« Emo Zorn Admits ‘It Hurts’ | Home | Keeping the Enemy Out of the Playoffs »
Gary ‘Condemns GOP’, Makes Progress
By Jamie Mottram | December 16, 2008
We weren’t going to share this WashingtonPost.com mix-up, because it’s a simple mistake and, silly though this one may be, mistakes happen. But then the Washington Times posted about it yesterday, and the Post still has it up there, so I’m beginning to think Gary Williams really is United Auto Workers President Ronald A. Gettelfinger*, and Gettelfinger is Williams, which helps explain his choice of Midnight Madness vehicles.
Auto bailout sturm und drang aside, Maryland is having a fine season so far. Despite being slaughtered in back-to-back neutral court games against highly ranked Gonzaga and Georgetown, the Terps have gathered three quality wins that could help come March:
- Michigan State — always makes the Tournament
- Michigan — has wins over UCLA and Duke already
- Vermont — a favorite to win the America East
Humble though two of those three may be (Michigan won five Big Ten games last season and Maryland needed OT to beat Vermont at home), the Terps are a middle-of-the-road ACC team, one that figures to be on the bubble, as they have been the past four seasons. If they win their final five non-con games (American, Bryant, Elon, Charlotte and Morgan State) and go .500 in ACC play (they’ve been between 7-9 and 10-6 each of the past five seasons), then they’ll reach 20 wins and a much-needed spot in the Dance.
Of course, that’s hypothetical. For now, Maryland’s focus should be on American, which beat Maryland last December in a game that ultimately sent them to the NIT. It’s losses like that, and collapses like Detroit’s, that weigh on man, and it seems Gary’s carried enough of that weight already.
* Just in case the Post takes it down, here’s a screengrab of the story.
Topics: Maryland, Media Bird Doggin', Politicking | 6 Comments »
December 16th, 2008 at 10:59 AM
MSU is going to be a top 10 team once they get healthy. A neutral court win against a non-conference top 10 team is something their resume lacked last year.
Michigan is getting better and have beaten UCLA and Duke this year. They have a reasonable chance of being a tournament team this year.
While they lost to Gonzaga (a game they were in at half) and to G’Town (no comment), at least those games help the SOS and RPI.
Last year, loses to American, Ohio and VCU were the reason they missed the tournament. This year, if they win all the non-conference games they should, they’ll be 12-2 going into ACC play. 8-8 would definitely get them in.
December 16th, 2008 at 11:08 AM
I never realized that the favorite to win the America East was such a significant boost to the RPI for an ACC team.
December 16th, 2008 at 11:10 AM
I only mention Vermont because, on Selection Sunday, the more wins over Tournament teams the better.
December 16th, 2008 at 11:31 AM
I agree. The sad thing is, I wasn’t being sarcastic at all.
December 17th, 2008 at 9:57 PM
Just thinking about March Madness makes me happy. I wish Bill Raftery announced everything in the whole world.
December 18th, 2008 at 8:26 AM
Raftery would be fantastic on Iron Chef America. “Today’s secret ingredient: ONIONS!”