Thursday night amongst a ton of hoopla, fan fare, and with the world watching, Lebron James made the decision to leave Cleveland for sunny Miami. James’ decision made him public enemy number one Cleveland and led to Cavs owner Dan Gilbert ripping James on the team’s website. I know it stings but here is my message to the fan of the “mistake by the lake”: Lebron does not owe you anything, GET OVER IT!

I absolutely love and adore my home city of Baltimore Maryland and I was devastated when local product Mark Teixeira chose not to come here 2 seasons ago. Furthermore I would have been absolutely crushed if Cal Ripken had never won a championship for Baltimore and left in his prime. I get it, I understand, but that is life. While I agree it was self centered and narcissistic for Lebron to hold a 1 hour special to announce his decision, I think his decision can not be criticized by anyone. I will break it down this way: my dream is to get paid to do sports talk radio for a living. Currently I have a job that I like with lots of opportunity for advancement. If someone came up to me tomorrow and offered me a job for significantly less money, to pursue my dream I would take it in a second. How many people out there have changed jobs because they felt it was a better opportunity? And how many of those people were willing to take less money work for an organization with a better chance to produce results? Most people change jobs and careers because it is more financially lucrative, yet those are the same people criticizing James for turning down 30 millions dollars to reach the ultimate goal in his profession.

Lebron James wanted to stay in Cleveland and he made that known, but he did not owe them anything. They felt entitled that they could put out a mediocre supporting cast around James, and that he should stay there because its is his hometown and they drafted him into the NBA. Had Lebron left Cleveland for the Kicks or Clippers or some other team that is going nowhere just for the money, fame, and to be the superstar of the team, then Cleveland fans would have every right to be pissed. The fact is, if anyone had their choice of playing with Daniel Gibson, Delonte West and Antwaan Jamison, or playing with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh, everyone would choose the latter.  Lebron tried to recruit Bosh to Cleveland, but Bosh refused to play in Cleveland. Lebron was the reason Cleveland was relevant, and while I criticized him for not delivering against the Celtics, I was aware that he was the reason the Cavs had the best record in basketball.  The Cavaliers were irrelevant before Lebron got to Cleveland, and he gave the Cavs seven great seasons with a supporting cast that would not have made the playoffs without him. No free agents wanted to come to Cleveland, which meant that Lebron would have once again had to be in MVP form just to give the Cavs a shot of winning the conference. Why did they lose to the Magic and Celtics in the playoffs the last two seasons? Because they were not the better TEAM, they just had the best PLAYER. Lebron wants to be part of a winning a team, even if it means sacrificing money, shots and points to reach the ultimate goal of winning.

When you go into your job Monday and someone offers you a chance to go to a better company, with better resources, more successful people and the chance top succeed in your profession, look around your office and tell me you wouldn’t grab your things and bolt out the door faster then Usain Bolt in the 100 yard dash.  And in 99 percent of those cases, you would likely be taking a significant pay raise to switch companies.

If you wanted Lebron to stay then you should have gotten some pieces around him. Lebron doesn’t owe the city of Cleveland and the Cavs organization ANYTHING; they owe him for making them relevant for the last seven seasons.

Like Art Modell, Lebron left for greener pastures, and you are left with an inferior product with nobody to blame but yourself for not improving the team.

Get over it Cleveland and take a long look in the mirror.

Listening to “Miami” by Will Smith as we speak- The Little Roman.

By now, I’m sure most of you know that LeBron James has made arguably the biggest free agent decision in not just NBA but, American sports history. While the sports world has been filled with water cooler talk of where James would end up for not just weeks or months but, years, it took all of about 30 minutes for me to lose all respect for LeBron James and not in the way one might think. I completely respect LeBron as a basketball player and don’t necessarily argue the decision from a basketball standpoint. While many will argue that he can’t be compared to M.J. with this trio now in place in South Beach or ask “how could he string the Knicks and Nets along like this”, I get those points but, still don’t have a problem with the actual basketball decision. I am completely sickened by LeBron James’ actions as a human being on Thursday night and the way in which he announced his decision.

To claim that this 1 hour ESPN special was being done for a good cause (i.e. The Boys and Girls Club) is a slap in the face to the organization and, LeBron and his team of hanger onners should be absolutely ashamed of themselves. This was nothing more than a marketing maneuver to promote his new Vitamin Water Drink. Within minutes of seeing that commercial for the 1st time, I was disgusted just as my fellow correspondent and JAS Announcer, Pat Carey, was when he texted me within seconds thereafter. It was a despicable act of an immature, egomaniacle, 25 year old jerk and his 25 year old friends. They all looked real professional too in their t-shirts, baggy jeans and sneakers (LeBron in his lumberjack shirt and Ugz). This whole sham that we were witness too was the brain child of a bunch of Entourage wannabees with zero PR experience. Now wait for the backlash fellas. There’s no Ari Gold or Eric here to handle things for Vince…this is real life guys and you certainly are not the toast of Hollywood right now. In fact, outside of Miami, LeBron and his team of followers may be the most hated individuals in pro sports at the moment. Earth to team James, even if Vince were real, actors play till they’re 80…what are you all going to do without public support when LeBron is 40 years old and retired?

Finally, I do have to admit that I am a true mark of a Knicks fan. I have loved them since the days of Ewing, Oakley, Mason, Starks and Harper…my frustration and anger here is not for the city of New York though but, much more so, for the city of Cleveland. I wouldn’t have had a problem if LeBron had called a press conference on Thursday afternoon to hold up his Heat jersey with Wade and Bosh and shake Pat Riley’s hand. To have an hour long announcement where you slap your hometown in the face to promote your new drink is as low a sports moment as I have witnessed in my 28 years here on Earth and we all know the past 28 years have had some horrible moments in the world of athletics. To nationally do what you did to a city that has loved you through the days of you wearing your Yankees hat to an Indians/Yankees game or cheering for the Cowboys over the hometown Browns cannot even be put into words. Cleveland has been beyond loyal to you and you have spit on them. Cleveland, just like an unfaithful spouse, you deserved a better person to be your hero and should be happy you found out about LeBron sooner rather than later.

I hope Cavs owner Dan Gilbert is right with his guarantee that Cleveland will win a title before James ever does. I hope you finish your career without a ring LeBron. There’s a right way and a wrong way to quit your job and take on a new one and this was not just the equivalency of not giving your boss 2 weeks notice. This was like quitting on the day you were supposed to give the big presentation to save your company.

I hope you have a conscious LeBron and I hope it’s very guilty right now.

Long live the Queen!

~ Tim Rescigno

Things are looking up in the D.C. sports landscape after a lost decade of mediocrity and disappointment.

In recent years, D.C. has been a city devoid of star talent (please spare me that Gilbert Arenas is a star) or a marquee franchise that is relevant on a national scale. But the cyclical nature of sports has brought the spotlight back to Washington D.C., and the future is looking bright.

The 2009 Washington Nationals were on track to break the record for most losses in a 162 game MLB season. In 2010, the Nationals are .500 and boast the biggest name in all of baseball: Stephen Strasburg. The 21 year old pitching phenom has rocketed through the minor leagues, surrendering only 1 hit in his first 12 innings of AAA ball. Cooperstown has already begun construction for a Strasburg wing in the Hall of Fame. The hype surrounding the Nats’ young phenom is epic, and there is no doubt that the D.C. team’s struggling attendance numbers will get a big boost when Strasburg is on the mound. The Nationals also have Ryan Zimmerman as a fringe star, so the reality of a competitive future is here for a franchise that has failed to deliver hope and wins to an eager fan base.

Dan Snyder desperately wants to own the #1 team in the NFL, yet despite the popularity of NFL football, he isn’t even the #1 sports attraction in D.C. The Redskins’ owner has been the subject of intense fan scrutiny for his personnel decisions and spending, which have damaged the franchise more times than not. However, Snyder has brought in a marquee QB and head coach in the off-season to add to a solid defense featuring Brian Orakpo. The oft-criticized Redskins may actually be a playoff threat once again. Donovan McNabb and Mike Shanahan add some marketing sizzle and star power to a beleaguered franchise that used to OWN the town.

But the owner that truly has the keys to the city, and the love of every D.C. resident, is Ted Leonsis.

The Capitals were the worst franchise in the NHL following the 2004-2005 season, and their roster offered no hope for the future after the team traded away Jaromir Jagr, Sergei Gonchar, and Peter Bondra. Once again, look at how things have changed for the better in the nation’s capital.

After signing 22 year-old emerging star Nicklas Backstrom to a 10-year, $67 million deal, Leonsis continues to show the fans that he WILL pay real money to retain his top players. Backstrom will play for the next decade alongside the biggest star in Washington D.C., two-time Hart trophy winner Alexander Ovechkin. In 2009 Ovechkin received a 13-year, $124 million deal to remain a Capital through 2022. Ovechkin and Backstrom were the top scoring duo in the NHL this year, amassing 210 points between them. Ovechkin finished second in NHL scoring with 109 points, while Backstrom had a break-out season with 33 goals, 68 assists, and 101 total points (fourth in the league).

Backstrom has never missed a game in three seasons, and is part of a young core of Washington Capitals that will keep the team contending for the Stanley Cup for years to come. John Carlson is 20, Varly is 22, Ovechkin is 24, Schultz is 24 (led the NHL with a+50); Green is 24, and Brooks Laich, Tomas Fleischmann, and Alex Semin are all 26. The Capitals sell out the Verizon Center every night, while the Sea of Red marketing campaign has developed a fan base that grows bigger by the day.

Last but not least, there is even hope for the D.C. franchise that hit rock bottom in 2009-2010.

The Washington Wizards won the 2010 NBA draft lottery and should be the beneficiary in the John Wall sweepstakes. This is a team that desperately needs a star player who can be the new face of a franchise that managed just 26 wins last season. The dysfunctional Wizards were blown up in the aftermath of the Gilbert Arenas gun arrest, and none of the Wizard’s big three of Arenas, Butler, and Jamison were on the court for the team at the end of the season. I don’t think Flip Saunders could have inherited a worse situation than what he endured in his first season as the Wizards head coach.

The Wizards went from being the 4th best show in town — and completely irrelevant nationally — to a team that will feature one of the most dynamic rookies in recent years. Abe Pollin’s wife represented the Wizards at the draft lottery, and positive kharma allowed the Wiz to parlay their 10% chance of getting the NBA’s top pick into a reality.

Ted Leonsis is in the process of assuming majority control of the Wizards, and good things are already happening. D.C. sports fans should feel confident that Leonsis will get the Wizards back in contention, just like he did with the Capitals. Ted really is the savior of D.C. sports.

The Wizards have to listen to all offers, but in the end, they HAVE to stand pat and draft Wall #1. A dynamic point guard is an invaluable asset in the NBA, and the Wizards will finally have a legit superstar to build around. Arenas was never going to be in the same class as D. Wade, LeBron, Kobe, Dirk, Nash, Durant, CP III etc. And, for those who do not think that Arenas and Wall can co-exist, think again: I think that Wall will be a great compliment to Arenas, who will trust Wall to run the point. Wall’s quickness and dribble penetration will force defenses to collapse, leaving Arenas wide open for perimeter jump shots. And if you follow the Wizards, you know that Arenas lives to shoot the basketball. Andray Blatche, aka Lamar Odom Jr., is another Wizard’s player with potential star power. Like Strasburg, Wall will single-handedly get fans to the arena and boost both attendance and revenue for the franchise.

Last night’s draft lottery was another step in the cyclical nature of sports, and will help bring the spotlight back to D.C. I am not gonna lie: I am definitely going to pay money to see the Wizards play next season. I might even buy a Wall jersey…or an Ovechkin…or a Backstrom….or a Strasburg.

I lived in D.C. for 8 years and empathize – Woodman

Two years ago the Boston Celtics made an improbable worst to first run, culminating in the 17th NBA Championship in Celtics history. During that season Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen carried the team, while point guard Rajon Rondo, was viewed to be the weak link on the team. Two years later, the Celtics are on the verge of knocking off the Lebron James and the top seeded Cavaliers, but its not Pierce, Garnett or Allen who has brought them to this point, its Rondo.

Deron Williams, Chris Paul, Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, Chauncey Billups, these are the first names out of the mouth of anyone often asked to name the best point guards in the NBA. I will admit they are great players, however, only Nash has his team still in the playoffs. Missing from that list is Rajon Rondo, who has carried his team these playoffs more then any of the players on the list. Even Steve Nash, who was very impressive in the playoffs, has not been as impressive as Rondo. Nash, has Amare Stoudemire playing at a high level, and he faced and aging Spurs team who’s better days look to be behind. Rondo, on the other hand, is playing with an aging and injured Kevin Garnett, playing with Paul Pierce as a non factor in the first few games, and most importantly going against the team with the best record in the NBA this season and maybe the best player in the history of the game. Many expected a point guard to carry his team this series, however, nobody expected it to be the point guard wearing Celtic green.

When basketball fans see a line like 29 points, 18 rebounds, 13 assists and 47 minutes played, they would often associate those numbers with Lebron James, however those were the numbers of Rondo in the Celtics game four victory over the Cavs. Not only has Rondo put up great statistics throughout the series, he has also played a majority of the minutes, showing how important Doc Rivers believes he is to the Celtics. In five games Rondo has played 42, 45,35, 47 and 38 minutes respectively, and is showing no sign of slowing down. Great point guards have the ability to get their teammates involved, but also take over a game scoring wise when the time calls for it and that is something that Rondo has done. His game four triple double was impressive but his 19 assist performance( the best in Celtic playoff history), showed his ability to get his teammates involved as well as score.  Lebron James was the MVP of the regular season, but Rajon Rando has been the MVP of the playoffs, and his team one game away from advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Rondo has played his way firmly into the discussion of best point guards in the NBA and if he can lead the Celtics past James and the Cavs and to the NBA Finals, then he will be mentioned in the same breath as Nash, Williams and Paul, and will have two trips to the finals while those three have none. Success of a point guard can be defined by how well they put their team in position to win, and while he might not be as flashy as the others, Rondo helped the Celtics win one championship already and has them in position to win another. That is the definition of a great point guard, and Rajon Rondo is a great point guard. 

Its your world Rajon the rest of us are just living in it. It has been a pleasure watching you these playoffs.

I like Lebron but I find myself rooting against him- The Little Roman

As I drove into work today, all I heard, when listening to sports talk radio callers, was an attempt to compare Dirk to the aforementioned NBA Legends. Earth to callers, the reason Patrick, Charles and Karl aren’t wearing rings as we speak can be linked to one thing, actually one person, and one thing/person only…Michael Jordan!

Jordan buried these guys and, in Patrick’s case, even in the years Jordan wasn’t around, there was so much pressure for the Knicks to win with Jordan out of the league that they simply fell short and succumbed to that pressure.

Last I checked, Dirk’s been losing, in the first round of the playoffs might I add, to the likes of Baron Davis and Tim Duncan (I don’t need the Duncan’s awesome comments here, he absolutely is and is one of the most underrated players of the past 15 years but, he’s no M.J.) Ewing, Barkley and Malone never accepted bowing out in the first round. Each had that killer instinct that nearly won them titles time and again. The problem was, they played in an era where there was that one guy whose killer instinct was just a little bit greater.

Dirk has played against some of the greats in his career…Wade, Lebron, Kobe, Shaq. If Ewing, Barkley and Malone had played in this era, against these guys, they each would have won at least one championship.

Sorry to say but Dirk’s legacy can be linked more to guys like Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter or Allen Iverson. Let’s please keep the comparisons to 3 of the Top 20 players in NBA History out of it though.

~Tim Rescigno

The majority of college basketball fans and media have felt all year that the ACC was experiencing a down year. My response to this every time has been that ALL of college basketball was experiencing a down year, not just the ACC.

The Duke Blue Devils carried the torch for the ACC, and cut down the nets in Indianapolis to win the 2010 National Title over Butler, 61-59. Even though Butler was less regarded as the the Horizon League champion, they were ranked #8 in most preseason polls, and proved to a national audience that they were no Cinderella.

The game was tight for 40 minutes, and could have been won by either team. I am sure that the ratings were excellent for CBS, as the game was close and featured a nail-biting finish. However, it was clearly evident that these were not GREAT basketball teams. This game was indicative of the entire 2009-2010 season: there were a number of very good teams, but there were NO great teams.

Normally the formula to win a national championship requires that you carry three NBA prospects on your roster. For this reason, Kansas and Kentucky were the pre-tournament favorites. Even though they are not all NBA prospects, Duke did bolster a Big Three: Scheyer, Singler, and Smith accounted for 47 of Duke’s 61 points in the win over Butler.

Butler carried a 25 game win streak into the Championship game, and had not suffered a defeat since losing at UAB on December 22nd. Ironically, UAB was a solid team that recently had their own 45-game non-conference home unbeaten streak ended by North Carolina in the NIT. ACC anyone?

Before the tournament started, NOBODY thought that the Terps had any chance of making it to the Final 4. Now that the tournament has ended, would it really have been so improbable? All year there seemed to be an asterisk next to the Terps accomplishments, because the conference was “down”. In hindsight, maybe the Terps and Duke were actually legit relative to the current landscape of college basketball. Yet the conference was down relative to the great players and teams of the past. The ACC lost 13 of its top 15 players from last season, yet featured a team that won the national championship.

If there was ever a year for David (mid-major) to beat Goliath (power conference), this was it. Butler had great perimeter defenders in Nored and Mack, a legit NBA caliber combo guard that could get to the rim in Hayward, and a solid big man in Howard. This was not a team that overachieved with inferior talent. However, it was a team that shot only 30% from the floor in both games at the Final 4 — Butler won one game by a point and lost the other by two. What if they had shot 40%?

Duke had underachieved in the tournament recently because they lacked size, and were victimized by physical teams that were not intimidated by the Duke pedigree. Purdue, Baylor, WVU, and Butler all tried to impose their will on the Blue Devils, but this Duke team accepted the challenge and responded with uncharacteristicly aggressive play. Scheyer, Smith, and Singler attacked the basket and made shots, while Zoubek was a beast on the boards. I hate Duke, but i will give them credit for overcoming some physical, defensive-minded teams.

Duke may have won the national championship, but they were probably not the best team in college basketball. The New Orleans Saints won the Super Bowl, but I will never believe that they were the best team in the NFL. Parity can lead to results like last year, when North Carolina won all six games by double digits; or it can lead to this year, where you could argue that 10 teams could have cut down the nets.

Duke has had far more talented teams come up short in March Madness. Maybe they were overdue to have a Cinderella run of their own.

Seeing how the tournament progressed and ended, you just have to wonder: what if Korie Lucious hadn’t hit that game winner against Maryland?

One last thought: Dayton (NIT champ) could beat 55 of the 64 NCAA tournament teams on a neutral court, and it wouldn’t be an upset. When the tournament expands to 96 teams and incorporates the 32 NIT teams, you will not get the drop off in play that many critics will be expecting.

Woodman – Can’t wait for next year to live and die with my beloved Terps

Another hot topic of discussion this morning is the expansion to a 96 team tournament.  I realize that the sole driving force behind this is money, which is an extremely strong motivating factor.  I’m convinced that logic will be thrown out the door and the tournament will needlessly be expanded to 96 teams…it’s just a matter of time.  This will dilute the significance of the regular season and the overall accomplishment of qualifying for the NCAA Tournament.  The tournament is great the way it is, if anything I’m a subscriber to the Gordon Southard theory that the tourney should be downsized.  Well maybe that’s a bit extreme, but I’d be in favor of contraction over an expansion.  I would be open to Andy Katz’s idea of expanding to 68 to get those final three majors in the dance, but again, I don’t think it’s necessary. 

That’s my take as a casual fan of college bball, weigh in with your biggest gripes about the bracket.    

~ Pat Cary

This time last year the Terps were coming off a humiliating road loss at Charlottesville in a game they needed to win to get into the NCAA tournament (or so we thought). The Terps had just beaten #1 North Carolina, but this loss to Virginia pushed their record to 7-9 in ACC play.

Maryland fans were calling for Gary’s head as it looked like the Terps would make their third straight NIT appearance. The fans were tired of terrible recruiting classes, tired of failing to make the NCAA tournament, and tired of letting Gary off the hook because of back to back Final 4 appearances. Maryland went to the 2009 ACC tournament in Atlanta needing two or three wins to have any chance of saving the season. They beat N.C. State, Wake Forest, and gave Duke all they could handle to secure their selection into the NCAA tournament. A beleaguered Gary Williams and Greivis Vasquez were able to ice the cake with an NCAA tournament win over Cal 84-71.

The 2009/2010 season got off to a slow start as Maryland failed to beat a credible out of conference opponent. Maryland got worked over in the Maui Invitational by losing to Cincinnati & Wisconsin. The Terps proceeded to lose to Villanova in the BB&T Classic and dropped a miserable game to William & Mary in Comcast Center. Maryland was once again in danger of missing the NCAA tournament and there was no margin for error in ACC play.

I always believed the Terps would get it going and turn the season around. I knew that having two seniors in the back court would pay dividends. I knew Greivis would improve on his poor early season form and ultimately look like a 1st team All-ACC player. I knew they could finish Top 4 in the ACC and make a run to the Sweet 16.

I never expected or thought that the Terps would win 13 ACC games. I never expected Gary Williams to be the ACC Coach of the Year. I never expected Greivis to win ACC Player of the Year. And, NOBODY thought Jordan Williams would finish second for ACC Freshman of the Year.

I remember writing on the website that the Terps were “steamrolling” through the ACC. I got murdered for this headline as people couldn’t believe I would make this statement about a mediocre team that just beat three other mediocre teams. In retrospect, I wasn’t that overzealous with that statement. Not only did Maryland win 13 ACC games, but they covered the spread in 13 ACC games as well.

What a long strange trip it has been over the last 365 days of Maryland basketball.

Maryland will likely a face a hungry Georgia Tech team on Friday in the ACC tournament quarterfinals. Georgia Tech currently sits at 7-9 in the ACC after losing their ACC finale at home to VA Tech. The shoe is on the other foot this year and Maryland will be the #2 seed who will try to beat a 7-9 team on the NCAA tournament bubble. The Terps nipped the Yellow Jackets at the buzzer in Comcast Center less than a month ago, and you know they will be out for revenge.

If Maryland can get by GA Tech or North Carolina in the quarterfinals, I expect them to beat Clemson, NC State, or Florida St. in the semifinals. As always, the Blue Devils are sure to cut down the nets on Sunday with the help of some tobacco road officiating.

Every person who took time out of their life to call a sports talk radio show and bash Gary Williams last year, needs to take the same time and write him a letter of apology. Also, do you think Greivis made the right decision by opting out of the NBA draft in order to play his Senior season at MD (sarcasm)?

Woodman – extremely worried about Friday

I know….the ACC is terrible, Duke isn’t that great, and all of the Terp wins this season are tainted etc. etc. etc. If you didn’t graduate from Maryland you still think the team is mediocre, and one win at home on Senior night isn’t going to change your perception. Even if Maryland beats Virginia to garner its 13th conference win, naysayers will just say the Terps took advantage of a weakened ACC.

I didn’t get to watch the first 30 minutes of the game because I was at the Alice in Chains concert, and haven’t had time to watch the game on DVR. My analysis is pointless anyhow because anything I say will be construed as “I am biased homer who can’t assess Maryland objectively.”

After starting the game 1-9 from the field and digging a 14 point deficit, Duke played like the #4 team in the country for the remaining 30 minutes (only 8 turnovers for the whole game). Even Coach K admitted the Dukies played well, so Maryland didn’t win because Duke laid an egg. Once again Maryland played a team that brought the heat into the Comcast Center and the Terps were able to weather the storm. The final 5 minutes of the game provided a dramatic theatre as each team made a number of clutch shots. I will admit that Vasquez made some difficult running one-handers down the stretch (which seem lucky to non-MD fans), but Terp fans know that these are his trademark. I was proud the Terps were able to execute in the half court offense and finish their sets under extreme pressure on national television. Success breeds confidence and you can see the change in this Maryland team from where they were two months ago.

Once again Greivis (20 points) and Jordan (15 points) supplied consistent contributions on offense, but the Terps also got double digit scoring from Hayes & Mosley, along with 9 big points by Adrian Bowie. An emerging theme over the last 10 games has been the secondary scoring for Maryland. There are a number of players who have stepped up recently and given scoring support to Greivis and Jordan. This balance gives me increased hope for Terp success in postseason play.

I initially thought the Terps would choke and lose in Charlottesville on Saturday, but I have changed my mind and think Maryland will find a way to win by 1. Maryland has an opportunity to share the ACC regular season title and hang a banner from the rafters in Comcast. I don’t think they came this far blow it against VA. I know this isn’t a Final 4 team and am very realistic about the Terps chances in the NCAA tournament. But, it has been an improbable journey that most Terp fans couldn’t have expected in their wildest dreams.

Gary Williams will win ACC Coach of the Year, Greivis will have a chance to win ACC Player of the Year, and Jordan will compete to win ACC Freshman of the Year. Oh, but I know….it is only because the ACC is terrible. Please keep diminishing this team’s accomplishments and put an asterisk next to every win. I am sure if North Carolina was 12-3 in the ACC this season, it would be because they were a great team. But because the Tarheels can’t win with 7 McDonald’s All-Americans, lets minimize the accomplishment of the whole conference. I love it.

Woodman – haters can kiss my ass.

The Terps were able to take the Yellow Jackets’ and Tigers’ best shots and answer the bell with difficult back to back victories. Both teams had garnered only one ACC road win and were desperate to add a quality road win to their NCAA tournament resumes.

The Terps have gotten consistent play from Greivis and Jordan Williams, but have also received contributions from a number of other players during their four-game win streak. The Terps have won 9 of their last 11 games and have moved to 10-3 in ACC play, sole possession of 2nd place.

I know the ACC is down and that Maryland has a number of flaws, but at what point can we give Maryland their due? Cliff Tucker’s buzzer beater was the most exciting moment in the history of the Comcast Center. Aside from Drew Nicholas’s game winner against UNC-Wilmington in the 2002 NCAA tournament, I can’t ever remember another Terrapin buzzer beater in my life.

Greivis is the only player in the history of the ACC to have 2,000 points, 700 assists, and 600 rebounds. Seriously, there have been some pretty good players to play in the ACC in the last 50 years. Eric Hayes just passed the 1,000 point mark in his Terp career. Not bad for an unheralded recruiting class that was heavily criticized by most Terp fans.

Who knows what will happen in the ACC and NCAA tournament, but it has been a pretty good ride so far this season. I wrote an article before the season guaranteeing that Maryland would finish top 4 in the ACC and would make the Sweet 16. One prediction down, one to go.

The Terps play in Blacksburg on Saturday against a desperate Hokie squad that was hammered by BC today. It will be a hornets’ nest and the Terps will have their work cut out for them. The Terps return home and will play the Dukies on Senior night next Wednesday. When the Terps played in Cameron it was Coach K’s 1,000th game at Duke and his 63rd birthday. Hopefully the emotional story of Greivis/Hayes/Milbourne’s last game at Comcast will give the Terps a similar emotional advantage.

Hopefully the Terps can make a run in Greensboro.

Woodman – Terp alum and fanatic