COLLEGE PARK - It's never too early for an Atlantic Coast Conference opener, not in these NCAA basketball-loving environs, not when all else has failed. So let's just go ahead and say it:
Hail to the Turtles.
The defending champs from Maryland did their part yesterday to ease the transition from NFL autumn to college basketball winter, beating Georgia Tech, 84-77.
In case you're wondering, since the Orioles have yet to sign Ivan Rodriguez or Jose Cruz and since every single one of the Ravens' postseason scenarios collapsed these past two Sundays as surely as a souffle, the next date to circle on your (new) calendar is Jan. 18.
That's when Duke makes its inaugural appearance at the Comcast Center, where last night the home crowd sustained some ear-ringing cheer, even if the Blue Devils will find it's not as hot in Maryland's new house as it used to be at Cole.
Oh, well. The results were still promising for the Terps.
At 6-3 and now sporting a pithy 1-0 conference record, Gary Williams' flock will bolster its standing among the nation's collegiate hoops elite and garner attention and curiosity from corners near and far.
That's your reward when senior 2-guard Drew Nicholas scores a game-high 29, when Williams starts two freshmen, when a 6-10 senior (Tahj Holden) continues to do damage stroking threes and avoiding hard drives to the hole and, best of all, when the Terps prove they can go deep into the bench.
We won't bet on them to repeat, but the Terps will grow and run and entertain. For that, we are thankful.
More important last night, the Terps rang in a new season, if not exactly the new year, when they helped pass the metaphoric sporting baton.
Less than two hours after the Ravens ended their improbably entertaining run in the AFC North with (another) late-game collapse, this time against the Steelers, the Terps tipped off against the Yellow Jackets and showed that in their version of a rebuilding mode, the Terps know how to finish.
At least they do now, after shaky losses to Indiana and Florida.
Last night, the Terps used rock-solid interior defense to tighten passing lanes, force 20 turnovers and spur two decisive runs. The first one came at the end of the first half, when the Terps punched out a 9-0 run to build a 36-30 halftime lead.
Then, when it really mattered, Maryland relied on a fresh-legged, nine-deep rotation to bring serious defensive heat to the swarming Yellow Jackets.
And to think some of us started off the night lamenting the fact that Georgia Tech has a looming NBA lottery pick in freshman Chris Bosh, while Maryland has been depleted of its illustrious pro prospects.
Didn't matter. The Terps were smooth and resilient.
"If anyone forgot what it's like at ACC games, there it is," Williams said last night.
It's with some regret that we find the Terps all alone on the sporting stage at this point in our holiday season. With all due respect to newly anointed general managers Mike Flanagan and Jim Beattie, we the spoiled and overanxious had hoped to find a .313/100-RBI hitter under the tree.
Granted, Ralph Friedgen's Peach Bowling Terps will get a moment of glory on New Year's Eve. There's always a bowl game to patch us through a few hours, although some of us still can't help but wonder how nice it would have been for the Terps to have beaten Virginia, thus securing a more prestigious game.
The Ravens, too, were drumming up hope and interest deep into December, until two late-game hiccups that proved the Ravens haven't mastered crunch time.
Maybe Williams and Co. could place a call to Brian Billick and the Ravens, who looked more offensively challenged than youthful during these final two Sundays, despite youth being the Ravens alleged Achilles' heel.
Everyone is right to call this Ravens season a success. Still, can you imagine the glory of January had there been just a little more mustard in the Ravens' offensive attacks?
Yesterday, after the Ravens gave back an 11-point lead in the second half to lose their season finale to Pittsburgh, at least Baltimoreans could cast their eyes toward College Park and get a view of a new season unfolding.
The greatest thing that has happened to the Terps, who have not for a moment lamented being without Juan Dixon, Chris Wilcox, Byron Mouton or Lonny Baxter, is the commitment Williams has made to using every athlete and gamer he has left.
By starting freshman forwards Nik Caner-Medley and Travis Garrison, using senior center Holden as the sixth man and bringing Jamar Smith, Chris McCray and John Gilchrist off the bench, the Terps delivered not only a sustained attack, but also one that was actually buoyed by its depth.
"We were able to keep the intensity level up when we substituted with McCray and Jamar and Gilchrist," Williams said. "They can play that way no matter when you ask them to go in. And when you have Tahj coming off the bench, that takes you to nine right away. That's a great start for us. That gives us some confidence."
As Williams said: Welcome to a new ACC season.
Welcome, too, to this winter's best hope for sporting diversion. The Terps kicked off their conference play with a heart-warming and prophetic message:
When it's crunch time, you've got to know how to crunch.
Maybe the Ravens and Orioles are listening.