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10:20:00 AM EST
Hearing The Bird and the Bee
Being There for Maryland's Big Win Over UNC
Andy, Chris and I were set to watch Wisconsin-Ohio State and UNC-Maryland at our neighborhood bar when, due to weather, three tickets became available (thanks, Hap!) to the Terps' tilt at Comcast Center. Thank goodness, because the game was not-to-be-missed: a total scorcher and probably the second-best college hoops contest I've ever attended (Mason-over-UConn being the best). It was an 89-87, come-from-behind victory for Gary's kids and their biggest win in three years. My retelling follows the photo of Darryl Strawberry's kid, who poured in a career-high 27 ...
The drive through D.C. to College Park consisted of Andy driving and us drinking a Ford Explorer and Coors Light cans, respectively. The area was blanketed in snow, but the building filled up early. There was a buzz in the arena 30 minutes before tip. At stake for the Terps: a spot in the Tournament, their first since '04. At stake for the Heels: a possible No. 1 seed. After the Maryland faithful welcomed each Carolina starter and coach with a rousing chorus of "[Insert Tar Heel here] SUCKS!," the action was set to begin.
UNC made it rain out of the gate, while the Terps' shooting was cooler than a polar bear's toe nails. Down 13 early, Maryland clawed their way to within three at the half, but UNC busted out of the box again on the strength of countless Tyler Hansbrough short-range makes to get up by 12. As expected, Hansbrough was the best player on the floor. Regardless, it was about to get tight down the stretch.
This wasn't a 49-48 Big Ten game. It was back-and-forth action, a style suitable for both teams. Strawberry would get to the rim for yet another layup, and UNC would answer with a quick Ty Lawson jumper. Brandan Wright would catch-and-throw down an alley-oop, and James Gist would answer with a fastbreaking thunder dunk. After Mike Jones ("WHO?") and Strawberry made back-to-back threes to get to four back with five minutes left, the scales tipped MD's way for the duration.
Jones kept making shots both inside and out, Terrapin station was at a fever pitch and bruisers Ekene Ibekwe and Bambale Osby made key free throws while blue-chipper Wright missed his. With a last-second, nerve-wracking scrum for a rebound under Carolina's basket and the sound of the horn, the celebration was on and Maryland's white-tee clad student section stormed past yellow-jacketed security onto the floor like they'd just beaten Goliath.
Normally I frown upon court-rushing unless the victory is a true upset with great meaning. I wasn't frowning last night, though. It's been hard out there for a Terp. They followed a Final Four appearance, National Championship and ACC Championship run from '02-'04 with two straight NIT seasons and a 2-5 start in this year's conference play. Now they've won five in a row, earning a spot in the Dance along the way. If they win at Duke Wednesday, they're staring a 5 seed in the face. An unlikely turn of events, and the sound heard emanating from the court full of students wasn't that of the usual cocky menace but rather that of total relief.
It was a happy ending, and Maryland basketball is back ... at least until somebody exploits their half-court offense. The only hope in the Tournament is for freshman guards Greivis Vasquez and Eric Hayes to grow up quick, but at least they'll be given the chance to do so thanks to a signature win over UNC.
Update: D.C. Sports Bog has a solid roundup of web reactions to the game. My favorite take? Mike Wise calling Vasquez "the Latin John Starks."
Update No. 2: Chris posts sweet court-rushing video, and commenter DamascusTerp took great photos.
More from FanHouse on MD-UNC:
Maryland.....Welcome Back to the NCAA Tournament! [Sportz Assassin]
Br-ACC-ketology: Maryland Gets Their Ticket [Sportz Assassin]
Ping Pong and Pedicures For Tyler Hansbrough [The Big Lead]
Previous '06-'07 Maryland posts on Mr. Irrelevant:
Maryland's Greivis Vasquez Arrives Suddenly [11/28/06]
Hey, Maryland Doesn't Stink Anymore [11/23/06]
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nice dude ... I was there to ... what a freakin game ... Comcast hasn't felt like that in a long while ... felt a little bit like Cole at times last night ... here's some pictures I took ... feel free to use them ...
http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?S=174#S=174&F=2580&T=162310
2/26/07 1:00 PM
Did they let Maryland keep the dollar bills?