March 8, 2004
Terps survive
Maryland's Terrapins live to fight another day after beating Virginia last night in a game so ugly that I switched during all the commercials to Fox comedies (Bernie Mac, Malcolm in the Middle, Arrested Development) even at risk of missing some of the game.
Anyone know how to shoot the basketball into the basket? This team seems to work too hard for every single point, as if it were playing soccer. Go up, get fouled, miss two at the line, give up an uncontested three at the other end, then wake up to the situation and claw back.
And the Comcast crowd seems strangely muted and cowed at times, compared to the madness that was Cole Field House.
Yet as Nik Caner-Medley tanks offensively, he stepped it up a bit defensively last night, running full court to block a layup from behind. Meanwhile the overlooked Chris McCray is emerging as the emotional force of this team, determined and ... able to make his free throws!
Probably like a lot of other people, I thought Gary Williams would have the cream of the crop given the national championship and the new playing arena and start coasting to Final Fours. Something is amiss with his recruits from California, D.C. and points in between ... no perimeter shooting, sketchy in the paint. They all seem too much like works in progress -- and not on a two-year path to excellence, either, but something much slower.
In attendance was former guard Juan Dixon fresh off scoring 25 points for the Wizards.
Sports roundup: The Terrell Owens case is getting more and more curious, as he plainly doesn't want to come here to the Ravens and will not report for his physical.
Sound like his agent just screwed up and doesn't want to pay the penalty for missing the deadline for making Owens a free agent.
Will the Ravens make him come against his will? Ravens fans are an order of magnitude more ferocious than Redskins fans and will harrass him I am sure. That's if my husband Lamont is any guide -- he never forgave John Elway for balking at coming to the Colts.
