Maryland's 93-84 loss to third ranked Duke saw the Terrapins waste a nine point halftime lead--their advantage almost evaporating in the first two minutes after intermission. More thoughts on a major moment ruined at the end of the blog.
Defense was the difference--Duke as always fiercely guarded the ball --notching 13 steals (Terps would turn the ball over 22 times). The Blue Devil big men came through in clogging up the post as well-giving Bambale Osby less room to work with and pushing James Gist away from the cylinder consistently in the second half. Maryland, meanwhile, couldn't cool down Gerald Henderson and DeMarcus Nelson (the Blue Devil backcourt duo combining for 50 points on 19 of 31 shooting).
Rebounding reversed--Maryland carved out its early lead thanks to a 22-14 advantage on the glass. The second half was almost the exact opposite--Duke dominating the boards 23-14 and outrebounding the Terps 9-2 over the final four minutes. Credit goes to Henderson and Nelson for more than holding their own outside.
What went right--the team shot a season-high 54% and garnered 48 points in the paint; Cliff Tucker played well (4 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists) played well again in limited minutes. The team more than held its own against two of the top five teams in the nation; now they prepare for a Wednesday meeting with 1-4 in the conference Virginia.
Saturday's thrills, chills and spills saw #9 Georgetown rally past West Virginia-thanks to a last-second block by Patrick Ewing Jr...as the Hoyas continue to lead a charmed life in Big East play (3 of their 6 conference wins have come by 3 points or less). Ewing's role off the bench (5 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists) can't be emphasized enough--the senior consistently provides energy off the pine and gives coach John Thompson III a defender who can handle both perimeter and post players.
Tough conference losses for local teams:
American fell to Holy Cross 66-64...a chance for standings separation saw the Eagles give the Crusaders their first Patriot League win-at Bender Arena. This team has the potential to play well into mid-March, yet losses like this and their defeat at Bucknell betray AU's possibilities.
George Mason wasted another halftime lead at UNC-Wilmington (always tough to win on the road in the CAA) in the Patriots 71-68 loss to the Seahawks...Folarin Campbell and John Vaughan combine for 36 points but the rest of the team shoots 10-for-29 from the field (1-7 from three-point range). Still, the biggest game standings-wise in the area this week is Tuesday's tilt between the Patriots and CAA-leading Virginia Commonwealth.
George Washington lost at Duquesne 92-67. The Colonials continue to struggle offensively (28 turnovers) as well as away from the Smith Center (they're winless on the road this year)...and it doesn't get any easier when second in the league St Joseph's drops by Wednesday.
Attending all the basketball games I get to hear a wide array of Star-Spangled Banners, from the Georgetown Chimes (vocal ensemble) to the guy who does the hockey games in operatic fashion at Verizon for Hoya games, from the solo student at Maryland games to the Green Machine Band (with the previously mentioned Doc Nix) at George Mason games. At Syracuse's Carrier Dome in the 90's they would put the lyrics on the jumbotron and one of my roommates would get misty-eyed reading about the siege of Fort McHenry.
That said, it's extremely irritating to hear during a powerful rendition of the National Anthem to hear the Comcast faithful shout "O!" ... I know Baltimore isn't too far from College Park, but must we desecrate the fine words of Francis Scott Key to proclaim the Orioles? Do they shout "C's" in Boston? "Braves" in Atlanta? And Key was from Baltimore! Why don't they wake the ghost of Edgar Allen Poe by retitling Ravens Stadium "The House of Usher"? (hold on, that sounds good)
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