Among the Elite!
Obviously freed of the enormous pressure they felt to get past the second round of the NCAA Tourney, the Terps came out tonight in Spokane for their Sweet Sixteen matchup against Vanderbilt ready, relaxed and focused.
As a result, they played a complete game, 40 minutes of Maryland basketball, including some very good defense (not always the Terps' strong suit!). Quite frankly, Vandy simply was never in the game. The Terps built a double digit lead early, a lead they never relinquished, and won 80-66.
Kristi Toliver patiently and effectively controlled the Terps' offense, feeding the ball inside to Lang and Harp, who finished with 28 and 11 points, respectively. Two other starters also scored in double figures, as Marissa Coleman put up 19 points, and Marah Strickland had 13. For Terps fans, this game was nothing but fun to watch. For fans of other teams, well, it was probably a little boring.
Tonight's win sends the Terps to an Elite Eight matchup on Monday night against the winner of the Stanford/Pitt game that is being played as we write this blog. Congratulations to the Terps on advancing to the Regional Finals!!
Obviously freed of the enormous pressure they felt to get past the second round of the NCAA Tourney, the Terps came out tonight in Spokane for their Sweet Sixteen matchup against Vanderbilt ready, relaxed and focused.
As a result, they played a complete game, 40 minutes of Maryland basketball, including some very good defense (not always the Terps' strong suit!). Quite frankly, Vandy simply was never in the game. The Terps built a double digit lead early, a lead they never relinquished, and won 80-66.
Kristi Toliver patiently and effectively controlled the Terps' offense, feeding the ball inside to Lang and Harp, who finished with 28 and 11 points, respectively. Two other starters also scored in double figures, as Marissa Coleman put up 19 points, and Marah Strickland had 13. For Terps fans, this game was nothing but fun to watch. For fans of other teams, well, it was probably a little boring.
Tonight's win sends the Terps to an Elite Eight matchup on Monday night against the winner of the Stanford/Pitt game that is being played as we write this blog. Congratulations to the Terps on advancing to the Regional Finals!!
* * * * * * * *
Sunday Morning Update. As expected, #2 seeded Stanford beat #6 seeded Pitt last night; the final score was 72-53. This sets up an all-red Regional Final between the Terps and the Cardinal on Monday night at 9:30 PM EDT. (Another late night for the BasketCases and other Maryland fans on the East Coast!)
This morning's Billings Gazette has a wonderful feature about Montana-native Daron Park and his whirlwind first year with the Terps. Coach Park, as we all know, wound up getting a lot more than he was expecting (did we really say that?) when he accepted an assistant coaching job with Maryland last May, only to be told two months later by Coach B that she was pregnant. Coach Park rose to the challenge and without a doubt is a huge part of the Terps' great success this season.
Finally, in his all too often tedious long column in Sunday's Washington Post, former Sports editor George Solomon states: "Who would have thought that the two local college baskeball teams left standing when the weekend began would be the Maryland and George Washington women." Well, quite frankly, George, people who actually follow women's college basketball, which apparently does not include you.
posted by BasketCases @ 11:46 PM
3 comments
3 Comments:
WOW! Impressive on so many levels. Every starter showed how good they really are and when Kristi is smiling, I know we're in good shape. What a team player she is. No nail biting this game, just a whole lotta fist pumping. Elite Eight here we come. GO TERPS!
Now that's the game I've been waiting for. Feed the post. Limit the turnovers (although the box shows we had 15 to their 14.) We pretty much ran them out of the gym.
I like my games fairly one-sided, provided the Terps are the high side. But that's me.
KT was magnificent - 8:1 A/TO will get it done most nights. Marah Strickland found her shot, and just in time. Harp's FT shooting will pay off if she can keep it up.
The switching defense was new; usually we play straight man. It totally worked, and I think it keeps KT a little freer. It is no secret that our offense suffers when KT has to run around a bunch of screens. Must be a fatigue thing.
I don't know; would you rather play an irate Stanford team or a team on a roll that has a revenge motive?
GO TERPS!
Nice win after a largely indifferent game vs. the "Gallant Huskers." It was fun hearing about Marissa's babysitting prowess (if "prowess" is appropriate to describe babysitting skills). There was a cute bit today on ESPN2 about Lang locking her keys in her car and MC, LH and KT helping to break in. Hmm... storytelling, diaper-changing... Marissa has a nice skill set as a babysitter as well as a player.
C&OSpence
PS: hoping for a Colonials upset!
Post a Comment
<< Home