There are at first glance three major seasons in my calendar: Training Camp to the the Super Bowl, Midnight Madness to the Final Four and naptime (early April to late July). Thus, there is a window of madness from October 15th through Christmas when the NFL, college football, college hoops, the Wizards and Caps are all in progress-and sleep is not a part of the equation.
College basketball’s back in full gear—and what a week it has been of lessons:
Wednesday, November 28th: Comcast Center, College Park: Maryland beats Illinois 69-61 in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge—Terps play perhaps their best game of the young season—holding their own on the glass with a rough and ready Illini team…Eric Hayes has his best night of the season—scoring 18 points on 4 of 7 three pointers; my oh my the upside looks nice.
Thursday—Patriot Center, Fairfax: George Mason opens CAA play with a masterful 85-38 thumping of Drexel—holding Dragons’ leading scorer Frank Elegar scoreless…GMU dominated the glass in such a manner the Drexel coaching staff was pushed to the frustration of asking players “can we get a bleeping rebound!?”-the Patriots possibilities are endless.
Friday—Comcast. The third ranked Maryland women blast #17 Ohio State 77-53—the key to the game was Marissa Coleman’s masterful defense of Marscilla Packer—holding the Buckeye’s leading scorer to 6 points on 2 of 11 shooting—she didn’t score her first field goal until there was 15:52 left in the second half. Did I hear 10-0? In November?
Saturday—Verizon Center, Washington DC: Georgetown finishes with a 16-5 run in their 61-49 victory over Fairfield—the Hoyas hold the Stags to 5 of 27 shooting in the second half. Coach John Thompson III said it wasn’t the result of tactics, but the result of intensity—and when this team brings it, watch out: DaJuan Summers jumpstarted an 11-3 finishing kick with a monster blocked shot.
Sunday—Verizon, B-B&T: beltway schools go 0-3…
1--George Washington commits 21 turnovers in a 74-70 loss to Auburn; the Colonials get to the foul line just 11 times—missing six of those free throws.
2--George Mason falls to East Carolina 68-65, a game where the Patriots rallied from 12 down at the half—taking a 57-52 lead before running out of gas. GMU shot 28 percent in the first half (0-9 from three point range)—coach Jim Larranaga wasn’t pleased with his team’s approach to the game…and lifted Follarin Campbell in the first half when the senior showed a lack of intensity. Upside was undercut by failure at the free throw line—Mason went 13-25 from the charity stripe.
3—Maryland’s outgunned by Virginia Commonwealth 85-76. The Rams backcourt of Jamal Shuler and Eric Maynor combined for 58 points—Shuler scored 19 in the first half while Maynor poured in 28 points after intermission. Maryland’s lack of long-range shooting hurt them again (27% from 3-point range) and VCU’s full-court pressure wore down the Terrapin guards--Eric Hayes was held to 1 for 9 shooting while Greivis Vasquez committed 5 turnovers. So much for upside.
Simply put-- the Terps and Patriots aren't as good as they looked last Wednesday and Thursday--and aren't as bad as they played Sunday...but both coaches felt their teams lost because they didn't bring the intensity needed in preparation and on gameday. Question is, will this be a lesson learned--or be a lesson both schools will have to re-learn?
THIS WEEK—Howard at American, George Washington-Maryland Eastern Shore, Maryland begins ACC play by hosting Boston College.
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