Can You Hear Me Now? Our loyal blog readers know that the BasketCases' favorite TV show is "Under the Shell," a weekly all-access look at the Terps that airs Wednesdays at 11 PM on Comcast Sports Net. And by now you also know that the BasketCases have trouble staying up that late on school nights. So we generally record the shows and watch them later. (We may be old, but we are not technologically challenged!) Well, life being what is it, we got a little behind. But now that we've caught up (ice storms do have at least one redeeming feature!), we simply must share with those of you not in the viewing area one of the most fun facts about the Terps that we've just learned from the show. Are you ready?

Every night when the Terps are on the road, Director of Basketball Operations Mark Pearson goes from room to room at their hotel at the appointed curfew hour, collecting their cell phones!! Yes, that's right: no texting, no chatting, no calling for pizza. But Mark, what the BasketCases wonder is this: how do you know that the players don't have spares? And Mark, did you happen to notice that all the players have the exact same Tickle Me Elmo phone? (We know the team is close, but isn't that just a wee bit surprising?) Oh, and Mark, when you return the phones to the players, don't you find it somewhat peculiar that when you ask them "Which one is yours?" the answer invariably is "It doesn't matter"? Hmmm . . .