Hoya (and Terrapin) paranoia
I think it's great for local basketball fans that Maryland is playing Georgetown tomorrow.
I just wish the game would have been played at the Comcast Center or Verizon Center rather than some place called the Milk House. (Is that 2 percent or fat free?)
It's been nearly eight years since the two local basketball programs have met, and 15 years since they actually scheduled a game. That was the one at the old USAir Arena where Joe Smith introduced himself to the country as a freshman by dominating Othella Harrington.
Somehow, I doubt that Steve Goins will do that tomorrow in Orlando. (There's a better chance that Georgetown's Greg Monroe will have a monster game, but there's nobody wearing a Maryland uniform right now with the status that Harrington had at the time of the 1993 meeting.)
That the Terps and Hoyas don't play unless forced to goes back to an old feud between former coaches Lefty Driesell and John Thompson, and later some bad feelings between Thompson and Gary Williams when the Maryland coach was in the Big East at Boston College. It had to do with who had more to lose by playing the other, and those roles have switched a few times over the years.
Now that Thompson is a member of the media, he's had both of his former rivals on his radio show. I think it's time that the Terps and Hoyas play every year, just as Cincinnati and Xavier do, just as Louisville and Kentucky have done for awhile. Tomorrow's game would be the perfect time to start such a dialogue.
One reader suggested on my post yesterday that the game might expose Maryland's lack of recruiting success in recent years if the Hoyas win. Personally, I think this game should be a selling point in recruiting for both Williams and John Thompson III. When Steve Spurrier was at Florida, he used to recruit local kids as much with the annual game against Florida State as with the SEC.
Too bad tomorrow's game is going to be overshadowed by the Redskins-Giants at FedEx Field, not to mention the Ravens playing in Cincinnati. At least we will be able to watch it. Can you imagine if this had been one of the earlier games shown only on ESPNU? Next year, and for years to come, maybe they will play at Comcast Center and Verizon Center.
Comments
I think g'town vs. md should play definitely.I also think they should start a local tournament with local teams from va. and md. It could be like an 8 team field with va,vt,g'town,md,loyola,towson,and other local teams. And mybe expand it 2 a national tournament with md,va,vt,and g'town always in it.
Posted by: matt white | November 29, 2008 3:17 PM
Just in case you didn't know the Milk House is sponsored by the National Dairy Association. I doubt there is a concern over wheer it's 1%, 2% or entirely fat free.
Posted by: Bossy | November 29, 2008 4:39 PM
md, va, and vt will never play in a local tournament together because they are all in the same conference.
Posted by: mdfan | November 29, 2008 5:51 PM
I was at the cap center for the joe smith game. I live in daytona now and will sure as hell will be at the game sun. Right after the redskins beat the giants.
Posted by: JFRAZ | November 29, 2008 8:33 PM
When Georgetown agrees to play Maryland @ Maryland in exchange for us playing them there. Then this rivalry can continue.
Georgetown owes Maryland own, even if they are the better team right now.
Posted by: Kevin | November 29, 2008 11:39 PM
Add Gtown to the Coached vs. Cancer tournament and put them on the opposite side of the bracket than MD. After all I believe Gary is president of this charity. This way maybe every once in a while they will meet in the final or consolation game.
Posted by: Dave | November 30, 2008 12:26 PM