Here are some random observations on Maryland's basketball season as you get ready for a Terps-less Final Four. That is unless you are still too dazed from that Korie Lucious shot to consider watching a game involving Michigan State. Hey, you get the Spartans in one contest, and Duke in the other. Two of Maryand's favorite teams!
*First, here are some dates to note. April 15 is the Capital Classic featuring incoming Maryland players Terrell Stoglin, Mychal Parker and Pe'Shon Howard on the U.S. Team. I will attend and file a report for you on the future Terps.
A football note -- April 24 is the Red-White game at Byrd Stadium. We'll cover that as well.
*Before the hoops season, I listed some season keys and goals. Let's go back and see how the Terps did.
--I said Maryland needed to make rebounding a net gain. Maryland's rebound margin in 2008-09 was minus-1.7 -- the only ACC school out-rebounded by its opponents. The Terps indeed out-rebounded their opponents this past season -- by an average of about half a rebound a game. I give Jordan Williams much of the credit for the improvement. The Terps weren't a strong rebounding team, but rebounding wasn't as much of a liability as it was the previous year.
--I said Maryland needed to be dominant at home. In 2007-08, the Terrapins lost six home games, including four to ACC opponents. The next year, Maryland dropped four home games, including three to ACC foes. You know what happened this past season. Maryland dropped only one home game all season (to William & Mary), going undefeated in ACC games at Comcast. The Terps absolutely held serve at home.
--I said Maryland needed to top 35 percent from beyond the arc. For a small team, the Terps didn't shoot particularly well from 3-point range in 2008-09. Maryland shot 33 percent that season, ninth in the ACC. But you know what happened this past season. The Terps improved to about 38 percent.
The Terps had only one new starter this season, Jordan Williams. He clearly made a difference. But the improvement in all these various facets -- let's give Maryland a B-plus this year -- came largely because the returning players got better. As a college basketball fan, year-to-year improvement is about the best you can realistically hope for. Besides hoping, of course, that the opponent doesn't have a buzzer beater waiting to crush your dreams.