Last night was devastating. For 30 minutes, Maryland played with “fire in their belly” and ran Miami off the court. It appeared that Miami was out of shape and over the hill. Adrian Bowe was blowing by defenders. Gary wasn’t yelling (well lets just say as loud as he usually is). Baxton Dupree was…..well, he was still Braxton Dupree.
How did they let this happen? A 17 point lead with 12:30 to go in the game on the road in the ACC. A 7 point lead with 2:45 to go. A 1 point lead with 41 seconds to go and a devastating rainbow prayer 3 by Calvert Halls own Kevin McClinton (nice recruiting Maryland).
How? I don’t get it. I mean I understand this team is not very big and not a typical Maryland team, but how could they let this happen? Is it coaching? Is it leadership? Is it talent? Is it the lack of local recruiting? Oh and I forgot to mention this is the 2nd game in a week this occurred. Remember Morgan State. How could we forget.
I have a friend who lives in Miami and goes to all the games. He actually went to Maryland for 2 years till he failed out. He sent me a text with 15 minutes to go saying he felt like he did when the Ravens beat the Dolphins in the first round of the playoffs. At the end of the game he send me a text that simply said “What a choke job.” I hate to admit it but he was dead on. CHOKE!
I must say for 30 minutes last night I was VERY impressed with our team. When the game ended I wasn’t surprised. You cant get mad if you lose a game you werent suppose to win.
I guess this game was just another stop down the long dark ACC road we are all traveling down this year. Oh well. Go Terps!
Written by Michael Weiss contributing editor