A game of hoarse
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.
Comments
Don't be rediculous Don. 9-7 and a quarterfinal ACCT win is definitely good enough to make the NCAAs.
Posted by: Greg | February 27, 2008 4:15 PM
Most people are saying if MD beats Clemson and one of the Wake/UVa game to get to 9-7 they should be in. Getting to 10-6 would be a lock.
Posted by: Bibhu Mohanty | February 27, 2008 4:21 PM
Putting the Terps' recent struggles aside for a minute, I find it hard to believe that one more loss means no at-large bid. As long as they split their 2 remaining road games and beat Clemson at home, and perform decently (at least 1 win) in the ACC tourney they should be fine for a 10-11 seed. A 9-7 record in conference isn't a sure at-large, but unless they really get squeezed by some surprise conference tournament performances (eg Butler, Drake etc losing), I think it'll be good enough.
Posted by: Jeremy | February 27, 2008 4:50 PM
Dude, you just said a few days ago in regards to the NCAA tournament:
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.
What is the deal? Now we have to win all 3?
Andy Resnick- Winston-Salem
Posted by: Andy Resnick | February 27, 2008 4:56 PM
Andy: Just check out the RPI and wins vs. top 50, and compare the numbers with the other ACC teams in the hunt. Maryland has dipped into the low 60s with the two recent losses, and still only has one win against a Top 50 (against North Carolina). Miami, Wake Forest and Virginia Tech all have a better RPI, with the Hurricanes and Demon Deacons having more wins against the Top 50. The Hokies don't have a Top 50 win, but they swept the Terps. It means that Maryland needs to sweep the Deacons to have the same advantage over Wake that Virginia Tech has over the Terps. I still think that two wins, including one over Clemson, will be enough, but getting through to the quarters in the ACC tournament certainly won't hurt for good measure.
As I tell my 14-year-old, I'm too old to be called Dude.
Posted by: Don Markus | February 27, 2008 10:52 PM
Don (Dude),
I am so sick of basketball pundits studying the RPI like it is the Gospel. The RPI is a joke. Just ask Jay Bilas. It is not a true reflection of the strength of a team. At least not anymore. Do you hold a lot of stock in the RPI and do you think the selection committee still relies on it heavily? I hold the RPI is the same regards as the BCS.
Andy (Winston-Salem)
P.S My father doesn't like the word "Dude" either.
Posted by: Andy Resnick | February 28, 2008 7:39 AM
We have to win out the season. We only hit the national radar once beating unc, we don't have many quality wins, we have some embarrassing losses, and, right now at least, have lost all our momentum.
But we'll do it. This is a really good team, one that when they play well can beat anyone. It's been so long since we had any inside game. If only vasquez and hayes weren't having so much trouble getting the ball into those guys lately.
I don't think the acc will get more than 4, so we better win out, or enough to get into at least fourth place.
GO TERPS!
Posted by: Jason Howlin | February 28, 2008 5:40 PM
Dewds, (Andy and Don)
Have some faith. Sure as a turtle has a shell, cows say "moo" and the Orioles suck, we're dancin' in March.
Posted by: chris | February 28, 2008 6:10 PM
the terps are a young team...if they go
to the ncaa tourney...it will be tough
because they will be a high seed.
it may be better for them to lose this
year and mature with another year
in the acc...also, williams must adjust
his style for this team...his yelling and shouting may not be what this team needs to be a winner. \
Posted by: bernie jacobs | February 28, 2008 6:30 PM
the terps are a young team...if they go
to the ncaa tourney...it will be tough
because they will be a high seed.
it may be better for them to lose this
year and mature with another year
in the acc...also, williams must adjust
his style for this team...his yelling and shouting may not be what this team needs to be a winner. \
Posted by: bernie jacobs | February 28, 2008 6:32 PM