Beltway Basketball Bonanza-- all about the Shake...

Great news friends... Shamrock Shake season is here! Every year during the final days of February participating McDonalds unveil a vessel of minty goodness. And each year the start and end dates change as do the participating locations. Like a team striving for a spot in the tournament, you hope your Shammy intake doesn't peak too soon nor can you afford being unable to find the beloved shake as the season gets underway.

Maryland (18-10, 7-6--#5 in the ACC with a first round game against Wake Forest) played its most complete 40 minutes of the season in a 78-62 win Florida State... shooting 52% against one of the nation's top defensive teams and holding the Seminioles to 24 points after halftime. Terrell Stoglin's recent play has given the Terps an outside threat they'll need if they're to make a run in the ACC Tournament. Sunday provides one more chance for an impact win-- as they visit #19 North Carolina.

Cruising the Commonwealth-- one teams trash is another's treasure. Virginia Tech (18-8, 8-5--#4 with Md-Wake winner the quarterfinal opponent) wants to avoid another trip to the NIT. The Hokies can go a long way towards reaching the field of 68 with a victory over #1 Duke Saturday night in Blacksburg. Virginia (14-13, 5-8-- #9 with Miami their first round matchup) has consecutive wins in ACC play for the first time this winter and plays a somewhat manageable schedule (Maryland, BC and NC State) so there's no reason why 7-9 isn't a possibility.

Georgetown (21-7, 10-6--#5 in the Big East with a first round game against the winner of Seton Hall-Rutgers) lost in more than one ways to Cincinnati. The Hoyas shot 25% from the field and scored just 20 points after halftime in a 58-46 loss to the Bearcats... and also lost guard Chris Wright to a broken hand. The guard had surgery on his non-shooting hand and hopes to be back at some point this season. Not ideal with Syracuse on deck and Cincinnati again next week.

Alma Mater Update-- Optimism is high surrounding the Orange. Syracuse (23-6, 10-6--#6 with a first round date against the West Virginia-Providence winner) has gotten everything together in the last two weeks with three straight wins. SU wraps up the regular season with shorthanded Georgetown and cellar dweller DePaul.

George Mason (24-5, 15-2--#1 in the CAA with a quarterfinal game against UNC-Wilmington or Georgia State) wrapped up its first regular season conference title in eleven years with a 67-61 win over Northeastern... Ryan Pearson finding that late-season gear with 18 points and 15 rebounds.

George Washington (15-12, 8-5--#6 in the Atlantic Ten with a first round matchup against St. Louis) enjoyed its first double-digit home win since January 12th. Tony Taylor tallied 15 points and was sharper at the end because coach Karl Hobbs limited his minutes to keep him fresh. They can take fifth place away from Rhode Island by beating the Rams next week-- GW also has 24th ranked Temple in its finishing run.

Maryland Womens' Minute-- senior night came and went in College Park with no seniors being honored and another Terrapin triumph. The team of six freshmen, four sophomores and four juniors beat Virginia Tech 61-48. At 8-5 in the conference, the Terps need a win over Boston College Sunday plus a Georgia Tech loss against Miami to wrap up a #4 seed and a first round bye in the ACC Tournament. Otherwise, it's a first round reunion with Virginia Tech.

American (20-8, 10-3--#2 in the Patriot League with a quarterfinal game against Colgate) needed Nick Hendra's clutch shooting to dispose of Navy 69-58 on senior night. Hendra scored the Eagles last eight points and canned a pair of three-pointers to turn the game from a two-possession affair into a double digit decision. After their regular season finale against Lafayette-- all eyes will be on Bender Arena for the conference tournament.

Howard (6-21, 4-10--#9 in the MEAC with a first round battle against Delaware State) has one more chance to win on the road Saturday against last place place Maryland-Eastern Shore... and if you're the Bison you take your victories where you can.