playing bryant should really help with maryland's confidence and get them ready for the acc season. good luck. to me md should schedule no more than 3 or 4 of these mickey mouse teams a yr. beating bryant by 10 or 50 isn't going to help this team get better. they should play top flight teams from the big east, big 10 and s.e.c. play someone like memphis. playing the little sisters of the poor isn't going to toughen a team up.

No, I don't like this scheduling at all. It has no benefit to the team and certainly no interest for the fans. Of course, it's all about padding the record to get to the magic 20 win level. Of course this type of schedule doesn't help the RPI. Every top team does this, but it seems that the Terps have reallly loaded up with cupcakes this year. I will be glad when the Terps get into the ACC season so we can see how competitive this year's team really is. The lack of size is really going to hurt them.

For schools like Bryant, these "guarantee" games (so called because they are guaranteed a fee and the home school is guaranteed a win) are an economic necessity. Bryant will earn most of its money this season in games like this. For MD, it is a chance to stay sharp before the ACC starts. As much as the fans want to see high caliber opponents every game, it doesn't make sense to get physically worn down before the ACC. And besides, it is not like other high caliber schools are lining up to schedule schools like MD, especially if they have to travel. Bryant will gladly take that check though.

bob b.,

A number of those "cupcakes " as you call them, helped ruin Maryland's season last year. New, young teams like Maryland need games like this to learn how to play together w/o necessarily losing so many games that you will ask for the coaches head. As it is they have already gone 2-2 against Michigan, Michigan State, the Hoyas and Gonzaga; not bad though the games did not mean anything; not that that will stop you from calling for William's head anyway.

As for "padding the schedule" to get the 20 wins, since every big school does it and there is an RPI system in place when weighing the admission to the big dance, then it sort of evens out by the time the important games come up.

As far as I know, no one is forcing Bryant to schedule MD and no one is forcing you to watch them.

Pomeroy (http://kenpom.com/rate.php?y=2006&s=NCSOSPythag) started tracking OOC SOS in 2006. Since then, among major programs only AZ has consistently appeared in the final top 30.

John Thompson Jr used to say (I paraphrase): 'when you play in a Big East or ACC you can guarantee a trip to the dance by doing well in your conference. why take the OOC risk when you don't need to?'

According to the announcers of today's game, the Maryland bb team has the 25th toughest OOC schedule. So what's to be ashamed about that? If we had to play the Michigan States every game of the OOC schedule the subs wouldn't get much real game experience before the ACC schedule.

AGspoilsport,
Really don't know where you got the idea that I am calling for Gary William's head. I am a supporter of Gary. I think that he has done great things for Maryland.
As far as the scheduling goes, I would prefer that they play more competitive teams. Beating a Bryant or Elan really doesn't prove anything. Getting quality wins against the likes of Michigan and Mich State builds confidence in preperation to the ACC season.
I will watch the Terps play everyone on their schedule, but there definitely is more interest when the opponent is competitive.
True, the Terps lost to American and Ohio last year, but Bryant and Elon (sp?) are clearly a notch , or more, behind those programs.

I think the 8 wins in the ACC does not guarantee a trip to the 'dance'. What a strange name for an all boys championship. But that's for another day. Try woman's volleyball at Standford. Anyway, the talk of what a win for ND means for Charlie Weis was news because the bobble heads are speculating a 500 season means a loss for them, but 9-2 could be BCS bowl talk.

Here is ND off a miserable year beating HI after their qb graduated last year, and suddenly there's talk of a BCS bid. ND is an independent because of the money, but more so because they can't win consistently in a good year in the Big 10, SEC, PAC 10, or Big 12.

So what's that got to do with padding a schedule. Beating Bryant means nothing to us, but in 3 or 4 years Turner Gill took the laughing stock of the "Bottom 10" to a bowl and a conference championship.

Not long ago I believe Bucknell was climbing the ranks and so was VT. So now they aren't so good. That's the way it works out. But I agree the Terps should add more tough games with teams like Tenn, ND, Oklamhoma, and Pitt. Shy away from Morgan, American, Elon. Add instead Hofstra, UConn, OSU. Or how about KY, AZ, Texas. You'll fill the seats and I imagine boys who can't get to play for top10 teams would love to travel and beat them. Or try the way Bryant did.

P.S.: need a 7 footer, and a play maker with hands and brains. Wake up under the rim. Geez. Can't you catch a ball for cryin' out loud already.

P.S.S: Gary go to Boys and Girls High. They're more like your Eleanor Roosevelt.