Whistle While You Work. There were times today when the BasketCases wondered if the officials had read that part of their job description. You know . . . the part that says they are supposed to actually blow their whistles when a player is being pushed, grabbed, elbowed or outright mugged. We don't complain too often about the calls, and we're not really complaining about any today. The calls, for the most part, were okay, but the no-calls . . . well, let's not go there.

Fortunately, thanks to the Terps' playing sooo much better than their opponent, the Temple Owls, the officials didn't really affect the outcome of today's game, as Maryland improved to 13-1 with a 64-46 win at Comcast. Maryland scored the first basket, never trailed and was never even threatened. Very aggressive (and physical) defense by the Owls (plus the lost whistles) slowed the Terps' offense somewhat, but Temple failed to capitalize on the lower-than-usual output, as Maryland held Dawn Staley's team to less than 33% from the field.

Kristi Toliver, despite dishing out 7 assists in the first 20 minutes, was herself held scoreless before the break. But afterwards, well, Kristi put up 15 points to lead all scorers and added 4 more assists (11 total) for another double double. Marissa Coleman and Crystal Langhorne also finished in double figures, 12 & 14 respectively.

Maryland has now played a grueling (and perhaps unprecedented) schedule of 14 games in 31 days! It's hard to believe they won't be back at Comcast until after Christmas, as the team takes a much-deserved break for exams. We and other fans may well be suffering from basketball withdrawal by then. We will be counting the days.

[Note to Debbie Yow: Mel Greenberg of the Philadelphia Inquirer has brought to the attention of his readers "the the newly-established removal of the pre-game media feed at Maryland in certain situations because of budgetary concerns." So in the same week that you land a $10 million donation, Mel (very nearly) goes hungry? Please, Debbie, can't you find some way to carve out (pun intended) a little of that meaty contibution for a Feed Mel Fund . . . available only for the care and nourishment of Hall-of-Fame reporters?]