Maryland looks like it’s heading to the Sweet 16, but that’s as far as the Terrapins will get.
The Terps were spotted an easy NCAA Tournament opener Friday as the fourth seed of the Midwest bracket, drawing 13th-seeded Houston. Maryland’s toughest challenge may be traveling to Spokane, Wash., especially since Houston hasn’t been to an NCAA Tournament since 1992 and needed an unlikely Conference USA Tournament title to reach the postseason.
The second round gets tougher with fifth-seeded Michigan State the likely foe. But if Maryland advances to the second weekend, overall No. 1 seed Kansas likely awaits in the third round. Hello, offseason.
“We want to be something special,” guard Greivis Vasquez said. “We want to go to the Sweet 16.”
The NCAA committee was kind to Maryland and Georgetown, which earned the Midwest’s third seed. The Terps’ early exit in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals to Georgia Tech, the Midwest’s 10th seed, should have dropped Maryland to fifth or sixth. But the Terps rarely fare well in their conference tournament, so maybe the selection panel has learned to ignore Maryland’s stumbling.
“The fourth seed is a pretty good honor for us,” guard Eric Hayes said.
Maryland is no lock to escape the first weekend. The Terps have won nine straight NCAA Tournament openers but have lost three straight second-rounders. Maryland hasn’t reached the Sweet 16 since 2003, when it had the remnants of the preceding year’s national championship. Houston, led by guard Aubrey Coleman (25.6 points a game), seems like a mild foe, though. Coach Tom Penders, who led George Washington to the 1999 NCAA Tournament, leads the Cougars.
Largely, the tournament invitation brought a subdued reaction for the Terps. The three seniors are making their third tournament in four years. The postseason has become commonplace to them.
Still, coach Gary Williams remembered coming to Maryland in 1989 only to discover the school was facing a two-year NCAA postseason sanction. The Terps didn’t return until 1994.
“Any time you make it, it’s significant to me because I know the feeling of not being able to play in it,” Williams said.
The Terps haven’t seen Houston this season, but game tapes were surely playing soon after they learned of the matchup. Indeed, Williams expects to watch several games in coming days, including Houston’s conference title win over No. 21 UTEP.
Houston prefers a fast-paced game. Maryland thrives on it. Williams won’t rework his game plans for this opponent.
“We’re the fourth-seeded team,” he said. “We’re not making a lot of changes at this time.”
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com and Twitter @Snide_Remarks or e-mail [email protected].
