March 15, 2004
Terps Unbelievable
My very first blog described five problems with the Maryland Terrapins. This team did not seem headed anywhere, except into the same wilderness the once-great Redskins occupied.
Looks like all five problems have been addressed, after the Terrapins stunning negotiation of road to beating the Nos. 3, 2 and 1 seeds in the ACC tournament!
Has any other college basketball team made such an advance through its conference tournament? You can't have a harder road than that.
The team made its foul shots, scored in the paint, played the fast-break correctly, defended the opponents' three much better, and showed a will to improve commensurate with what Maryland needs to be considered a great program.
And Gary Williams clearly made the half-time speech of his career Saturday during their match vs. NC State. The team, down 19, returned with a clear mandate: help John Gilchrist score his way past their opponent.
Everyone first noticed Gilchrist last year as Steve Blake's substitute. He brought frantic, Energizer Bunny energy to the court but didn't always make decisions as well as did Steve.
Well, Gilchrist grew up over the past week. He slams the ball so hard on the dribble the TV nearly shakes, and after he passes the ball, takes an almost comical hop. Now he's channeling that strength and energy into his jump shot, which has become a reliable weapon. He's up in the air, flying, before the defender knows it.
The most surprising wins to me in the tournament were on Friday and Sunday. Friday's opponent, Wake, had beaten Maryland twice this season. So after Maryland upset Wake, it had some momentum against N.C. State on Saturday, whom the Terrapins had split 1-1 with.
On Sunday, Duke had Shelden Williams in the center; how could the Terps' erratic interior expect to compete? Well, victory was sweet, and one gets so sick of Duke's arrogance, Chris Duhon beating his chest ... on the way to defeat! Kudos to Mike Grinnon and Mike Jones, contributing key points in overtime as one player after the other fouled out.
