Maryland's Important Win over Michigan
The Maryland Terrapin men's basketball team has been off to a rocky start. As usual for most big conference teams in the early part of the season, several small local teams were scheduled. Sloppy games and narrow victories have been on par. Vermont took them to overtime, although their head coach was a recent Gary Williams assistant.
Since Thanksgiving, however, the schedule has been closer in competition to some of what they will see in the later part of the season. A Turkey Day win over Michigan State, then a loss to cross-town rival Georgetown ended November. However, the key game which didn't seem like it at the time, was the win over Michigan last week.
In this ACC-Big Ten Challenge game, the Wolverines are a far cry from their Fab Five days. The Sports Freak and I attended the game expecting a close, but sloppy game. Shawne Merriman, currently of the San Diego Chargers, was on hand to run his annual charity function at the University of Maryland. The game started the way we thought it would. Both sides couldn't seem to get in much rhythm and the Terps were playing the way they've been playing all season. MD's 13 for 41 shooting in the first half was beaten by Michigan's 13 for 37.
Merriman either saw enough, or decided to watch the rest of the game from another location because he didn't return to his court-side seat after the half. What he missed however, was a pretty good comeback. Sole senior Dave Neal, who started the game, provided 12 points in 25 minutes. A great game for him. It was however, the Greivis Vasquez show. With 23 points in 35 minutes, he provided the leadership that the team needed in what was a winnable game.
Redskin running back Clinton Portis was also in the house, trying to hide his identity by wearing his hood indoors. Frankly if he showed up as Southeast Jerome, one of his press conference personalities, he might have fared better. Probably didn't help that the camera crew found him and got him up on the jumbo-tron. With 5 minutes left in the game, Portis made his exit. I guess he had to make it an early night to ensure he got to Redskins Park the next morning.
The final score of 75-70 was closer than the actual score. Maryland had Michigan beat, up by 8 with a couple of minutes left. However the Wolverines have a few three point shooters that hit their shots while the Terps came back with free throws after getting fouled. At the time, this win was not that important. Michigan is no Top 25 team. But after Michigan defeated Duke Saturday, the Terps win looks a lot better. Coupled with that win over Michigan State, the Terrapins have put together a pretty good resume before the ACC season begins.
