2008 Woodie Awards
Terps' tourney hopes on bubble
Andrew Zuckerman
Issue date: 2/25/08 Section: Sports
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Now, though, nothing's funny about the notion.
After the Terps' third loss in four games - this one a 78-63 offensive train wreck to Miami at the BankUnited Center - the Terps are right back on the bubble. It's a nerve-racking place to be this late in the season, and it's especially frustrating for the Terps, given how much it took to turn the season around during the past two months.
"Every game from here on is a must-win, I'd say," senior Bambale Osby said after the game in an eerily quiet locker room.
The Terps shot a dismal 37.1 percent from the field and their 63 points scored were the fewest since the Dec. 22 loss to American.
"We've been a pretty consistent shooting team all year, and I thought we got some looks in the second half that we didn't convert," coach Gary Williams said. "We shot 29 percent [in the second half], and we haven't been doing that. That really hurt us."
For the fourth straight game, the Terps had more turnovers (15) than assists (12).
"You have to play really well. You have to make shots," Williams said. "Miami's good; they've proven how good they are this week. We didn't play well enough down the stretch."
Sure enough, the Terps fizzled when it mattered most, similar to last Wednesday's loss to Virginia Tech.
After trimming an eight-point deficit down to 61-58 with 5:26 remaining, the Terps failed to get defensive stops, and Miami ended the game on a 17-5 run. It was similar to the way the rest of the game played out - the Terps (17-11, 7-6 ACC) trailed throughout, and every time they tied it or cut it down to one possession, they couldn't stop the Hurricanes (19-7, 6-6).
The Terps made just nine second-half shots.
"We didn't play hard," said sophomore Greivis Vasquez. "That was the difference [down the stretch]."
Landon Milbourne, Vasquez and James Gist combined to shoot 13-for-44 (29.5 percent). Gist played just 21 minutes because of foul trouble, and the Terps got just four points from reserves Jerome Burney and Shane Walker in his absence.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 6
Illusory Son of Testudo
posted 2/25/08 @ 9:49 AM EST
Okay - now the Terps surely are primed to go deep in the ACC tournament, and win a spot in the NCAA - they have learned the hard way that it takes work to develop a champion team, and they are almost there. (Continued…)
Jerry
posted 2/25/08 @ 10:43 AM EST
Andrew -- there is NO hope for this team. A team/program that can NEVER beat very average VA Tech and Miami teams isn't ever really "on the bubble" -- it's down the drain. (Continued…)
Amanda
posted 2/25/08 @ 11:48 AM EST
I can't seem to remember a decent win against Miami since we started playing them. I have the opinion that our Terps get down to FL and party like rock stars and play like crap because of it. (Continued…)
Greg
posted 2/25/08 @ 2:02 PM EST
Jerry, I disagree.
It is impossible to say with any certainty that there is no hope for this team. They have proven that they have the ability to play with anyone in the conference. (Continued…)
Illusory S o T
posted 2/26/08 @ 10:11 AM EST
Greg - Jerry makin a whole lotta sense here . . .
These guys (our showcase college basketball players) probably want to be considered some big men on campus, but, not sure about you other Terpaholics, but for me, gettin their asses kicked up and down the ball court, representin us as a bunch of ninnies, rock-heads, and choke artists, aint gonna get them there . (Continued…)
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