Well it has come to this. The end of the ACC in Men’s basketball for Maryland. On the show tomorrow – Bruce, Freddy, Mason and me will discuss the end of the era. It got me to thinking Terps and basketball.
As Jordan said a few moments ago, “right now we suck”. Compared to the great, iconic moments of years gone by, he is correct.
For me it began against Notre Dame in 1978 as an Albert King led Terp team beat the #1 Irish in OT. My (our) late 70’s Terps had some big wins, but the loss to Duke in the ACC final was one of the iconic memories. Buck being undercut by Kenny Denard.
Those Terps of Albert, Buck, Ernie, Larry Gibson and others are the ghosts of my past. They just could not get by Indiana and Illinois in the NCAA’s. One year it was Iowa in Philly. Just could not get to the Final 4.
My next set of memories centered on Herman Veal and Adrian Branch. The Terps beat UVA in the greatest game I didn’t get to. The last day of the season – Ralph Sampson, Jeff Lamp, Lee Raker and Othel Wilson came to Cole. Herman Veal hit a last second prayer to force OT and the Terps took it home from there. Dutch Morley and Reggie Jackson got the start in the backcourt that day. What a great day for Lefty. It was February 1982.
The next year in Charlottesville, Maryland took Ralph to very end on senior day. A talented young Terp was just getting started. He was Len Bias. Maryland did not get the win that day, but they stood toe to toe with a very talented Virginia squad.
Soon enough it was the “Killer B’s” Maryland style. Branch, Bias and Jeff Baxter. Throw in some Ben Coleman, Keith Gatlin and Speedy Jones for an ACC Tournament Championship in 1984. Duke came to Cole during winter break. Maryland trailed badly at the half but roared back for the win. You knew you had something special.
1984-1985 was a good year as well. We had a January weekend series that brought both Notre Dame and Villanova to Cole. The Terps won’em both. Saturday and Sunday – wow that we great. Maryland beat David Robinson and Navy to get to the Sweet Sixteen. Lost to ‘Nova 46-43. They went on to win the Natty.
I could go on forever, but I will end it with Lenny and beating Carolina at the Dean Dome in 1986. It was A team that was Len Bias, Gatlin, Derrick Lewis and Jeff Baxter. The team probably should have been better than the record was, getting to the NCAA’s with a 16-13 record. The good part was that the Terps beat UNC twice down the stretch. And the great game to put the first L on Carolina at the Dome.