Every Sunday prior to St. Patrick's Day, for the past 11 years, there have been three constants in life. My wife's aunt and uncle's St. Patrick's Day family celebration, the St. Patrick Day's Parade and the Terps getting into the Big Dance. But this year it's different.
It seems the for the for the 2004 ACC Tournament Champs the season ended about two weeks early. They lost five out of their last six games, and the last four straight. Is this really the team that returned four starters from last year's team? Clearly it's been a season of high's (beating Duke twice in a year is always a reason for celebration) and lows (losing to Clemson three times is not something I will ever be able to forget...no offense to my friend, and Tiger alum Jay). Michael Wilbon summed up the whole mess well in Friday's Post.
To tell you the truth, it just feels weird. And if for some freaky reason they do get in, it won't feel right because in my heart, I know they don't deserve to be in. This has got to be the first Maryland team that didn't feel like it played as a team consistently (except of course in the Duke games). And I really think losing the team's true heart, defensive inspiration and leader, DJ Strawberry, to injury in January had more impact on this team than even Gary would have been able to predict.
And so it goes with sports as with life. Chemistry has to be kept in balance. If you forget an ingredient, or put too much in, the end result is usually not what you expected or ever dreamed was possible. NIT anyone?
Posted by robdesign at March 13, 2005 07:51 AMWell, there's always green beer. And other green stuff. Lots of green stuff.
Posted by: Kat at March 14, 2005 05:20 PM