First of all: GO TERPS! (and having got that out of the way)-here is one person’s opinion of how the Terrapins will fare in the NCAA Tournament.
It appears that the selection committee has put Maryland into the most dangerous region in the entire tournament. With the likes of overall #1 seed Kansas, Big Ten champion Ohio State, a Georgetown team that has the capability and the talent to make a deep run, and Tom Izzo’s don’t count-them-out Spartans at the #5 seed, the top half of the bracket is not lacking for talent or quality teams. Some intriguing teams also lurking in the Midwest region: a Northern Iowa squad that many pundits are picking as a sleeper, the two teams that have beaten Kansas this year (Tennessee and Oklahoma State), and a Georgia Tech team that just beat the Terps in the ACC Tournament. The Terps will begin the tournament late on Friday night with an opening round game against the #13 seeded Houston Cougars, the winners of the Conference USA tournament. Tom Penders, the Cougars’ coach, is a veteran of the NCAA wars, having taken four different schools to the tournament and has a veteran backcourt at his disposal in Aubrey Coleman and Kelvin Lewis. Coleman is the nation’s leading scorer and Lewis is the team’s best 3-point threat. You can bet that Gary Williams will have his charges focused on those two players in particular. Maryland can and should win this game, but it will need to play good defense and rebound well. Both offenses should score points in bunches, but I think the Maryland D should be the difference.
With an opening round win, the Terps will look to take on either the Spartans or the Aggies of New Mexico State. A date with the Aggies would be more of the same for the Terps, with another team that likes to get out and run and score points, but not so great defensively. On the other hand, Michigan State presents a formidable foe. Though not as consistent as some of Izzo’s better Spartan teams, this team is not devoid of talent. Kalin Lucas was last season’s Big Ten Player of the Year, and Raymar Morgan and Delvon Roe are big bodies who can bang down low. A trademark of Izzo teams are defensive intensity and rebounding. If Maryland wants to beat the Spartans, it will have to match the intensity and make shots in a grind it out type of game. Should the Terps survive the second round, I’m pretty certain Kansas will await them in the regional semifinals in St. Louis. The Jayhawks appear to be the most balanced, the deepest and most well-rounded team in the entire tournament. Their season has been nothing short of dominant, save for two losses to Tennessee and Oklahoma State (both of whom are in this regional). I believe, should the Terps get this far, it would take the perfect game to derail Kansas.
So I believe the Terrapins have what it takes to get to the Sweet Sixteen, but not further. But it will take two good to great efforts, with great shooting, determined defense and the experience that a senior-led backcourt can bring to get them there. After that, who knows…an upset over Kansas is the type of thing that makes March great. I just wouldn’t bet the house on it.
MPB,
Did you get a look at the "creampuff" bracket Duke was put in?
I think MD will squeak out two games. it won't be pretty, but what game this year with Gary's boys has been? This team reflects their coach, gritty, intense, not the most polished, but generally gets the job done. I say they win two close games to make the Sweet 16 and then get pummeled by the the team that is probably the very best of the lot, Kansas.
Yes I saw that bracket. It is set up for them to get there…but with Duke, all it takes is one bad shooting night and they fall. That and the fact that they seem to underachieve often. If they can avoid a night when the threes don't fall and will their way to some wins, yes they make it to the final four. But I can't see them beating a West Virginia or a Kentucky.
No worries about Duke. They aren't going to win anything. Kyle "Don't Call me Zach Wilt" Singler doesn't have enough game to carry the team to the Final 4.
Unfortunately none of the ACC teams will be around when they get to Indy.
I think Duke will make it. CBS and the NCAA love them some Duke, so put them in a crappy bracket and hope they make it to Indy.
Not so fast, Uncle Will-o-know-you-didn't-just-diss-the-ACC! Our beloved ACC is still the best Amateur Basketball Conference in the Free World, and will remain so until someone proves otherwise! I don't wanna lose my BSR-Membership Card, but I'd like to see Duke (and the ACC) win the Title before I would any Big East team ('cept for West Virginia, as it would be great for that State)! In other news, I dunno if anyone else heard on the radio today about http://www.predictionmachine.com, but they have Baylor in the Monday Night Finals…Now wouldn't that be fun?!?!?!
Haven't heard of Prediction Machine. Pretty neat though. I don't know about Baylor though.
I'm back and forth about the ACC's success. I think saying "the acc is weak this year" became the cool thing to do. It's down because of North Carolina, but I think the ACC is better than people give it credit for.
If Louisville wins round 1, they will give Duke everything they want and more.
I hope you're right. No matter what kind of season Duke has, they seem to find a way to make noise in the tourney.
Duke is not the Duke of our childhoods. These guys haven't won a championship since 2001. The Terps have won the big one more recently than the Blue Devils. I have to say the Terps will have a problem with Michigan State. Say what you will about the up and downs, Tom Izzo has them playing good ball at this time of year. I say Terps get by Houston and are bounced by the Spartans. In my bracket, got 0 ACC teams getting to the final four. Big East and big 12 are the two best conferences this year.
Compost, you are right on with your no ACC picks in the final four. I agree with Mark- I think Lou-e-ville takes Duke down early.
Pole, while Duke may have slipped a bit, since 2000 they have:
Won a NCAA Championship
Made 5 Sweet 16's
1 Final Four
So over the last 9 years, that's at least a Sweet 16 in 7 of the 9 years. Now in 2007 and 08 they didn't advance any further than the 2nd round, they rebounded last year with yet another Sweet 16 bid.
What the hell, you have me defending Duke?!?!
I'd love to be in Duke's bracket.
I also think Maryland can win two…but that will be the end. Duke Will not make it to the Final four. ACC was pretty weak this year. This should be a pretty entertaining Tournament. Nothing like Collage basketball.. it puts the NBA to shame…
Welcome Rusty!
I'm with you…two wins means a Sweet 16, combine that with the COTY and the ACC POTY and it's a nice little season for the Terps!
Rusty,
Two is the goal. Bruz said two, everyone expects two.
Michigan State may be tough to get around though.
Let's see some actual RD 1 score predictions, everyone! Ol' Bruz is already on record w/83 – 68 Garyland!
Greivis and Gary – 81, Houston Cougars (what a bad name for a team these days, I'm sure the older female alum are taking some grief) 65.
Special…Appreciate the effort, but was expecting a little more creativity than simply spitting back my original pick… 😉
Here's the advice I will continue to give…
DON'T PICK THE BIG EAST!
I've done it for years in my brackets and always ended up disappointed.
1 – 3 today all the much higher seeds.