CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Maryland Terrapins' goal in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament? To win it, of course. No one gives them a chance because of the presence of top-ranked Duke, which has blasted the Terps in four straight games over the past two seasons, but with a 25-4 record and No. 5 national ranking, the Terps are good enough to dream big dreams.
But what's a realistic goal for the Terps this weekend? How about this: They win today, beat North Carolina for the third time this season in the semifinals tomorrow, then give Duke a good game for a change in Sunday's final.
That wouldn't give the Terps their third ACC tournament title ever, which was one of their goals this season, but it would be an acceptable performance for a Top 5 team with the misfortune of playing in the same conference as No. 1.
Terps coach Gary Williams wants no part of any goal that includes a defeat, of course, but you watch, he'll swell with pride if the Terps beat Carolina and challenge Duke for 40 minutes on Sunday.
Would that be enough to give the Terps one of the four No. 1 seeds in the NCAA tournament? Probably not.
Oh, sure, there's a chance. Duke, Connecticut and Michigan State probably have three top seeds locked up, leaving Auburn, Stanford and the Terps to compete for the other. The Terps measure up well in that company. They beat Stanford, which also has five losses, and although Auburn is 26-2, its schedule was soft compared to the Terps', a factor NCAA selectors will consider.
It could all come down to how the Terps play Duke on Sunday, if they get that far. A tough, hot competitive game would amount to a two-hour advertisement for the Terps in the hours before the NCAA bracket is announced. That would work in their favor. But a third blowout loss to Duke would end any shot at a top seed.
In the end, having five losses probably would cost the Terps too much. Five is just too many for a No. 1 seed, even if three of the losses are to Duke.
Not that getting a No. 1 seed really matters. Yes, it would boost prestige and egos -- the Terps have never drawn higher than a No. 2 -- and also make the early rounds that much easier, factors not to be diminished. But how well the Terps are playing, not where they're seeded, will decide their fate in the end. A hot team beats a higher seed any day.
You could even argue that the Terps are better off without the pressure that comes with a No. 1 seed. As much as they like the spotlight and playing to crowds, they're accustomed to being underdogs, to playing in the shadows of Duke and Carolina.
The attention a No. 1 seed gets would be exciting, but also a new and daunting experience, which no team needs in March. The Terps would be more comfortable as a No. 2 seed, no doubt.
And hey, they need to make sure they lock up a No. 2 before they start dreaming about a No. 1. Yes, a No. 2 appears all but assured, given that the Terps' national ranking hasn't slipped below seventh all season. But a bad loss at the wrong time could hurt.
Reaching the ACC tournament final for the first time in 15 years would lock up a No. 2 and keep hopes for a No. 1 alive. But that probably means beating North Carolina tomorrow, and that won't be easy even though the Terps have already beaten the Tar Heels twice. This game would be in North Carolina, on the road. The Terps' Lonny Baxter and Mike Mardesich wouldn't necessarily handle the Heels' tall frontcourt as easily as last time. And beating any team three times in a season is hard, let alone a team with Carolina's pedigree.
Still, the Terps' superior quickness and depth give them a clear advantage. They're 2-0 against the Tar Heels for a reason.
As for a potential matchup with Duke in the final, what can you say? The Blue Devils are one basket shy of an undefeated season. They're tough, smart and prepared, and they handle Maryland's pressure and limit turnovers, which the Terps rely on for offense. The Terps have to win with their half-court game, not their strength. Basically, it's just a bad stylistic matchup for the Terps.
But again, beating a quality team three times isn't easy. The more you play, the higher your chances of having a poor shooting night or just a bad game, period. Duke hasn't had one.
In other words, the Terps' best shot at winning the ACC tournament title is hoping that Duke, against all logic, up and has a bad game.
A more realistic goal is to beat Carolina again and play gallantly, if not successfully, against the Blue Devils on Sunday. No, it's not a dramatic goal, but given Duke's presence in the draw, it's a legitimate and attainable goal for the Terps, and, well, it will just have to do.
Pub Date: 3/05/99