Last Team Conference Standing

There's more riding on the outcome of tomorrow's [Saturday's] Sweet Sixteen matchup in Raleigh between Maryland and Vanderbilt than simply advancing to the Elite Eight. Not that advancing isn't important enough! In fact, that's the most important thing, of course -- for each individual team and its fans. But beyond that, conference pride is on the line for two of the nation's true power-conferences.

To almost everyone's great surprise, Maryland is the only ACC team to have advanced beyond the first two rounds of this year's NCAA tournament, and Vandy is the only SEC team still playing this weekend. No Duke, no UNC, no Florida State, no UVA no Georgia Tech, no Tennessee, no Auburn, no LSU, no Florida, no Mississippi State, no Georgia . . . all gone.

The SEC has never before, in its 28-year history, had only a single team still dancing in the Regional Semifinals. (Last time it happened in the ACC was 2004.) And the SEC hasn't missed a Final Four in the last 7 years!

So when the ACC Champion Terrapins take the floor tomorrow against the SEC Tournament Champion Commodores, Maryland will be looking to make some history . . . as well as end some for its opponent.

Go Terps, Beat the 'Dores!