Terps: Hold your breath
Considering what was going on with the Maryland men's basketball program a month or two ago, it's probably a bonus that Terp fans are even on NCAA selection watch today. Back when Greivis Vasquez was jousting with the fans at the Comcast Center and coach Gary Williams was grating on the athletic administration (and vice versa), I heard people predicting the Terps wouldn't even be a strong NIT candidate.
It's a credit to Williams that he did what he has done his whole career. His teams generally improve throughout the season and this one marched right back into March with an outside chance to go to the Big Dance.
Yes, an outside chance. If I was betting my 401K -- and, at this point, I'm considering putting the whole thing on one hand of blackjack to try and get even -- I'd say the Terps still end up on the outside looking in. But I hope I'm wrong because they have worked very hard to get to 20 victories and put themselves in a position where -- with 10 minutes to go yesterday -- they had a chance to play in today's ACC Tournament final. They just ran out of gas in their third tough game in three days. No shame in that.
My fear, ironically enough, is that when Southern Cal made it's great run this weekend to win the Pac-10 Tournament from the seventh seed, that might have cost the Terps one of the last slots in the NCAA Tournament field.
Guess we'll find out tonight.
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Comments
I don't think USC cost MD a bid - 7 seed in the Pac 10 isn't like 7 seed in the ACC. The conferences aren't comparable. As Coach K of all people said yesterday, Maryland's played SEVEN games against teams ranked #1 at some point in the season. Wow.
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Pete's reply: Yes, but USC is in and that means somebody else is out. The top teams in the Pac-10 will get in anyway.
Posted by: Bill on da Shore | March 15, 2009 11:33 AM
Maryland is safely in with one of the last spots even if Mississippi State wins today. They have 3 top-10 wins this season and even with the bad losses (Morgan State, Virginia) their resume stacks up very well against the other teams on the bubble like Creighton, San Diego State, or Arizona. I think the Terps are in as a dangerous 11 seed and if they don't get in, I would love to see the tournament committee justify putting a team like Creighton with zero quality wins in the field over a team that beat North Carolina, Michigan State, and Wake Forest.
Posted by: Wetzel | March 15, 2009 1:16 PM
Maryland is in. They are going to be one of the last 2-3 teams that get in. They have played 7 games against teams that were once ranked #1 in the country. They also beat Michigan State, the best team in the Big 10. Sure they had some bad losses, but they also had some huge wins. There is no way that you can say St. Mary's, Creighton, or Arizona get in over MD. And don't let anyone tell you Penn St. should be in over MD. The ACC has won the ACC/Big 10 challenge every year. There is no way they should send more teams than the ACC. If they do then the selection committee is a joke.
Posted by: HoCoTerp | March 15, 2009 1:31 PM
Kudos to USC for winning their first PAC 10 title. Nuf said! This is an east coast blog and there is NO chance that USC knocked out UM. Why you say, each conference champion gets a slot, congrats again to USC, but Maryland would be an at large. While USC is in they in no way knocked UM out of the tournament. If in fact UM is out they only need to look back to their regular season loss to UVA.
Posted by: Keith Rowe | March 15, 2009 1:46 PM
Anything to get your beloved Trojans in print, eh, Pete? The Terps are in--no question about it.
"Greivous"?
Posted by: Biff Tubesock | March 15, 2009 2:14 PM
Maryland is a funny and strange team. They could get to the Sweet Sixteen or they could lose the opening round to Idaho Community College by 47. My guess is that they are in and will win one game. It's still better than winning the NIT.
Posted by: allan b stark | March 15, 2009 4:03 PM
There is a chance the Terps get left out, but it's a small chance. All the most established (and previously successful) bracketology experts are predicting MD in the field, even with the Miss. St. win in the SEC. To most, we are ranked ahead of Penn St., Creighton, and St. Marys, and even San Diego St., depending on who you had as competing with the Terps for the last few spots. And every "basketball guy" I have heard discuss the bubble thinks they deserve to get in. So Pete, you are in the minority, and I too hope you are wrong.
Posted by: Jeremy | March 15, 2009 5:40 PM
10 seed baby, Bring on CAL
Posted by: Nate | March 15, 2009 6:20 PM
You were wrong... a 10 cede against 7 cede California in the western regionals. Not bad at all. May not last long but at least they made it.
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Pete's reply: Like I said, I hoped I was wrong and I got myt wish.
Posted by: A Fan with Visions of Grandeur | March 15, 2009 8:24 PM