Tuesday, February 21, 2006

Maryland off the medal podium

Well, it's official. As of the latest USA TODAY/ESPN Coaches Top 25 college basketball poll, the Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team is now the D.C. area's fourth-best squad, behind George Washington University, Georgetown University, and the upstart George Mason University, now that the Patriots are ranked #25. Congrats to them on their first-ever Top 25 ranking.

It's a role reversal for the Terps. The three George schools are all having great seasons after being low for decades, while the usually powerhouse Terrapins are down. But hope isn't
entirely dead yet, even if we have, to use the current Winter Olympics terminology, been temporarily knocked off the medal podium for local hoops teams. Goterps.

P.S. Here's
a great piece from John Feinstein on Gary Williams - or more specifically, the fans' tendency to turn on him. I agree completely with every word Feinstein writes here. Maryland fans are way too fickle. It's like if they don't get to riot every couple of weeks, their aggression backs up and they have to unleash it elsewhere. It's a frustrating year, sure, but Gary's not the appropriate target.

2 comments:

MSH said...

Yeah, not sure why that is. I think it's just an instant-gratification, what-have-you-done-for-me-lately society thing.

I also think it may be due to the fact that there are so many teams one can root for in a larger market like DC - unlike, say, Lincoln, Nebraska, whose population is pretty much forced to sink or swim with one team.

I also think the DC fan base in general tends to be overly emotional, either waaay up (freaking out when the Skins go 10-6), or waaay down (Maryland misses tourney, so the coach HAS to go), or very apathetic (no fan support, like with the Wizards). We've got to toughen up and get on a more even keel. Honest criticism and pessimism (balanced with appropriate praise and optimism) is one thing, but throwing your team under the bus and burning your fan card after every loss is another.

MSH said...

What a disgrace...where is your "Can Do" Attitude, Gary Aiken?