REMATCH!

After missing the NCAA Tournament last season, the Terps today took their first spin around the Big Dance floor since March 2009. Maryland, seeded 4th in the Philadelphia Region, hosted the 13th-seeded Red Flash of St. Francis (PA) in the first game of two being played today at Comcast Center. The other NCAA 1st Round game, between 5th-seeded Georgetown and 12th-seeded Princeton, filled out the double-header. As Maryland fans, we can say that it was so much better to be there in person -- instead of watching on TV. ESPN2 does a great job, but there's really nothing quite like live, in-person action for NCAA Tournament post-season excitement.

Both games today unfolded in a pretty similar fashion. The lower seeded teams were overmatched by their higher seeded opponents . . . and the games were well over by half-time. In the Terps' game, Maryland took a 40-17 lead over the Red Flash into the locker room at the break, while the Hoyas were ahead of the Tigers after 20 minutes by a score of 34-14.

The second halves of both match-ups also shared certain similarities . . . the higher seeded teams couldn't quite keep their foot on the accelerator, while their opponents -- playing for pride (the gaps never got close enough for the higher seeds to worry about losing) -- battled back and left Comcast with an "L" but with their self-esteem intact. As a matter of fact, in both games, the losers actually outscored the higher seeded teams (Maryland by 1 point, and Georgetown by 4) in the second halves. Final scores: Maryland over St. Francis, 70-48, while Georgetown defeated Princeton, 65-49.

Alyssa Thomas, playing just 25 minutes (and thankfully, not because of foul trouble or injury), led all scorers today in the Maryland/St. Francis game, with 16 points (plus 2 really terrific assists). Diandra T and Anjale Barrett also finished in double figures, with 11 points each.

The not-unexpected victories today by both the Terps and the Hoyas set up a rematch on Tuesday night of the November 16th game between the same two teams at McDonough . . . which Georgetown won, 53-45.

The Terps and their fans will be looking for a very different outcome, of course, but it's not going to be easy. In the opinion of the BCs -- who stuck around this afternoon for the second game, and who also saw Georgetown host UConn a couple of weeks ago -- the Hoyas are playing far better on both the offensive and especially the defensive ends of the court than they were back in November. They're a super-quick, athletic team with a very effective full-court press that can lead to turnovers and easy baskets. The Maryland coaching staff and the entire team watched the Georgetown game today, with notepads, and undoubtedly know much more about this opponent than we do. We're sure they'll have plenty to talk about when they compare notes and plenty to focus on between now and Tuesday.

But Georgetown will also be facing a better Maryland team in March than they did in November, so the Hoyas, no doubt, are also thinking they've got work to do between now and Tuesday if they want to have any chance of sweeping the Terps this season.

Every game in the Big Dance has the potential to be exciting. But a #4/#5 rematch between two local teams, who played a close game in the regular season, with their local fans in attendance, and DMV bragging rights (once again) on the line . . . well, that just makes what already promises to be an exciting game even more interesting.

If you're a Maryland (or a Hoyas) fan, this is a don't miss game! We'll see you Tuesday . . . 7 PM at Comcast. One team will head to the Sweet Sixteen. One team's season will end.

Go Terps . . . Beat the Hoyas!