Embracing Defeat

1/21/2007 11:49:16 PM I'm not pissed that Jones did not take the three. I'm not pissed that the Terps fought valiantly and still came up short in OT. I'm not pissed the Gary Williams refused to call time out with the clock running down in regulation (actually I'm pretty damn pissed about that). What I am really pissed about is the damn mediocrity!

Five years after the once unthinkable National Championship and the program is mediorce at best. The only thing consistent thing about them is their inconsistency. Blame it on the freshman if you must. Personally, I think Vasquez is the only one out there who really knows what he is doing. He commands the ball. He knows where it is supposed to go and he is not afraid to take the big shot. Sure, he might miss it, but I look at him and I see a kid who understands the game of basketball.

I look at DJ Strawberry, and I wonder what I did to deserve this. He knows not of basketball. He does not possess a deep fundamental understanding of the game and how it is supposed to be played. He tries to make up for it with athletic talent and hustle, but we have seen the limit as to how far that can take us. I used to think "well, he might not have a clue on the offensive end, but at least he plays shut down defense." Not true anymore. Va Tech guards drove past him all game long. He is a baseball player masquerading as shooting guard. Give the kid a bat and a glove and be done with it.

There are many reasons why the Terps lost tonight and care not to run through them all. We all saw the same game and we all felt like ass when Jones foolish lay-up attempt failed.

Here are three things that I do know:

- In a year, when this is Vasquez' team, we will be better than we are now.

- Eric Hayes is scared to be out there. He needs to get some confidence. When he is out there, our opponents do not have to guard him. He is the best shooter on the team supposedly. Prove it to us. Son, no one will be mad if you miss it. Just look for your shot and take it.

- The season is on life support. At 1-4, the situation is grim. All is not lost, the Terps actually have some winnable games ahead, but if they don't get within ear shot of .500, it's over. We need to win the next two games or we can forget about the rest of the season. 1-1 over this stretch won't do. We need to win both contests.
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