Diamondback Online - The University of Maryland's Independent Daily Student Newspaper

As complicated as this season has been for the Terrapin men's basketball team, this weekend is cut and dried.

The Terps have to win.

There's been a lot of talk this season of growth, learning, maturity, experience and cohesion. Blowing a 20-point lead at home like the Terps did Sunday doesn't fall into any of those categories. But they've had a week to dwell on the debacle and they have one more chance to truly show how far they've come this season.

"We're thinking about Virginia right now," sophomore guard Greivis Vasquez said immediately following the heart-breaking loss to Clemson. "We will move on. That's how it is. That's how sports are. You get another chance and hopefully we get this win on Sunday."

All of Vasquez's teammates, through their dejection and disbelief, were like minded in their forward thinking. Everyone had shifted their thoughts to this weekend's showdown in Charlottesville, Va.

Though the Cavaliers sit near the bottom of the conference standings, it really shouldn't matter who the Terps are playing in their final game of the regular season. Whether it's the best team in the country or a Div. II cupcake, the Terps should be able to put on their best show of the season.

They've had a full week to practice, a full week to digest their latest misstep and a full week to brace for Virginia guard Sean Singletary, who torched the Terps for 23 points in the team's first meeting of the season.

Most importantly, the Terps had a full week to realize the ultimate reality of Sunday's game: A loss would nearly douse their NCAA tournament hopes completely. The only ember left burning would be the possibility of winning the ACC tournament. I'll be the first to say, with the most sarcasm I can muster, good luck.

So how will the Terps look in the finale? I bet they'll look pretty good. As unpredictable as the team has been all season, something tells me Vasquez and seniors James Gist and Bambale Osby will come through when they absolutely have to.

"We've been knocked down a few times this year," coach Gary Williams said. "[The Clemson loss] was a pretty good example. But we've come back. I'm feeling that we can come back. … It won't be easy."

Easy may not be the word. Necessary is.

It's time to finally prove that all this season's learning can materialize into something real. A win in Virginia and the drive for the Big Dance is still in gear.

gbassdbk@gmail.com

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