24 hours ago, Maryland Basketball was rocked by the news of Jordan hiring an agent and staying in the draft. It hurt, but nothing could compare to the devestation that's spreading from Comcast Center this afternoon.
My first reaction was that it's better to have Gary go out on his own terms, rather than having the press and some terrible fans asking for his resignation during the epic 15-12 season that is facing the Terps this season.
But then I watched this video. 5 times in a row. Tell me it doesn't give you goosebumps and bring a tear or two to your eye. Or this one...
Thank you, Gary for 22 amazing years. You took the program from its darkest hours to the top of the college basketball world, and always brought a tremendous amount of passion and dedication to campus every day. You have been the face of Maryland basketball for years and your retirement will be felt by all Terp fans. In other words, you will be missed. In this lig, there were none classier, and none who I'd rather have on the sidelines of Comcast. *FIST PUMP!*
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Friday, April 1, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Awards Season, Part One
It's that time of the year. As the college basketball regular season has ended and the postseason is gearing up, the individual hardaware is being handed out. All-Conference selections have been made, and national awards like the Wooden and the Naismith are still pending. Here at the Says Things blog, we're starting our own tradition by handing out some alternative awards to honor those who may have been overlooked by the various media and coaches that dole out the usual honors.
Bob Wade Achivements in Coaching Award - Sidney Lowe, NCSU
In the end it was a tough choice between Lowe and Jeff Bzdzelik of Wake Forest. Lowe gets the nod because whereas Wake Forest was historically terrible, at least they were expected to be awful having lost so much from last year's tournament team. This - in year 5 of the Sidney Lowe era - was supposed to be the turning point, fueled by a great recruiting class. Despite that, it ended in just another 5-11 season. [Ed. Note: Sidney Lowe has since resigned as NCSU head coach]
Exree Hipp Senior of the Year Award - Cliff Tucker, Maryland
Named in honor of the Maryland wing (Hipp's scoring average dropped from 13.6 to a four year low of 6.8 in his senior year), this award honors another Maryland player. Tucker averaged 11.7 points a night over the team's first twenty games, but finished out the season scoring just 5.4 over the final 11 as as the team lost 6 of those games.
John Calipari Award for Audacious Cheating - Bruce Pearl, Tennessee
It's bad enough to cheat. It's even worse when you cheat despite having gained notoriety in the basketball world as a snitch (whistleblower if you so choose). It takes things to another level when you cheat AGAIN four days after giving a tearful apology in re: your prior transgression. Even Cal shakes his greasy head at the balls on his cheating SEC East brother.
John Goldsberry Random Turd Award - Rion Brown, Miami
You may remember Goldsberry from the Terps' first round victory over UNC-Wilmington in 2003 a.k.a The Drew Nicholas Shot Game. Goldsberry sank 8 of 8 threes despite averaging just 5 points a night that season. Brown came into the Canes game with the Terps averaging less than 4 per game having not scored in double figures since a November tilt against McNeese State. Naturally, Brown would score 19 on 6-7 shooting from deep on a night where Gary Williams inexplicably zoned Miami well past the point of futility.
Jim Valvano Never Give Up Award - Wake Forest Basketball
It's one thing to be bad, but this bad? Wake Forest lost 15 times in an ACC that was realtively weak by its own standards, and as if that weren't bad enough, it lost 14 of those games by 14 points or more. The season was punctuated by going 0-4 with an average margin of defeat of 26.8 ppg against the next two worst teams in the conference (Georgia Tech and NC State).
AC Green Abstinence Award - Brigham Young University
I suppose I can respect sticking to your principles. On the other hand, as a sports fan, it's insane to suspend your third leading scorer for having some consensual extracurriculars with a coed, particularly when you're a mid-major with the best player in the country and a legit shot at a Final Four or more. Tough lost, mormons.
Schadenfraude Award - Korie Lucious, Michigan State
Korie you really screwed me over good with that fucking buzzer beater. But now that you've found yourself charged with a DUI, kicked off the Michigan State team, and transferring to Iowa State, I can't help but smile even though that makes me an abysmal, soulless person. Godspeed playing in the cornfields.
Tyler Hansbrough "Player of the Year Award" - Ben Hansbrough, Notre Dame
Remember back in 2008 when PSYCHO T won the Wooden Award (among several other national POY honors) over Kevin Love and Michael Beasley, despite either of the two being clearly better by most metrics? Somehow his brother may have one-upped him this year by winning the Big East Player of the Year Award. Not only did the younger Hansbrough beat out Marshon Brooks (24.6 ppg, second nationally) of Providence, he beat clear favorite Kemba Walker of UConn (8 games of 30+ points). Seriously? That's worse awards voting than when the Big East decided to name a ten man "All Conference" team because of the outlandish size of the conference.
Please stay tuned for the Postseason Awards, coming to this blog early next month!
Bob Wade Achivements in Coaching Award - Sidney Lowe, NCSU
In the end it was a tough choice between Lowe and Jeff Bzdzelik of Wake Forest. Lowe gets the nod because whereas Wake Forest was historically terrible, at least they were expected to be awful having lost so much from last year's tournament team. This - in year 5 of the Sidney Lowe era - was supposed to be the turning point, fueled by a great recruiting class. Despite that, it ended in just another 5-11 season. [Ed. Note: Sidney Lowe has since resigned as NCSU head coach]
Exree Hipp Senior of the Year Award - Cliff Tucker, Maryland
Named in honor of the Maryland wing (Hipp's scoring average dropped from 13.6 to a four year low of 6.8 in his senior year), this award honors another Maryland player. Tucker averaged 11.7 points a night over the team's first twenty games, but finished out the season scoring just 5.4 over the final 11 as as the team lost 6 of those games.
John Calipari Award for Audacious Cheating - Bruce Pearl, Tennessee
It's bad enough to cheat. It's even worse when you cheat despite having gained notoriety in the basketball world as a snitch (whistleblower if you so choose). It takes things to another level when you cheat AGAIN four days after giving a tearful apology in re: your prior transgression. Even Cal shakes his greasy head at the balls on his cheating SEC East brother.
John Goldsberry Random Turd Award - Rion Brown, Miami
You may remember Goldsberry from the Terps' first round victory over UNC-Wilmington in 2003 a.k.a The Drew Nicholas Shot Game. Goldsberry sank 8 of 8 threes despite averaging just 5 points a night that season. Brown came into the Canes game with the Terps averaging less than 4 per game having not scored in double figures since a November tilt against McNeese State. Naturally, Brown would score 19 on 6-7 shooting from deep on a night where Gary Williams inexplicably zoned Miami well past the point of futility.
Jim Valvano Never Give Up Award - Wake Forest Basketball
It's one thing to be bad, but this bad? Wake Forest lost 15 times in an ACC that was realtively weak by its own standards, and as if that weren't bad enough, it lost 14 of those games by 14 points or more. The season was punctuated by going 0-4 with an average margin of defeat of 26.8 ppg against the next two worst teams in the conference (Georgia Tech and NC State).
AC Green Abstinence Award - Brigham Young University
I suppose I can respect sticking to your principles. On the other hand, as a sports fan, it's insane to suspend your third leading scorer for having some consensual extracurriculars with a coed, particularly when you're a mid-major with the best player in the country and a legit shot at a Final Four or more. Tough lost, mormons.
Schadenfraude Award - Korie Lucious, Michigan State
Korie you really screwed me over good with that fucking buzzer beater. But now that you've found yourself charged with a DUI, kicked off the Michigan State team, and transferring to Iowa State, I can't help but smile even though that makes me an abysmal, soulless person. Godspeed playing in the cornfields.
Tyler Hansbrough "Player of the Year Award" - Ben Hansbrough, Notre Dame
Remember back in 2008 when PSYCHO T won the Wooden Award (among several other national POY honors) over Kevin Love and Michael Beasley, despite either of the two being clearly better by most metrics? Somehow his brother may have one-upped him this year by winning the Big East Player of the Year Award. Not only did the younger Hansbrough beat out Marshon Brooks (24.6 ppg, second nationally) of Providence, he beat clear favorite Kemba Walker of UConn (8 games of 30+ points). Seriously? That's worse awards voting than when the Big East decided to name a ten man "All Conference" team because of the outlandish size of the conference.
Please stay tuned for the Postseason Awards, coming to this blog early next month!
Sunday, March 13, 2011
ORLY
Things I did tonight:
a) watched an NIT Selection Show on ESPNU
b) sat in disbelief as I realized that Maryland was not even good enough to make the NIT.
17 straight years of postseason play. With 100 teams making the NIT or NCAA Tournament, Maryland was not one of them. Thankfully I just turned to CBS College Sports just in time for a Seth Greenberg interview.
a) watched an NIT Selection Show on ESPNU
b) sat in disbelief as I realized that Maryland was not even good enough to make the NIT.
17 straight years of postseason play. With 100 teams making the NIT or NCAA Tournament, Maryland was not one of them. Thankfully I just turned to CBS College Sports just in time for a Seth Greenberg interview.
Are the Doilies Even Coming in the Mail?
I'm seriously sitting here on Selection Sunday pondering the somewhat legitimate chance that we don't make the NIT field. As in, not even invited. As in "sorry, your team isn't good enough to make this tournament that fans use only to derisively taunt less fortunate opponents." What. The. Fuck.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Friday, March 11, 2011
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