It’s madness to think Maryland will last much longer in March.
Nobody believes the Terrapins can win the ACC tournament (beginning Thursday against N.C. State). No one thinks Maryland can win four straight games to reach the NCAA tournament. Only those betting 99-to-1 longshots would back the Terps.
And the skeptics would be right.
Coach Gary Williams and his players defended their slide into the postseason by saying there’s still time for a turnaround. After three straight ugly losses, the Terps are trying to resurrect the magic of 2004 when they won the ACC tournament after an equally lackluster 7-9 conference record. John Gilchrist delivered three unforgettable games that year, but the since-expanded conference now requires four wins from a seven seed.
Maybe if Jordan Williams replicates Gilchrist’s tournament MVP-effort, the Terps could lock up an NCAA tournament bid. Oh wait, if Maryland beats N.C. State it faces Duke, which beat the Terps by 13 and 18 points in two meetings this season.
It’s not happening. The Terps are psyching themselves up, trying to muster an underdog mentality. Even Lassie couldn’t save the Terps from the bottomless pit they’ve created.
“You know you can do it,” forward Dino Gregory said. “You do it in practice every day, but not in games.”
Gary Williams didn’t seem his usual tense self on Tuesday. Maybe turning 66 recently finally has tempered the eternal flame of the hardcourt. Perhaps Williams just knows this isn’t one of his better teams.
“It will be hard to win four games, but we’ve won three in a row so why not?” he said. “It’s a great opportunity because nobody’s ever done it before.”
Don’t overestimate that quote. It wasn’t a fiery retort, more like false bravado. Maryland’s recent defensive collapse puts an end to the trump card that kept them in so many games. The Terps have no chance if they’re not scoring off turnovers.
Maryland sorely misses 2010 ACC player of the year Greivis Vasquez. Not so much for his scoring, but for his leadership. The Terps don’t have a leader. They have a standout player in Jordan Williams, but he’s not an on-court emotional presence. That underclassmen have been the bright spots lately shows the veterans don’t have it.
This happens. And it’s happening to Maryland this season. Fortunately, this disappointing act has only a week or so remaining. Maybe it involves two games in the ACC tournament. Maybe it involves an NIT appearance where Gary Williams would play underclassmen who are hoping for a boost into next season.
But there’s little hope this 18-13 season will end like 2004 when the Terps claimed Williams’ only ACC tournament trophy in 22 years at College Park. Unless the NCAA tournament expands to 112 teams and sends Maryland to the Pluto region, the Terps are done.
Examiner columnist Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more on Twitter @Snide_Remarks or e-mail [email protected].
