is very troubling and doesn't bode well for any ACC or NCAA tourney runs. Gist and Co. need these guys to step up and drain some buckets.

Don Markus: Actually, the bench played a big role in Thursday night's win. While individually they didn't have any numbers that jump out at you, collectively Jerome Burney, Cliff Tucker and Adrian Bowie also played enough minutes to keep players such as Gist and Hayes fresh at the end. Tucker had the biggest impact, and did a nice job after Landon Milbourne fouled out. As for what happened to these guys, Gary Williams lost confidence in them and in turn, they lost confidence in themselves. And you're right, it doesn't bode well for the postseason unless Williams can use them like he did against Wake Forest.

Doug: Maryland's big men have been so inconsistent all year. Why do you think Gary has problems developing big men? Also, could this be a factor why Maryland can't attract big time post players?

Don Markus: I disagree with the notion that Gary Williams can't develop big man. All you have to do is look at what he has done with Lonny Baxter, Obinna Ekezie and even Bambale Osby. As for attracting big-time post players, how many are there in the ACC or, for that matter, in college basketball?

Forrest: Do you think Osby would return to form if he lets his hair out to the fro again?

Don Markus: Now I can relate to college coaches who gets questions like this. But considering that Osby is about 6'5 and not the 6'8 he's listed at, he probably needs to let the 'fro go.

Posted by Don Markus at 7:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: Terps basketball
        

One of the trips I've been looking forward to since coming back on the Maryland beat is a trip to Lawrence Joel Coliseum in Winston-Salem, N.C. It has nothing to do with the game itself, since I doubt tonight's matchup between the Terps and Demon Deacons will live up to others I've covered, especially those involving two relatively unknown freshmen named Joe Smith and Tim Duncan.

It's because of the Freakin' Deacons.

I've admired them from afar since their inception 10 years ago. Something about the tie-dye shirts and headbands appeal to the hippie in me. The Cameron Crazies were original about 20 years ago, but they've now resorted to parroting the chants that somebody writes down on a blackboard.

I know the Freakin' Deacons have inspired nearly every student body in the country with their theme song. It's played at just about every arena to get the students stirred up. I even heard it played at an American University women's game with about 12 fans at Bender Arena. I hope they live up to my expectations tonight.

But here's a question: which school has the toughest fans in the ACC?

1. Wake Forest -- The Demon Deacons have lost only once this year at home, in part because of the Freakin' Deacons.

2. Virginia Tech -- Cassell Coliseum is one of those old-school gyms that because of size and acoustics makes it tough for the opposing team to hear.

3. Duke -- Despite a lack of originality and an abundance of obnoxiousness, their proximity to the Coach K Court is not good for opponents with the slightest bit of claustrophobia.

4. Maryland -- Hate to say it, but the fans at Comcast Center are not as intense as they were a few years ago or as they were at Cole.

5. North Carolina -- Much improved from the early years at the Dean Dome when Sam Cassell called it a "cheese and wine crowd", but they still have a ways to go.

6. Georgia Tech -- They didn't come out in big numbers for Maryland's trip to Alexander Memorial Coliseum, but it still got pretty loud down the stretch when the game was close.

7. North Carolina State -- If Cameron has historically had the most creative chants, the Wolfpack faithful remain the most vulgar -- young and old.

8. Clemson -- There's something of a basketball mentality with Oliver Purnell, but it's not close to Death Valley during football season.

9. Miami -- I was surprised how vocal the 7,000 fans got on Saturday when the Terps lost down there, but they had little to do with Miami winning.

10. Florida State -- I'll never forget Pat Kennedy explaining to fans in Tallahassee the difference between basketball and football before a Maryland game. Hasn't changed a whole lot.

11. Boston College -- Unless it's a hockey game, the BC students don't come out. They certainly didn't for Gary Williams' 600th win.

That's my list, what's yours?

Explanation on Virginia

Just a note to those of you who thought I was dissing Virginia in this post.

I was missing Virginia. I meant to put in a disclaimer since I have not been to the new arena and it has been a long time since I have been to Charlottesville. I will give a new review after Maryland visits there March 9. Hopefully I will be allowed in. And out.

Posted by Don Markus at 3:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (27)
Categories: Terps basketball
        

Gary Williams was not at full volume at his news conference today at Comcast Center. Seems as if the Maryland coach lost much of his voice after Saturday's loss in Miami.

"I think coming back on the plane," Williams said. "It's cumulative over the season. I'll get it back."

More important than his voice, Williams hopes to get his team back playing the way it was before last Wednesday's home loss to Virginia Tech.

After blowing a 14-point lead early, an 11-point lead in the second half and a five-point lead in the final six minutes, Williams admitted today that the Terps might have had a bit of a carryover in Coral Gables. Maryland buried itself with another large deficit against the Hurricanes, caught up and then got blown out by 15 down the stretch.

Asked about a confidence hangover from Virginia Tech, Williams said, "I think that's true. I think that's probably the one game this year we kind of blew at the end of the game. In league play a lot of times, it's when you play teams. Miami's playing really well right now. I think people forget that's a team that was voted in the top 25 earlier in the season."

The two losses have put the Terps in a precarious position in regard to the NCAA. Maryland is now 17-11 overall and 7-6 in the ACC, dropping from third to fifth and possibly falling all the way to seven if the Terps lose at Wake Forest Thursday night and if Miami also wins at Florida State.

One more loss and Maryland seems destined for the NIT unless there's a four-game run at the ACC Tournament in Charlotte in a couple of weeks.

The RPI has dropped to the low 60s and the Terps are now eighth in the league in that category.

Posted by Don Markus at 3:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)
Categories: Terps basketball
        

Gary: Virginia Tech was a bad, unexpected loss. Miami, unfortunately, was pretty much expected. What's your best guess right now -- can Maryland regroup, win at Wake Forest and against Clemson, making it hard for the committee not to select them, or are they toast?

Don Markus: From what I saw at Miami, I think it's going to take a lot for Maryland to regroup. But from years of covering Gary Williams' teams at Maryland, and even watching them from a distance, he is at his best with his back to the wall. But given how limited his options are right now off the bench, and how erratic all of his starters have been this season, I think it's going to be pretty difficult unless they suddenly get it back as quickly as they seemingly have lost it.

Bill: How many minutes do you think Jerome Burney should be getting, and what should his role be?

Don Markus: Before Saturday, which is the first I saw him play any extended time, I would say that he was probably getting as many minutes as he deserved -- none. But after seeing some of the things he did on Saturday against Miami in terms of his athleticism and physicality, the question I have is: why hasn't this guy received this opportunity before? Williams said after the game that Burney has played well in practice the past two weeks. If that's the case, why didn't he get in against Virginia Tech when James Gist and Bambale Osby got into foul trouble? If Burney continues to play as he did in Miami, I think he should be the first big forward in the game ahead of Braxton Dupree and Dave Neal, and possibly the first big man ahead of Shane Walker. And I take back the line I had in the paper about Burney resembling Joe Smith in jersey number only.

Chad: Landon Milbourne seems to be a real X-factor. I feel the Terps are better when he's aggressively looking for his shot. Do you think he defers to Greivis Vasquez and Gist too much because of his inexperience?

Don Markus: Milbourne has quietly put together a pretty solid, if still up and down, sophomore year. Considering how little time he received as a freshman, I thought it would take longer. I think because of Gist's experience and Vasquez's personality, Milbourne does defer too much at times. But Miami was a pretty good indication that he's willing to take the shots if they're there (he took 16). He also has to know when he's not having a great shooting game (he made only five against the Hurricanes).

Greg: What do the Terps have to do the rest of the way to get to the NCAA tourney?

Don Markus: I think it's pretty clear that they have to beat Clemson and either Wake Forest or Virginia. If they beat Clemson but lose the other two, I would think they have to win at least one game in the ACC tournament. If they beat Wake and Virginia, but lose to Clemson, it might be good enough if the other teams in the running suddenly stop winning. But just as the Terps went cold, Miami and Virginia Tech have gotten hot. It should make for one of the most interesting and meaningful ACC tournaments in recent memory.

Posted by baltimoresun.com at 9:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (13)
Categories: Terps basketball
        

I read some of your comments at the end of the last Tracking the Terps question and answer session.

Here are some answers to your questions:

(From Anonymous): Why is it that Gus Gilchrist won't be eligible till 2nd semester next year when he transferred this past summer? Is the NCAA screwing us again? So who's leaving? For Bowman to commit, somebody has to leave.

Dear Anonymous: The way this sordid tale has been explained to me, on and off the record, is that Gilchrist was forced to sit out a year-and-a-half after committing to Virginia Tech, then changing his mind by going to Maryland. Gilchrist said it had to do with the tragic shootings in Blacksburg last spring, but folks down there said it was other reasons that I have yet to confirm. As for the situation involving Hutchinson CC power forward Ken Bowman, I am sure one of those who've been chained to the bench this season will find a new home next season.

From Mark: With the absence of any frontline help, why doesn't Gary use the zone some? The Virginia Tech game was a perfect example of needing to buy time with Osby, Gist and Vasquez in first-half foul trouble. Va. Tech is not a big-time 3-point shooting team.

Dear Mark: Maryland briefly tried it Wednesday night and immediately got burned with a three. The Hokies were ranked dead last in the ACC coming into the game at 32.1 percent and shot six of 17 for the game. But Virginia Tech made their last three, two by A.D. Vassallo, to take control of the game.

From Ron: You say you don't mind Vasquez taking over games 'cause no one else (except Osby) showed up against the Hokies. But sometimes a good point guard can get Gist, Milbourne and others more involved. That's his job. Also what about [the] Terps going smaller and quicker this year and next, with Milbourne at the 4 slot, just to get the best players out on the court (and since Walker, Dupree and Neal can't contribute as much as the smaller guys)?

Dear Ron: I think Vasquez has the capability to take over games, but you're right, it's his job to get the other guys involved. Vasquez did that at the beginning of the game, when the Terps took a 14-point lead, but the moment he picked up his second foul on an obvious offensive foul that even Vasquez regretted later, it was all downhill (or uphill) for Maryland. Gist, Landon Milbourne and Eric Hayes better show up in Miami on Saturday or it could be a long (or short) afternoon for the Terps. If you're suggesting taking Osby or Gist out of the lineup to go with a smaller group, that means you're taking away one of the team's two shotblockers and rebounders. Williams tried a smaller lineup with Adrian Bowie joining Vasquez and Hayes, and it seemed to be working until Vasquez picked up his silly second foul.

Posted by Don Markus at 6:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)
Categories: Terps basketball
        

Doug: When Maryland plays aggressively, the Terps seem to be at their best, but mistakes will happen with this style of play. So, do you think the screaming and yelling that Gary Williams displays during timeouts makes the team more passive?

Don Markus: It depends on the team he's coaching as well as the makeup of the individual players. I think this year's team is really two teams in regard to that: a fourth-year senior such as James Gist is used to it, while Bambale Osby, Greivis Vasquez, Eric Hayes and Landon Milbourne have grown accustomed to it over the past two seasons. The biggest question I would have is with the large number of freshmen. The only one who I think has not been impacted by Williams' in-your-face approach is Cliff Tucker, and he has played the best in a group that hasn't done very much.

Jung: When is Vasquez going to learn to contain himself in games and stop trying to take over?

Don Markus: Probably when, and if, he gets to the NBA. I don't see it happening now, especially if Gist and Hayes continue to struggle. I don't mind him taking over games because he has demonstrated that ability in his performances against Boston College, North Carolina State and Florida State. Against Virginia Tech, he had to play that way because nobody else except for Bambale Osby showed up beyond the early portion of each half. If not for Vasquez, the Terps might have lost that game by 20.

Bill: It seems like Williams hasn't found the right rotation of substitute players. Which bench players do you think are most valuable, and how can Williams utilize them better?

Don Markus: I think Tucker and Adrian Bowie have shown flashes of becoming dependable, even this season. I would try to give them each a solid 15 to 20 minutes every game, so they gain confidence and can play without looking over their shoulders. He used Bowie in a three-guard set against the Hokies because of matchups, and that seemed to work until Vasquez picked up his second foul. I've heard that Williams wants Bowie to shoot more from the outside to help open things up for him driving, but he's been very hesitant. Tucker, as I've said before, is a reliable jumper away from being a big-time player.

GPT: When is Williams going to put Hayes on the bench? He has been killing Maryland the past few games! Don't Bowie and Tucker deserve more of a look?

Don Markus: Hayes played his best basketball of the season shortly after returning from his ankle injury, and some suspect that the ankle problems have resurfaced of late because of the way he has been shooting. When you have someone as undisciplined as Vasquez in the backcourt, you need someone to counter that, and Hayes is certainly a very steady ballhandler. Bowie is better holding onto the ball than he was earlier this season, but he often gets stripped trying to do more than he's capable of at this stage of his career. Tucker doesn't shoot it or handle it well enough to be counted on in that role yet.

Randy: When/how do the Terps get inside scoring for next year?

Don Markus: The players have talked about how Gus Gilchrist has been one of the best frontcourt players in practice this season, but Williams downplays that so as to not take anything away from his current team. Aside from Gilchrist, I don't see anybody on the current roster capable of moving into either Gist or Osby's position next year. Braxton Dupree started his freshman year with a bang, but hasn't done much the past couple of months. Dino Gregory and Jerome Burney haven't done anything in practice or during games. I know Williams likes the effort he gets from Dave Neal, but he is at best a third or fourth forward off the bench. Shane Walker has a long way to go in terms of understanding the game and being able to use his height and athleticism to his advantage. Maryland reportedly got a commitment from Ken Bowman, a 6-9, 230-pound forward from Phoenix who is playing at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College, and averaging 15 points and nearly 10 rebounds. Since Gilchrist won't be eligible until the end of the first semester next season, Williams better find some help with his inside scoring from other sources. I also think the Terps won't be bad at the three-spot with Milbourne and Tucker.

Posted by baltimoresun.com at 8:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Terps basketball
        

Greivis Vasquez made a rare appearance in the Comcast Center interview room Tuesday in College Park. After listening to Vasquez's 15-minute discourse, I can understand why Gary Williams tries to limit access to the talented but erratic sophomore guard.

Asked if the Terps will go only as far as he will lead them, Vasquez said, "I recognize that. Trust me, I have a lot of responsibility on the team and I know what I'm putting myself into. I know the team is going to go the way I go. In a humble way, I'm not saying that I'm the best player on the team, but if I go and dive for the ball, I'm sure James Gist and Bambale Osby are going to do the same thing... I know I just got to calm down sometimes and just lead the team. I know I'm the leader and I've got the ball every time. It's hard to have that type of responsibility every night, in the ACC, especially when you're at Maryland.''

On his performance when the Terps lost at Virginia Tech back in January. Vasquez made only two-of-14 shots, didn't hit a three, yet took what was potentially the game-winner, a 23-footer that missed: "I wasn't playing 100 percent, that's no excuse. I remember I was being selfish, not giving the team everything that I could give them. I learned a lot from that game.''

On adjusting from playing with the Venezuelan national team last summer to Maryland: "I thought I was going to come over here and just dominate because of the summer I had. My role here is to be a point guard, my role on the national team is to be a point guard who can score. I was the second-leading scorer on my national team. Something that really hurt me was that I was away for so long, I didn't get back on time to work with the team (over the summer). I never played that many games in my life. It was a lot of travel, You've got to be a pro to be used to that. I'm not a pro yet. Right now my game is getting better because I'm playing as a point not knowing that I have to score. I'm going to score regardless of anything because my team needs me to score. I'm not looking to score just to impress anybody. I know my mentality is not to score to be in the newspaper, maybe get 22 assists and get the win.''

On his performance Saturday against N.C. State, which included 20 points, eight assists and eight turnovers: "I'm just capable to do that, to do a lot of things. Some people don't trust, they question me a lot. I love to keep hearing about what people say about me. It's motivating me a lot. I know I can hit threes. I know I can pass the ball, I know I can turn the ball over quick too. I got to work on some things just to make myself look better. Sometimes when people criticize me, just because I make them criticize me, that's my own fault Like the last game, eight turnovers, that's just unbelievable. How can I have eight turnovers if I want to be a great player? Why would you do that? I get sloppy at times, pass the ball some, I don't make great decisions. I know that. It's really good when other people tell you because it makes you work."

On his eight turnovers: "It made me sick. It gave people reason to talk about me. When you guys say that, you all know I'm a great player. You talk about the bad things I'm doing, you don't talk about the good things, which is good. It almost reminds me that 'You've got to keep working. You're not good enough yet.' Every time I watch tape, I say, 'What am I doing? That's not me. What is me?"

I'm sure Landon Milbourne will be back in the press room on Friday if the Terps beat Virginia Tech Wednesday night.

The next time we'll hear from Vasquez before a game will probably be prior to the ACC tournament.

Posted by Don Markus at 5:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)
Categories: Terps basketball
        

Gary Williams doesn't want his Terps to get ahead of themselves since an NCAA tournament bid is far from secured, but the bracketologists out there all have Maryland in the field of 65.

ESPN.com's Joe Lunardi and Jerry Palm of Collegerpi.com both have the Terps as a No. 9 seed playing No. 8 seed Baylor in Little Rock, Ark., with the winner likely facing top-seed (and currently top-ranked) Memphis in the second round. Something called Bracketologist.com has Maryland as a No. 9 seed, too, but playing Gonzaga in Omaha, Neb., with the possibility of facing Kansas in the second round.

Right now, Williams wants his team to think only about facing Virginia Tech Wednesday night at Comcast Center. The Hokies, who won the first meeting in January in Blacksburg, Va., when the Terps blew a five-point lead in the final two minutes, have lost three straight and are coming off a 39-point blowout loss Saturday at North Carolina. Maryland has won 11 of its last 14.

For those amateur bracketologists out there, where do you think the Terps will be seeded? For those amateur travel agents, where do you think the Terps will play so I can get a good advance fare on my plane ticket?

Posted by Don Markus at 2:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (20)
Categories: Terps basketball
        

Matt: Would someone please explain to me why Dave Neal gets so much playing time? He's too slow to guard anyone, too short to play inside and too bad a shooter to be a real threat to hit an outside jumper. Don't get me wrong -- I respect and appreciate the effort and hustle but this isn't rec league basketball.

Don Markus: Gary Williams has always been loyal, sometimes to a fault, to his veteran players. It goes back to Williams' own playing career in College Park when he was benched for an Atlantic Coast Conference tournament game against South Carolina. In Neal's case, I think Williams believes he will make fewer mistakes than a younger player and provide a little offense, which he did against Duke. But I do believe his lack of athleticism can be a liability at times.

Beau: What are your thoughts on Cliff Tucker's unpredictable minutes lately (four to five straight games of single-digit minutes before last night)? Is his effort or play in practice what's keeping him back from playing more?

Don Markus: Since we are not allowed to watch practice, I can't speak of what Tucker has done there. From what I've seen of Tucker in the six weeks I've covered the team, he's a steady jump shot away from being a big-time player. He is still a little reckless in terms of the way he plays, maybe that's coming from his football background. But he has everything that Neal lacks athletically, and then some. I wish Tucker and Adrian Bowie had received more minutes against Duke, especially in the first half. They certainly could not have played any worse than Landon Milbourne and Eric Hayes, though Hayes picked it up a little bit in the second half.

Joe: Is Eric Hayes at 100 percent, or is his ankle still bothering him?

Don Markus: If it is, neither he nor Williams is saying. I thought Hayes had played pretty well until the Duke game.

Michael: Why does it seem like Gary Williams teams are always so undisciplined in the way they play?

Don Markus: Duke makes a lot of teams look undisciplined, but I understand where you're coming from. I don't think the Terps have ever been called an undisciplined team; if anything, the fact that Williams seems to call every play from the sideline makes them a little predictable at times. They might play a little more helter skelter now because of Greivis Vasquez. That's not always a bad thing, but against Duke it clearly doesn't work.

James: What did Duke to do limit James Gist, or was he just having an off night?

Don Markus: Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said after the game that his players did a better job defending Gist on his jumper, but they always had two guys jamming him in the lane. It also didn't help that Gist seemed to be playing as if he had 10-pound weights wrapped around his ankles. I've never seen him, or anyone of his stature, miss two dunks in a row on the same possession, leading to the "You can't dunk!" chant from the Duke students.

Posted by baltimoresun.com at 3:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (15)
Categories: Terps basketball
        

It's an interesting night here at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Duke will honor former Maryland coach and Duke graduate Lefty Driesell in a halftime ceremony for Driesell's inclusion last November in the Coaches Hall of Fame in Kansas City.

The Blue Devils and their fans are also hoping to celebrate coach Mike Krzyzewski's 61st birthday. (Maryland would love nothing better than to blow out the candles and dump the cake in the trash.)

Right now, it's the students standing and chanting "Not our rival" and holding up signs that read, "Maryland B-ball Graduation Rate...0 %...Fear the Classroom''. There's even a few of the Duke students who came dressed in caps and gowns. It's too late for a retort in College Park, but my next door neighbor's son who went here a few years ago once told me it was harder to get an 'A' at our local high school than it was at Duke.

Posted by Don Markus at 6:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (13)
Categories: Terps basketball
        

Sun reporter Don Markus answers your questions from submissions after Maryland's 84-70 win over N.C. State on Saturday. Readers can submit questions to Markus by posting comments on this blog during and after Maryland basketball games. The Terps' next game is at Duke Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Jay: On both teams' best days, who do you think is better -- Maryland or Clemson? What are the chances of Maryland making it to the Big Dance if it finishes in fifth place in the ACC (and does not win the conference tournament)?

Don Markus: I think Clemson probably has more experience, depth, size and athleticism than Maryland, but the Tigers haven't played as well as the Terps lately. Clemson's free throw shooting cost the Tigers a chance of beating North Carolina in Chapel Hill on Sunday night. As for Maryland making it as the ACC's fifth-place team, that would mean the Terps were on a late-season slide, had double-digit losses and were going to make a trip to the NIT.

Tripp: Aren't the Terps supposed to be one of the better defenses in the nation? Particularly against the three-pointer? Am I wrong to be a little alarmed by the number of three-pointers they seem to be allowing lately? Won't that affect the Duke game?

Don Markus: They are among the nation's top teams in terms of field goal defense and three-point field goal defense, but it nearly cost them at Boston College (one by Rakim Sanders that would have pulled the Eagles to within one was nullified because Al Skinner called timeout) and could hurt them against Duke if they don't get out on Duke's shooters.

Tony: Hi Don, I've had great luck seeing the Terps here in upstate New York this season. It seems they have matured immensely in the past six to eight games and they seem to have realized their roles and what it takes to win. What do they need to do the rest of the way to convince the selection committee to overlook the American and Ohio losses earlier in the season?

Don Markus: Based on the latest brackets, Maryland has done enough to convince the bracketologists, if not the selection committee, that the Terps belong in the field of 65. While another loss or two the rest of the way shouldn't hurt them, the Terps will need to keep winning and not make an early exit from the ACC tournament in Charlotte.

Wesley: Why isn't James Gist being talked up in the national media? It seems that all I hear about are players from other teams who I feel aren't as good as Gist. What does he need to do to get the attention?

Don Markus: Part of the problem is that Gist played the first half of the season as if he were auditioning for the NBA, not trying to be the leader he has become during the second half. Gist was The Sporting News player of the week last week and will certainly get national attention if he continues to play as he has in recent weeks, especially if Maryland continues to win. I talked with an NBA scout weeks ago who said he thought Gist wasn't a lock to get drafted, but I think that has changed over the past couple of weeks.

Steven: Don, Why doesn't Gary Williams get more credit nationally? He needs to be in the Hall of Fame. When do you think he will get in?

Don Markus: There's a lot of politics involved in getting into the Hall of Fame, and Williams is not the kind of guy who will play the game. I think it's going to be a matter of time, and continuing to win, but he might have to get to 700 wins or win another national championship to get the kind of support he needs.

Jacob: Generally speaking, I think players who improve in a basketball system are praised for their hard work and effort, whereas football players' improvement is often attributed to knowledgeable trainers and coaches. How does Maryland basketball's training and conditioning program compare to the one used by the football team?

Don Markus: I'll have to take a pass on this one, since the training and conditioning programs have changed since I last covered the basketball team in the mid-1990s, and I haven't covered the football program since Bobby Ross was the coach.

Posted by baltimoresun.com at 5:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Terps basketball
        

A week ago, the question was posed: Who has a bigger week coming up in College Park, Gary Williams or Ralph Friedgen?

Heading into the week, I think the consensus was that the arrival of national signing day was more vital to Friedgen's future with the Terps than a couple of regular-season games were for Williams, though his team certainly needed to win at least one if not both to stay in the hunt for an NCAA tournament invitation.

Looking back, I also think the consensus would be that Williams had a much better week than Friedgen.

Two wins, a career 600th victory at Boston College Wednesday night and third place in the ACC, a game behind North Carolina, certainly beats the recruiting class Friedgen had. It was solid, and turned the corner in terms of keeping some of the local talent home, but when teams such as Miami and Clemson are being mentioned as having top 10 (or even top 2 according to some) recruiting classes, and others are in the top 20, some might look at it as losing ground.

Guess what? This is a bigger week for Williams, too.

The Terps play Duke on Wednesday at Cameron.

Posted by Don Markus at 10:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Terps basketball
        

Sun reporter Don Markus answers your questions from submissions after Maryland's 70-65 win over Boston College on Wednesday. Readers can submit questions to Markus by posting comments on this blog during and after Maryland basketball games. The Terps' next game is against North Carolina State at 8 p.m. Saturday at Comcast Center.

Steve: What has been the biggest reason Maryland has turned things around? And how far can this team go?

Don Markus: The difference in this stretch of nine wins in 11 games has been the consistent way the Terps have run the offense and their ability to stop opposing teams on defense, except for Duke. They've averaged more than 77 points per game over this recent run and have had a better shooting percentage than their opponent in every game. It's still hard to say how far they'll go, since an NCAA tournament spot isn't locked up. But they are certainly showing signs of becoming a dangerous team in March.

Ron: Why haven't Jerome Burney and Dino Gregory been getting any minutes? Won't Maryland need them to step up at some point when Bambale Osby and James Gist get into foul trouble?

Don Markus: According to coach Gary Williams, Burney had a couple of injuries during his redshirt year and he is still trying to get his confidence back. As for Gregory, the word in College Park is that he just doesn't play with intensity during practice and isn't physical enough to find a spot in the regular rotation. Also, with Osby, Gist and Landon Milbourne playing well, there are fewer opportunities for others up front.

Levi, Gaithersburg: What is the latest on Braxton Dupree? He was getting a lot of minutes, showed flashes of his talent, but seemed like he regressed to the point where he doesn't even get into ACC games.

Don Markus: With Dupree, it's a matter of conditioning and confidence. Or a lack thereof. The former Calvert Hall star showed some flashes early in the season, but he could rarely play more than three or four minutes at a time without getting winded. Also, unlike Adrian Bowie and Cliff Tucker, Dupree is a little too sensitive when getting an earful from his coach and immediately goes into a shell. That's OK for a turtle, but not a Terp.

Frankie: It seems that Maryland's defense has really picked up since Williams hired assistant Joe Harrington. What affect has Harrington had on the team's defensive improvement?

Don Markus: Since we don't get to watch practice, I'm not sure. My guess is that Harrington has been a good veteran guy to have on the bench, but I haven't heard any players specifically mention him by name, as they have Keith Booth, who has helped Osby with his free throw shooting. Having covered Maryland for many years before returning to the beat last month, I think it's just a matter of the players buying into what Williams is preaching in terms of defense. It also doesn't hurt having two of the ACC's better shot blockers to anchor the defense.

Jay: What do you think Maryland's worst loss has been so far? Some would point to American or Ohio, but can't the argument be made that it was Duke, considering the Terps were playing at such a high level at the time? Or maybe the Virginia Tech game?

Don Markus: The short answer is no, an argument can't be made that anything but the loss to American was the worst this season. It hadn't happened in 80 -- EIGHTY!!! -- years. And if you saw what the Blue Devils did to North Carolina at the Dean Dome Wednesday night, you'd realize that this could be Duke's best team in a few years. As for Virginia Tech, that was a bad loss because Maryland had a five-point lead going into the final 90 seconds. But that doesn't come close to losing to a Patriot League team at home.

Posted by baltimoresun.com at 10:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Terps basketball
        

Six Maryland football players have been named to the ACC's all-academic team.

Offensive linemen Andrew Crummey, Edwin Williams and Phil Costa, tight end Dan Gronkowski, and special teamers Obi Egekeze and Travis Baltz were all recognized. According to a news release, Maryland had more players named to the team than any other ACC school.

To be eligible for consideration, a player must have earned a 3.00 grade-point average for the previous semester and maintained a 3.00 cumulative average during his academic career.

Posted by baltimoresun.com at 4:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Terps football
        

This is going to be a big week for Gary Williams and Ralph Friedgen, for different reasons.

Who's week is more important to their team's future?

With Saturday's win at Georgia Tech, Williams is one victory away from No. 600, a milestone that coupled with his national championship could put him in line for a Hall of Fame nomination. With games at Boston College and at home against North Carolina State -- both winnable -- his Terps are suddenly in the top half of the ACC and could stay in the hunt for an NCAA tournament bid.

But I think this is a bigger week for Friedgen's future in College Park.

With national signing day for college football looming on Wednesday -- the same day Williams goes after No. 600 -- the Fridge seems on the brink of having his best recruiting class. Last week's announcement that DeMatha wide receiver Kenny Tate and Quince Orchard defensive tackle Zach Kerr are going to be Terrapins could lead other blue-chippers to follow.

It should be an interesting few days for the Terps and their fans.

Who has more at stake, Gary or Ralph?

Posted by Don Markus at 5:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (16)