BLACKSBURG, Va. – Last night's game against Virginia Tech provided a now-or-never test for the Terrapin men's basketball team.
But even after a solid effort, a competitive game and a nearly realized late comeback, their test came back the same way so many have this year — with a failing grade.
The Terps started slow and couldn't connect late in their crucial 91-83 loss, but the ramifications stretched beyond the score line. Barring an unexpected ACC Tournament run, the door has slammed shut on the Terps' NCAA Tournament hopes.
A win would have moved the Terps into a four-way tie for fourth place in the ACC and kept alive their hopes, however slim, of earning a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
Instead, their loss to Virginia Tech dropped them to seventh place and all but guaranteed an invitation to the NIT. A conference record of 5-6 puts the Terps just one game above a struggling Miami squad.
"It doesn't help us, that's for sure, but we're not giving up," forward Dino Gregory said. "We've got a couple games left. We'll play those games and go from there."
While Gregory's assessment is true — five regular-season games do remain, after all — the NIT seems to be an appropriate destination for this year's Terp team. They've been good but never great against strong opponents. And as they proved last night, they seem to always find a way to lose late.
"We've come close to some very good teams," forward Jordan Williams said. "We've come close, but we haven't beaten them. That's killing us right now. We can't quite figure it out."
The Terps' unsuccessful outings against Pittsburgh, Villanova, Duke, Boston College and Virginia Tech are perfect examples of a never-ending struggle to get over the hump late in games and earn a signature victory. Those losses scream "NIT."
Coach Gary Williams has made it known that he believes five ACC teams will earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament. The problem is the Terps aren't a top-five ACC team.
Their best wins have come against average Penn State and Clemson teams, and they carry the burden of an 0-8 record against teams with an RPI of 50 or better. They've also won just twice in games decided by single digits.
Perhaps even more important than that, though, is the fact that the Terps are 1-4 against the ACC's other "bubble teams" — Boston College, Clemson and Virginia Tech. That's what made last night's game so important.
Not only did it provide an opportunity for the Terps to earn a quality win against a team that also is fighting for respect from the NCAA Tournament selection committee, but it gave them a chance for redemption after losing to the Hokies in embarrassing fashion by 17 points earlier this season.
There was plenty of motivation for the Terps. They just didn't capitalize on it.
"We played hard tonight," Gregory said. "We just couldn't get it done."
And while the clock hasn't struck midnight just yet — there remains an ever-so-slim possibility of winning the ACC Tournament — for the most part, time has run out for the Terps.
"You're close, but that doesn't mean anything," Gary Williams said. "You may as well be far away.
"It's a little tough. … But we'll get there."
That time may come sometime in the future. But after last night's loss, it won't be this year.
jengelke@umdbk.com
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