Monday, January 21, 2008

Terps Survive Double Overtime to Defeat Georgia Tech

Who knew when I stepped inside Comcast Center yesterday I was going to get free basketball as well as a street ball game? In the best game of the year, we survived not one but two possible winning streak ending plays. First was shot the at the end of regulation after the steal. Then was the free throw attempt with 1.6 left in OT on what should have been a non-call. Luckily for us, GT missed both and we finally outlasted the Yellow Jackets in the second five-minute session.

Obviously I felt we could have played better but we had less than a day to be prepared for the game and Georgia Tech is a hell of a team. Their players aren't scared of the spotlight and stepped up big. It also helped that the referees decided that clutching, grabbing and physical play is completely acceptable. Coupled with the fact that GT was able to walk with the ball on nearly every possession made it a very long and loud game as I screamed at the refs on nearly every possession.

For the third time this week, we were shown how much different this team is from last year's team. Last year's team wilted with the pressure. This year's team takes the pressure, crumples it up in a ball and shoots it through the hoop. How else do you explain Marissa stepping up an hitting her only three-pointer of the game with two minutes left in OT and the team down 6? What about Crystal going 5-for-5 from the free throw line in OT? I never lost faith yesterday and it's going to be hard for me to lose faith the rest of the year.

Most days a 20-20 game would not be overshadowed, but when someone on your team scores 31 and grabs 15 rebounds, you have to take a backseat. We were great on the boards except for two possessions. Georgia Tech had a great gameplan of attacking the hoop and their freshmen didn't seem to feel the pressure of the big game.

Kristi seems to reverting back to getting frustrated when things don't go her way, but she needs to relax and let the game come to her.

We have to handle the press better, but for now it's time to rest and get ready for Carolina.

  • Baltimore Sun
  • Washington Times
  • ESPN.com
  • Washington Post
  • DC Sports Box

  • 1 comments:

    Christopher Blunck said...

    It was certainly an exciting game. I wasn't there in person but my wife and I watched anxiously on CSTV's Gametracker flash application! We have OSX Leopard and ACC Select hasn't worked for us in the past. It was pretty silly to be hunched over a stupid flash application watching the plays unfold, but it was what we had to do given that we were out of town.

    Thanks for the link to the DCSB. We've gotten a lot of referral hits through this website. You certainly do a lot of research before games and have excellent commentary and analysis after the games. I wish you'd come work with us! :)

    Looking forward to the next game!