The Maryland Terrapins have been working so hard lately they didn?t notice the redecorating in their locker room.
Somewhere between the win at North Carolina and the loss to Duke at home, the Terrapins coaching staff reinstalled the framed photos and name plates that decorate the space above each player?s locker at Comcast Center.
The photos and name tags ? removed after the team?s back-to-back home losses to Ohio and American ? were up after Wednesday?s 85-75 win over visiting Virginia.
“I didn?t even realize they were up,” senior forward James Gist said. “It got to the point where I didn?t even think about it anymore. I looked up there one time and they were up there. Over the past few weeks, we?ve found ourselves and we?ve started to work a little harder. We?re really starting to get on the ball with how we?re supposed to be playing every game.”
The lack of attention to detail in the locker room can only mean one thing ? the Terrapins (13-8 overall, 3-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) are putting plenty of focus on each game.
Still, they appreciate earning back their locker room luxuries after a horrendous start.
“It?s a little more decorative. A little easier to look at,” senior forward Bambale Osby said with a smile. “It?s just a sign that we?re going in the right direction.”
Maryland has won three of its past four, with the only loss coming to Duke Sunday ? a game the Terrapins led by nine at the half before falling, 93-84.
Defeating Virginia Wednesday was imperative for the Terrapins to remain in the hunt for the upper-echelon of the Atlantic Coast Conference standings and in contention for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.
“We really felt like we could win that Duke game. It hurt us a lot that we didn?t,” sophomore forward Landon Milbourne said. “We took it upon ourselves to go out and prove we can win in the ACC.”
Now, it?s a matter of making the rest of the college basketball world open its eyes to the youthful Maryland team that is clearly no longer playing like the team that opened the season 6-6.
“We finally started playing like we know we can play,” Osby said. “Even with the loss at Virginia Tech and the loss to Duke, we were in those games. We had a chance to win those games. We?re just going to keep rolling like we?re going.”
Standing in the way, though, is a series of three conference road games in the next four games. The Terrapins visit Georgia Tech Saturday (ESPN2, noon) and Boston College Wednesday (ESPNU, 7 p.m.) before hosting North Carolina State Feb. 9 at 8 p.m.
After that, the Terrapins seek revenge at Duke on Feb. 13 ? a game Gist already marked on his calendar.
“It?s the ACC,” Gist said. “I?m ready for it.”
Maryland vs. Georgia Tech
TERRAPINS (13-8 overall, 3-3 ACC) VS. YELLOW JACKETS (10-9, 3-3)
» Tipoff: Saturday, Noon
» Where: Alexander Memorial
Coliseum, Atlanta
» TV/Radio: ESPN2/105.7 FM, 1300 AM
