2008 Woodie Awards
Bad losses doomed Terps
Andrew Zuckerman
Issue date: 3/27/08 Section: Sports
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Despite a group of mostly likable players who behaved off the court, the 2007-08 Terps will leave an imprint of negative memories. There was only one true moment that will raise goosebumps - a road upset over top-ranked North Carolina - which will be completely overshadowed by the many bad losses.
Whether it be the terrible home losses in December to the unthinkable second-half collapses in late February and March, the Terps (19-15, 8-8 ACC) will be remembered for a season full of bad losses.
American. Ohio. Virginia Tech. Clemson. Boston College.
"I don't think that our record is indicative of the type of team we are," senior center Bambale Osby said.
Maybe not, but the 15 losses were the most since the 1992-93 season, and the Terps missed the NCAA Tournament for the third time in four years.
Coach Gary Williams admitted it was frustrating to look back on how the season ended.
"Oh yeah, it is," he said. "Because we went from nowhere in December to put ourselves in position where we could be in pretty solid ground going into Selection Sunday. Hopefully for the guys coming back, everything's a learning experience, and you learn just how tough you have to be for 40 minutes. Everything has to be done right in terms of preparation, things like that. So hopefully we get that."
Williams' "40 minutes" reference directly correlates with how the Terps almost always failed to play a complete game. Quite often, they would come out smoking hot and build a double-digit lead. And then, poof, it would disappear in a matter of moments.
They led Virginia Tech by 11 with 13:53 left; they led Clemson by 20 with 10:53 remaining (and by 13 with 4:31 left); they led Boston College by 11 with 18:15 to go. And they lost all four games. The loss to Clemson was the worst, as a win would have likely locked up an NCAA Tournament berth. Instead, the Terps were then blown out by Virginia and then lost to a terrible Boston College team in the ACC Tournament.
"We did a poor job this year of holding onto leads," Williams said. "If we did a better job with the leads, we might not be in [the NIT]. But that's part of it - you gotta play 40 minutes tough."
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Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 6
Jerry
posted 3/27/08 @ 8:01 AM EST
It's nice that Gary wants his players to become basketball players 365 days a year. However, he too needs to become a coach 365 days a year again. Maybe he needs to give up a few of the days at Dewey Beach and elsewhere and concentrate a little more time and energy on recruiting players who can actually play. (Continued…)
JA the DJ
posted 3/27/08 @ 8:11 AM EST
Boom doesn't think that our record is indicative of the type of team we are? Is he serious? For what it's worth, Jeff Sagarin doesn't agree with you, Boom. (Continued…)
Once upon a time when we were good
posted 3/27/08 @ 8:24 AM EST
Gary Williams thinks there must be a reason that we played great halves but couldn't finish games and that he'll look at it over the summer and figure it out. (Continued…)
Give it to Frank (Urso)!
posted 3/27/08 @ 8:33 AM EST
A season in which you lose to American University (at home)for the first time in almost 100 years and lose a very average Ohio University team (at home), and in which you blow a 20-point lead to Clemson in literally minutes in a critical game (at home) constitutes one of the worst seasons in my book since the dark days of Bob Wade. (Continued…)
Robin
posted 3/27/08 @ 9:35 AM EST
This disappointing season will be repeated until the recruiting quality improves. Gist and Vazquez are pearls. And we were fortunate to have Boom. Who'd have thought losing Neal for part of the season would have had such an impact? Hayes and the rest of the squad have tremendous potential. (Continued…)
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