The season has come down to this day. It is sort of the Yom Kippur of the basketball season. As the conference tournaments come to a close (the Rosh Hashanah) it was being written. Now as the day begins to close, it becomes sealed. Who shall dies by strength of scedule? Who shall perish without quality wins? Who by 1 bid conferences and who by RPI?
Did the Terps do enough? Were their collective deeds this year good enough to subscribe them to the NCAA book of life for another week? Have the trials and tribulations of a tough season been passed?
All the questions of life are reflected back in art and the high artform of a basketball season in College Park. Love, betrayal, redemption were all at work here. Striving to get the most positive out of a situation was a key to moving forward. Faith in one’s self and the selected group of people one has chosen for this journey.
As the Duke Blue Devils hit shot after shot, you knew it was over for this week. In that ending was a deep sense of pride in what the Terp’s team had done since Thursday. Even the un-biased eye could note growth in confidence of Eric Hayes, growth in skill from Dino Gregory and in patience from Greivis Vasquez. Even Braxton Dupree was back on the court for the Terps.
As I have written earlier in the week, this team is one of my favorites of all time. Watching Gary getting the best, absolute best, out of these guys has been redemptive. It shows that everyone does have a chance if you just keep at it. There is no surrender in Gary’s coaching methods.
The Gang of Three
Overall, Jordan was reflective of the great work that was done in getting the season restarted after it seemed over 10 minutes into the game on Thursday. I think that his feelings can be summed up with, “Daddy, they have to let us in. We beat Wake.”
Mason was pissed as all hell that we did not beat Duke. He sees the games as a referendum on his soul. He is not as sure that we will get in to the NCAA’s. At 8 years old, he already is looking for the unfairnness in life. He can not expsose more of his being to this team or the sport. Mason is maxed out.
I, as the supposed more mature of the gang of three, also feel the team as an extension of my being. With some experience, I know there will be another season. I am hoping and praying on this, the holiest day of the NCAA basketball season, that the Gods inscribe my Terps for a good and healthy week (or two) of NCAA tournament action.
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