Coming off a quality road win at Florida State, and a demolition of North Carolina, the Terps had that loving feeling heading into Wednesday’s game with Virginia. Mother Nature put an end to that.
Maryland and Virginia will now play Monday Feb. 15th at Comcast Center, leaving the Terrapins to cool their heels (wait, didn’t they just do that?) and next face Duke at Cameron.
A true test for sure, but if Maryland can find a way to knock off the Devils whom are not exactly bullet proof, then they just about lock up a bid to the NCAA Tourney, and do it by mid February.
The pair of impressive wins for the Terps had me bring them back to the A.P. Top 25 for the 3rd time this season, curious to see if they can stick around.
Here’s my vote for February, 8th:
1. Kansas
2. Kentucky
3. Syracuse
4. West Virginia
5. Villanova
6. Purdue
7. Georgetown
8. Kansas State
9. Ohio State
10. Wisconsin
11. Duke
12. Michigan State
13. Tennessee
14. Texas
15. New Mexico
16. Gonzaga
17. Texas A&M
18. Northern Iowa
19. Butler
20. St. Mary’s
21. Charlotte
22. Cornell
23. Rhode Island
24. Maryland
25. Georgia Tech
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1. Kansas
2. Kentucky
3. Villanova
4. Syracuse
5. Michigan State
6. West Virginia
7. Purdue
8. Texas
9. Georgetown
10. Kansas State
11. Wisconsin
12. Ohio State
13. Pittsburgh
14. Tennessee
15. Duke
16. Vanderbilt
17. Georgia Tech
18. New Mexico
19. BYU
20. Gonzaga
21. Baylor
22. Temple
23. Northern Iowa
24. St. Mary’s
25. Butler
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1. Texas
2. Kentucky
3. Kansas
4. Villanova
5. Syracuse
6. Michigan State
7. Duke
8. Tennessee
9. Wisconsin
10. Pittsburgh
11. West Virginia
12. Purdue
13. Georgetown
14. Gonzaga
15. BYU
16. Kansas State
17. Georgia Tech
18. UAB
19. Clemson
20. Temple
21. Virginia
22. Baylor
23. Northern Iowa
24. Rhode Island
25. Vanderbilt
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I contemplated the return of Maryland to my AP vote this week. The Terps knocked off Florida State, which I had ranked 16th and owned now similar resumes to Clemson and Miami. The loss though at home to William & Mary still left me a little gun-shy. If Maryland though could go on the road and beat Wake Forest, then I’d have them back in poll.
And last night, they made a rather incredible run at that win. Greivis Vasquez and Eric Hayes led a stirring comeback to force overtime. Then with a minute to play, trailing but in a one possession game, the Terps had the ball. Vasquez, whom again had played a great game, looked in from the left-wing and saw 6′9″, 245 pound Jordan Williams on the block, guarded by 6′0″, 175 Ismael Smith. This was a mismatch of comical proportions. Vasquez looked Williams in the eye, dribbled to the baseline where he was cut off, and forced up a jumper that hit the side of the back board.
Maryland lost 85-83.
I can’t say enough that Vasquez was the driving force that had the Terps to overtime in the first place, but if he fails to trust his teammates Maryland will garner nothing more than bubble team status. Williams had missed a pair of free throws in overtime, and maybe that’s why Vasquez didn’t go back to him again. But that’s the exact time a leader needs to give his talented freshman another chance. Williams isn’t going anywhere. Maryland must learn to win with him executing at key times. Vasquez didn’t play the role of senior leader, and the Terps suffered from it.
Anyway, here’s how I had them laid out as of Monday morning, but after watching Kentucky get a huge win on the road at Florida, the Cats may be poised for a return to the top once again.
1. Texas
2. Kentucky
3. Kansas
4. Villanova
5. Syracuse
6. Michigan State
7. Purdue
8. Georgetown
9. Duke
10. Tennessee
11. Wisconsin
12. West Virginia
13. Pittsburgh
14. Georgia Tech
15. Gonzaga
16. Baylor
17. BYU
18. North Carolina
19. Kansas State
20. UAB
21. Temple
22. Connecticut
23. Miami
24. Clemson
25. Northern Iowa
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Wanted to make sure I posted my AP vote this week, you know, for consistency sake. And by the time I’ve gotten around to it this week already a loss for North Carolina and Georgia Tech. The Heels defeat to College of Charleston is mind boggling. Very talented, but even younger will have North Carolina sliding farther from their current spot at number ten, and preseason position of number 4.
Duke is right now the class of the ACC as the Blue Devils typically are this time of the year. But recent runs of post season futility make you wonder what’s going on in the “best basketball conference in the land”. The Big 12 owns five spots in the poll including the top two and the Big East owns numbers six through nine.
The hard part now for the ACC, the conference has very few opportunities to improve in the rankings or RPI. Beating up each other won’t help, and for teams like Maryland without a marquee non-con win, what can the Terps do to even make the tournament much less get back in the rankings.
I don’t have an answer, I mean that. What can they do? And don’t bring up “get rid of Gary”. If the Terps won’t pay to have 2-8 Ralph Friedgen not coach their team, Gary Williams will decide when Gary Williams has had enough.
Anyway, here’s my first vote of 2010, could be the best of the decade. We’ll have to see…
1. Kansas
2. Texas
3. Kentucky
4. Purdue
5. Duke
6. Villanova
7. W. Virginia
8. Syracuse
9. Georgetown
10. N. Carolina
11. Michigan St.
12. Wisconsin
13. Tennessee
14. Kansas St.
15. Connecticut
16. Florida St.
17. Florida
18. New Mexico
19. Baylor
20. Ole Miss
21. Texas Tech
22. Gonzaga
23. Georgia Tech
24. Washington
25. UAB
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Watching the Maryland Terrapins right now get blown out at home by William & Mary, and it’s just amazing how they can’t even compete tonight in regards to not just execution, but athleticism with the Tribe. I’m not sure what has gone wrong since the Terps won a game in the NCAA Tournament last season, but with a better cast of characters Maryland looks completely woeful.
I need to point out that W&M is a quality team as the Tribe already owns a win at Wake Forest. But Maryland has played four quality teams thus far (can’t put Indiana in that category) and lost to all of them.
So going forward and looking at how Maryland might make a return trip the the NCAA’s and there margin for error is gone. They, at minimum need a winning conference record and a good showing at the ACC Tourney. The Terps are without a single non-conference win for the resume. When the selection committee compares Maryland to other at-large teams, the Terps will have nothing on which to hang their hat.
So on that jolly note, here’s my AP vote this week. Not much action at the top, but several new appearances towards the bottom. Happy New Year!
1. Kansas
2. Texas
3. Kentucky
4. Syracuse
5. Duke
6. Purdue
7. Villanova
8. W. Virginia
9. Georgetown
10. N. Carolina
11. Connecticut
12. Michigan St.
13. Wisconsin
14. Tennessee
15. Ohio State
16. Kansas St.
17. Texas Tech
18. Florida St.
19. Florida
20. Baylor
21. Northwestern
22. Temple
23. Ole Miss
24. Dayton
25. Seton Hall
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Several different national sports websites have different playoff standings for the AFC Wildcard scenario. Puzzling to say the least, so I went to the source. Yep, the Ravens are in with a win.
Here is your scenario heading into week 17 per the league office of the NFL.
2009 AFC PLAYOFF SCENARIOS
_______________________________________________________________________
December 27, 2009
For Week 17
AFC
CLINCHED: Indianapolis – AFC South and homefield advantage throughout AFC playoffs
San Diego – AFC West and first-round bye
New England – AFC East
Cincinnati – AFC North
NEW YORK JETS
New York clinches a playoff spot with:
BALTIMORE RAVENS
Baltimore clinches a playoff spot with:
TEAMS STILL IN CONTENTION FOR PLAYOFF SPOT
Denver, Miami, Pittsburgh, Houston and Jacksonville
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I neglected to post my ballot this week, but not because of possible ridicule from my college friends about why Syracuse isn’t higher. Too many darn presents for which to shop, and too many sports casts to produce. However, I did have the time to check out Loyola University’s stunner Tuesday night in Bloomington.
A fascinating game as the Greyhounds blew a 24 point lead to Indiana, fell behind with two minutes to go, and then saw Brett Harvey apply the Heimlich Maneuver with his 2nd four point play of the half that sealed the win for Loyola. Arguably the best in in school history, and entirely entertaining as well. Thank you cable tv for having the Big Ten Network at my disposal.
1. Kansas
2. Texas
3. Kentucky
4. Syracuse
5. Duke
6. Purdue
7. Villanova
8. W. Virginia
9. Michigan St.
10. Georgetown
11. N. Carolina
12. Connecticut
13. Wisconsin
14. Florida
15. Tennessee
16. Ohio State
17. Kansas State
18. Texas Tech
19. New Mexico
20. UNLV
21. Ole Miss
22. Butler
23. Florida St.
24. Baylor
25. Texas A&M
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New movie out called It’s Complicated. Not necessarily my genre (thank God I’m still too young for that), but the trailer made me think about basketball.
In the movie, Alec Baldwin falls in love with his ex-wife Meryl Streep. Reminds me of me falling back in love with Kentucky.
Watching the Wildcats nearly lose to Miami, OH this year and struggle to defend the three against everyone the first three weeks had me drop the Cats fast from 1st to 8th. But now, watching a very young team learn a fairly complicated system from John Calipari, and watching John Wall become an icon before my eyes, I have goose bumps.
Can’t put UK in front of KU just yet, but the Wildcats make a heart go pitter patter nationwide.
Another team to praise this week, the Georgetown Hoyas. A pair of wins over ranked teams, including winning out west against Washington has me believing John Thompson III has all the wrongs from last season completely righted. At least he does in December.
Now my list for December 13th:
1. Kansas
2. Kentucky
3. Texas
4. Syracuse
5. Purdue
6. West Virginia
7. Georgetown
8. Villanova
9. Duke
10. Tennessee
11. North Carolina
12. Florida
13. Michigan State
14. Texas Tech
15. Wisconsin
16. Cincinnati
17. Ohio State
18. Connecticut
19. Texas A&M
20. UNLV
21. Butler
22. Kansas State
23 Memphis
24. Baylor
25. Georgia Tech
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Having not voted before, I may not have noticed this but wow, it is hard to get a grasp on who’s any good in November / December. Five new teams in the ranking this week for me. More and more preseason tournaments pitting good teams against each other for TV purposes helps the chaos, also that with the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee favoring those that play a tough schedule more and more, it is rare that a top program only plays one or two quality opponents early on.
What I firmly believe after a few weeks in, the Big XII is Marianas Trench deep.
Here’s a list of my vote, and for comparison sake, the actualy A.P. Ranking: http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/polls?poll=1
1) Kansas
2) Texas
3) Villanova
4) Purdue
5) Kentucky
6) Florida
7) Syracuse
8) West Virginia
9) Duke
10) Tennessee
11) Ohio State
12) North Carolina
13) Michigan State
14) Cincinnati
15) Georgetown
16) Wisconsin
17) Texas Tech
18) UNLV
19) Texas A&M
20) Butler
21) Miami, FL
22) Connecticut
23) Washington
24) Baylor
25) Georgia Tech
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