Well, it's time for the rankings to come out. What, why would anyone put out an NFL pre-season rank before some teams have opened training camp?

Come on, I'm not talking about the NFL. It's the men's college basketball rankings! But only since 84/85. Extra-special Terrapin enemy edition with Duke and Georgetown bookending the rankings at 1 & 10 respectively.

Goes to show how the dog days of summer are. ESPN is now analyzing some teams who's players have played, won championships, moved on to the NBA and retired. Overall, I can't fault them on their picks. Duke and NC are obvious contenders. Yeah ACC! Boo Blue Devils and Tarheels!

Continue reading "Rankings" »

Posted by Big Money Tony at 01:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

OK, so I'm about 6 months early, but it'll be a Happy Thanksgiving if we see this matchup. Both the Maryland Terrapins and the Georgetown Hoyas are currently scheduled to play in the Old Spice Classic during the 2008 Thanksgiving weekend. I say currently scheduled because who knows what GT might do. They never gave MD back the gentleman's agreement of the home and home game.

Continue reading "Maryland vs. Georgetown" »

Posted by Big Money Tony at 02:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Why? Why? Why?

In a brillant move that benefits no fans, the NCAA has granted Washington, DC the Congressional Bowl..

What purpose does this serve? RFK or Nationals Park? First of all, RFK should be demolished so Daniel Snyder can build the 1 million capacity retractable dome. Second, why ruin a perfectly good baseball park with a football game? Apparently after rejecting the +1 championship, they thought yet another bowl game to add the to 670 we already have makes it so much better.

The participants are going to be something like the 10th best ACC team and one of the service academies. I hope Navy, the participant for the first Congressional Bowl, makes it to a BCS bowl so the Congressional Bowl organizers will have to scramble for the Coast Guard Academy's football team.

Posted by Big Money Tony at 01:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

And with the next pick, Kelvin Sampson calls a bunch of recruits. We bring this less than breaking news to break into the Mock NFL Draft. It's really a curiosity.

OK, raise your hands if you knew there was an NCAA Slam Dunk contest. Wait mine wasn't up. I found this out this morning from the local NBC4 6 AM newscast. Apparently it was won by some kid from Arkansas. Somebody from Georgetown was there and James Gist of the Maryland Terrapins too. I think the sports anchor said something about it being restricted to seniors only. Boy, that will entice Kevin Love to sit in the NCAA's instead going for NBA millions after this season. Really..let's...win...the...Slam Dunk Contest (NCAA version)

Really, why have it? I am guessing there will be an NBA scout or two. But how many NCAA players do you hear about who are "undersized" for the NBA or need to "bulk up"? So if they can dunk today, add 25 pounds to play in the NBA this fall, will he dunk on Shaq? Yao Ming? Bueller? It's not a rhetorical question. Is there is reason to have an NCAA dunk contest?

BTW - I would have provided a link, but my 10 minutes Googles search, 5 on ESPN.com and ESPNU.com, and even NBC4.com provided no link to the story. Wikipedia has it as an afterthought to the NBA Slam Dunk contest article. Enjoy the story of the 2006 dunk.

Posted by Big Money Tony at 01:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Final Four is set today with a Jay Hawks two point margin of victory as Davidson's three point shot failed to hit iron. Curry was forced to give up the ball after three different screens failed to clear any room for him to shoot. Teams throughout the tourament have refused to go to a box in one defense in attempt to coral Curry. When it mattered most Kansas came up with the critical stop against Curry and his Davidson team.

Continue reading "The 2008 Final Four is Set" »

Posted by The Sports Freak at 07:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

There were many great games, near upsets, and indeed a few David's slaying Goliath. To wrap up a previous conversation with Bob there were a couple of 5-12 upsets, but for those that really knew something about college basketball the Villanova game wasn't a surprise. They've had more upsets as a lower seeded team in modern day history than any other school. Toss in free throw shooting by Clemson and the fact that other than coming close with UNC they played some close games with mediocre teams in the ACC that didn't make the tournament.

A lot is made of the Hilltoppers of Western Kentucky making it to the sweet Sixteen, but how much of an upset is it when the selection committee pitted two Mid-Majors against each other for one less Mid-Major to challenge the power conference teams. San Diego played their hearts out and sure the loss of UConn's guard and leader played a major factor in the game, but here's where the real challenge begins for a solid WKY team. Drake was a good team than ran into the wrong style of play as most teams do when they get bounced from the tournament.

Continue reading "Opening NCAA Tournament Weekend Recap, Upsets, and Teams You Love to Hate" »

Posted by The Sports Freak at 05:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Well this is certaintly not the entry I wanted to write in mid-March about the Maryland Terrapins. In any case, the Terps travelled to Minnesota to take on the Golden Gophers. After a close first half, at which Maryland led by 1 point, the Terps continued to work hard and won 68-58

Continue reading "Terps Win in First Round of NIT" »

Posted by Big Money Tony at 08:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

OK, this is not local, and I would not even care about this team if The Sports Freak and I had not seen the interview. But really, who is going to root for the Georgia Bulldogs in the NCAA Tournament?

The SEC Tournament was delayed during the quarter finals. On Friday night, a tornado struck the Atlanta area, including the Georgia dome, where the tournament was being held. Georgia and Kentucky's game was postponed. After discussing with the NCAA, it was determined the only way to preserve the SEC's automatic bid was to have the championship game done by Sunday afternoon. To facilitate that, Georgia and Kentucky would have to play early Saturday and the winner would have to play a semi-final game on Saturday evening. Essentially two games in one day.

Continue reading "A Team to Root Against" »

Posted by Big Money Tony at 09:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

I really feel like I'm doing a disservice by discussing UMBC's first ever trip to the NCAA Tournament. They won the America East Championship over Hartford. I've never followed them other than the times the Maryland Terrapins scheduled them for one of those non-conference December games. You know, the ones that drag down RPI?

For those that don't know, UMBC is the University of Maryland Baltimore County Retrievers. I did not know they were the Retrievers, although I think I saw them once or twice in my 17 years of going to Maryland games. Probably at good old Cole Field House. OK now I'm really doing a disservice to the Retrievers. Back to them.

Continue reading "UMBC to the Dance" »

Posted by Big Money Tony at 09:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Finally, we can all say, American Eagles can dance.

American University, with former Virginia coach Jeff Jones guiding them, got an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament with the defeat over Colgate in the Patriot League Final.

Continue reading "American to the Dance" »

Posted by Big Money Tony at 10:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

The Maryland Terrapins lost to Boston College Thursday night in the opening round of the ACC Tournament. It was a punch in the gut, but at the same time, all us fans felt that this was how it was going to end. Not a loss to BC, but more that it would end in dissapointment. This is not how they wanted to end the season. After nearly 12 minutes, BC had only scored 9 points and Maryland was in a double digit lead.

Continue reading "Terps Get Punched...but not a Dance Ticket" »

Posted by Big Money Tony at 08:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I'm not exactly a fan of the team, but Jim Larranaga, their coach seems like one cool coach. I've seen his interviews on Pardon the Interruption during their unbelievable run to the Final Four a couple of years ago. His team, the George Mason Patriots, got their ticket stamped by winning the Colonial Athletic Association's tourney.

Congrats to the Patriots for being first from the DC area.

Posted by Big Money Tony at 10:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

What started as a terrible season with back to back losses to Ohio (no, not Ohio State) and American, then great with a win at North Carolina, the Terrapins lose twice to end the season. First in a heartbreaker a week ago to Clemson on Senior Day and yesterday to Virginia at Charlottesville.

MD now heads in to the ACC tournament, which starts Thursday, as the #6 seed against #11 Boston College. The Terps could have been seeded as high as #3, but the late season letdown burst that bubble and is on the verge of bursting the NCAA bubble as well.

Continue reading "Terrapins Lose...Again" »

Posted by Big Money Tony at 05:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Maryland is working hard late in the ACC season to move up in the seeding to perhaps as high as the third seed in the ACC tournament. After back to back losses to Virginia Tech and Miami, the Terrapins won 74-70 tonight.

James Gist had a double-double with 31 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Terps to the win. This brings a showdown on Sunday with Clemson coming to the Comcast Center. A win in the home season finale will help inch the Terps up their position in the ACC.

If they continue the hard work, they can make it and hopefully get an at-large bid for the Big Dance.

Posted by Big Money Tony at 10:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This story has been so interesting. Interesting enough that I didn't really care who Daniel Synder interviewed for 62 and 3/16 of an hour. The question is why did Kevin Hart go so far with the lie?

Continue reading "The College Recruit that Wasn't" »

Posted by Big Money Tony at 02:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Local Hoops mania last night in what ESPN has dubbed "School Spirit Week". Ugh, what happened to just "Rivalry Week"?

First, let's get this out of the way. Georgetown dominated St John's in Big East action last night. The Hoyas held them to just 2 buckets in the first half. Now that I've mentioned Georgetown for the first time in this post, let's go to the team I care about.

The Terrapins bounced back from the loss to Duke on Sunday to beat Virginia. After leading by double digits, the Terrapins nearly let it slip away, allowing the Cavaliers to come within 5 with just minutes left in the game. But they perserved to win.

Continue reading "Terps Prospects for March Madness" »

Posted by Big Money Tony at 10:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

If I wrote this entry at halftime yesterday, it could have been reversed.

The Terrapins in an effort to defeat the top team in the nation and the #3 team in a span of 8 days failed. They put on an excellent showing in the first half, but sputtered when hitting the floor in the second half and lost 93-84. Bambale "Boom" Osby had a double-double and a career high in points with 20 in the losing effort.

Continue reading "Terps Fall to Blue Devils" »

Posted by Big Money Tony at 10:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

In stunning fashion the Terps dominated most of the game and the battle on the boards in Chapel Hill. It came down to the final minutes after the Terps went up by eleven points and won 82-80. Maryland seemed to take it to the Tar Heels for the better part of the game until a ten minute stretch where UNC made a few runs to eventually take a small lead.

Continue reading "And Down Goes UNC" »

Posted by The Sports Freak at 11:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Mixed night for the Terps. The men's basketball team broke a three game skid to roll over the Blue Hens of Delaware 76-46. Later in the evening, the football team lost to the Oregon State Beavers 21-14 in the Emerald Bowl.

Photo by BMT

Continue reading "Terps Win and Lose" »

Posted by Big Money Tony at 06:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

The Terps fell today 67-59 in consecutive non-conference losses at Comcast Center for the first time during Gary's tenure at MD. AU showed great determination and energy as Vasquez and Hayes showed up for MD scoring 28 and 16 points respectively.

Continue reading "Tucker - The Missing Link? (Univ. of MD)" »

Posted by The Sports Freak at 10:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

As stated in a prior posting (of mine), Gary (NCAA Champion Coach) made the adjustments that were necessary giving Hayes more control running the offense to free up his back court partner Washington Post .

Although the Terps fell to BC 81-78 on Monday, it made for one spectacular game. It bodes well for the Terps as their play improves and as the freshman mature. Hayes leading the half court offense should steady the team and Vasquez fire and intensity should spirit their scoring runs from the transition game.

I have to admit, if MD had won that game in a fabulous come back maybe we wouldn't have to watch the final 90 seconds over and over again of the MD collapse against Duke on ESPN Classics. This game could have been one to eclipse it. It was oh so close, just like the game.

Posted by The Sports Freak at 10:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

A year that marks some exceptional performances has two standouts among the field of candidates. Tebow & McFadden separated themselves from their peers. In a two man race, Tebow's tools, stats, and on field presence during the game give him a slight edge. Tebow has all the attributes that NFL scouts salivate over and he's not even eligible for the draft yet. McFadden will certainly be an impact player in the NFL.

Continue reading "And The Heisman Goes To" »

Posted by The Sports Freak at 05:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Much like the doubt and discontent fans are heaping on Joe Gibbs, Gary Williams will hear the boo birds again from fickle fans due to the slow start and it's unwarranted. This could be one of the best years of Gary's coaching career.

Continue reading "Maryland's Only Mens BB Title Coached by Gary Williams" »

Posted by The Sports Freak at 09:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Watching the ESPN BCS Bowl Show special, I could only think to myself I'd like a pep talk from Lou Holz. He's awesome! He should have a Super Bowl commercial giving the loosing team at half time a (fake) pep talk and at the end of the commercial - drink a soft drink.

When talking about a particular conference, Lou mentioned something to the effect that some people may mention that while other teams in other conferences played additional tough conference games this team/conference went to the bakery and played cupcakes. He has such a great way with words.

I don't even know what else was on TV, but Lou had my attention. He made so many valid points about coaches leaving to go coach and recruit for their new team and leave their old one, that every team had a chance to play for the title by not losing and any team can make a case to be in whatever bowl game they'll be playing.

Oh, and yes it's Ohio State vs. LSU for the title and Hawaii plays in a BCS Bowl.

Posted by The Sports Freak at 11:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Terps overcame their early season turnover struggles to bring home a win at Comcast Center tonight 69-61.

Continue reading "Terps Rebound" »

Posted by The Sports Freak at 09:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)