Maryland coach Gary Williams is telling his team it needs to win this weekend?s Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament to have any hopes of playing in the NCAA Tournament.
After a stretch where the Terrapins (18-13 overall, 8-8 ACC) made nothing look easy, winning four games in four days would qualify as the easiest path to the NCAA Tournament field.
But according to some Terrapins, it?s not the only path.
“I don?t think we have to win the ACC Tournament,” senior forward Bambale Osby said. “I think we have to win two games: Boston College, Clemson. Getting to that third game, I?m not going to say Duke is going to be there, but they have the highest RPI. I think a couple of games, we?ll be in there, with 20 wins.”
Junior forward Dave Neal ? one of the Terrapins? locker room “bracketologists” ? admitted that 20 wins and a .500 conference record is a typical measuring stick for an NCAA berth.
“I don?t want to say it?s a 100 percent guarantee, but I think if we win two games and play well in the semifinals, that?ll give us a good chance to get in there. But as always, we say if we win the whole thing, we don?t have to worry about anything – we?re guaranteed in there.
But this year, Neal said, the Terrapins? hopes are pinned on the outcomes of a number of mid-major tournaments.
“We really don?t want to see San Diego winning their tournament, because that gives them an automatic bid, and with Gonzaga and Saint Mary?s probably getting in there, too, it kind of hurts our chances,” said Neal, adding that South Alabama (26-6) did not help the Terrapins by losing to Middle Tennessee State, 82-73, in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. “What we really want is all the teams that are supposed to be winning to win their conference, and we really don?t want any more upsets to happen.”
Williams, meanwhile, will use today?s preparation before Thursday?s 9:30 p.m. game with Boston College (13-16, 4-12) to drill into the heads of his players the idea that the Terrapins have to focus on the present – something each of them admitted they?ll do.
“I?m worried about beating Boston College, because nothing else matters,” Williams said. “It?s hard for players not to look ahead and say, ?If we do this, if we do that.? You try to keep it in the present, which, obviously, I?ll have to do a good job of at practice. There?s nothing wrong with players wanting [an NCAA berth]. That should be a goal. But there is nothing else to worry about except that first game.”
