Season Recap: Maryland

2009-2010
Maryland: 24-9 (13-3 ACC)

You'd have to say it was a pretty good year for the Maryland Terrapins. They came in with one of the best players in the country, Greivis Vasquez, as well as a good incoming freshman class. And they really did not disappoint. The Terps started out a little slowly, with a less than stellar showing in Maui. But they turned it up once they got into conference play, and really dominated the competition.

I don't think many people thought Maryland would lose only 3 ACC games. They were a very skilled offensive team, and really played just as well on the home and the road. In some games, the Terps completely dominated their competition. Obviously the main reason why was Vasquez. He has always had the ability to elevate his play when he needed to and win in the clutch. He wasn't alone, though. Eric Hayes and Landon Milbourne could be counted on for big scoring nights, and freshman Jordan Williams was a breakout star. All that under consideration, the stars were aligned for a special year.

Best Win: 79-72 over Duke (3/3)

A lot of people thought Duke was going to win this game, even up in College Park. But the Terps played a strong game, getting out to a big early lead and pulling it out down the stretch. This win enabled them to seize a first place tie they would not relinquish.

Worst Loss: 69-64 to Georgia Tech (3/12)

Maryland had a chance to really make a run in the ACC Tournament, but they were stopped even before they started. The Terps played really poorly in the first half of this quarterfinal game, and despite trying to make a furious comeback were unable to win. This may have hurt their seeding in the NCAAs.

Postseason Play:

The ACC Tournament was definitely a disappointment for Maryland. They went into the NCAAs as a 4 seed with a tough draw. They were able to put together a nice win over an up-tempo Houston team, 89-77. The real heartbreak came in the next game, though. Maryland took on 5 seed Michigan State. The Spartans outplayed Maryland for most of the game, but the Terps were able to stage a valiant comeback, even taking a late lead. But Michigan State was able to win with a 3 pointer at the buzzer, knocking Maryland out in the second round.

What's Ahead:

I talked earlier about how everything came together for a great season for Maryland. This really was the year to get something done, because I think they are due for a step backward. Maryland loses the heart and soul of their team, Vasquez. Also gone are Hayes and Milbourne. So Maryland will be losing its 3 top scorers. They still have a chance to have a good year with emerging talents in Williams and Sean Mosley. But some of these other guys will really have to pick up the slack if they want to make it back to the Big Dance.