by BalTimore Bisk (01/29/2011)
I’d like to start off by saying that you learn something new every day. Today I learned that Noxzema was originally invented by Dr. Francis J. Townsend, a doctor who lived in Ocean City, Maryland. It was originally a remedy that Dr. Townsend used to help alleviate victims of sunburn. An early slogan for Noxzema was “The Miracle Cream of Baltimore”. That’s interesting. Well I already know what little interesting fact that I am going to learn on Wednesday. I am going learn whether this year’s Maryland Men’s Basketball team is going to have a big enough win on their resume to support a bid into the field of 64.
Maryland has another opportunity to revamp their mediocre season with a big win against third ranked Duke on Wednesday. Disappointingly, the biggest win so far this season has been judged to be Penn State. Hence, the Terps are in a serious need of delivering the Blue Devils an old fashioned College Park Pummeling. A few weeks back all was looking well when the Terps had a 39-32 lead on the Blue Devils down at Cameron, but that lead was lost. Things then started to look up again when the Terps had a commanding lead on a sixth ranked Villanova team, but then came an 18-0 run. Then the Terps lost a Thursday night home game by 17 points to Virginia Tech and this possibly was the worst loss of the season. That was one Thursday night I probably would have rather watched the Jersey Shore. Fortunately, I didn’t witness either of the filths.
A big loss can really strike the soul of a team. No doubt our Terps were struck to the core by the three previous mentioned losses. However, trials can have a way of refining character. Just as fire refines silver in the smelting process, the bad losses that the Terps have faced this year might have turned the team into a dynamic fighting force. Just as Noxzema cleans away irritated skin, the Terps might have cleared these nasty pestering losses off their face. We’ve seen positive notes coming with back to back wins against Clemson and Virginia. If the Terps get by Georgia Tech on Sunday then this team will have been reborn and ready for a battle royale against the “ACC Goliath”, Duke, on Wednesday night.
Even if the Terps do not make the big dance this year then we certainly have seen some promise. The freshmen have wowed us, Jordan Williams’s abilities have skyrocketed, and we’ve glimpsed the ability of this Terps team to battle and possibly beat the best of the best. This team has me intrigued like few Terps teams before in that if they didn’t make the tournament then it wouldn’t be a huge disappointment or they could make the tournament and it wouldn’t be a surprise if they made it to the final four. It is hard to gage a clear picture on what the final outcome of this season is going to be for the Terps, but this Wednesday could really push the Terps toward a tournament bid and a run to the final four. The Terps now need focused strength and desire. And no not the kind the comes from Yoga, binaural beats, or some other happy horse manure, but the kind that comes from the leadership of Coach Gary Williams. Gary will have to fire this team up.
We’re about a month away from March. The time of year college basketball fans eat, sleep, and breathe for. But before we get to March, we have one of the classic most lovable matchups for a Terps Basketball fan – Maryland vs. Duke - Wednesday February 2, 2011 9PM Comcast Center – College Park, Maryland. As a Terp alum just typing that gives me the chills. This is one of the biggest games of the year regardless of the circumstance. However, the Terps have an opportunity to make a case that they are Tournament ready.
The Terps had lost three big games in a row, but they’ve seemingly worked hard through their stumbles and falls. They’ve overcame those obstacles and won back to back games. Perhaps they now have an unquenchable fighting spirit to carry them into the post season. Perhaps they have developed the awareness of strength that resides in true Terrapin teamwork. Like life, basketball is a succession of battles. The battle against Duke approaches. “Warriors gaze into the eyes of the future without fear or arrogance, but with the confidence of those who are ready for battle.” On Wednesday, will the Terps win the game and the accolades of the fans that love them? We shall see. Let’s go Terps, it’s time to heat this season up men. Strength and Honor. M-A-R-Y-L-A-N-D Maryland Maryland!!!!!
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