Bob Haynie: Are The Terps For Real?
After starting the season with a 72-69 loss to the then third-ranked Kentucky Wildcats, the Maryland Terrapins have reeled off 13 straight W's.
With schools like UMES, Monmouth and Delaware State, being among the victims, early season skeptics--like ESPN's Joe Lunardi--feel as though the Terps are making things happen with a soft schedule.
Even though the Terps are 13-1, Lunardi states that they have nine "fake" (His term. Not mine) wins. According to the country's preeminent bracketologist, Maryland is actually 4-1 in "real" (One again, his term) games. The fact that they have yet to crack the Top 25 in either poll, says that the voters may be skeptics as well.
But that may be changing.
After spanking Virginia Tech by 23 points this past Saturday, more and more people are starting to take notice of coach Mark Turgeon's troops.
Wednesday night, Maryland has a chance to make another statement when the Florida State Seminoles visit the Comcast Center in an ACC contest.
The Seminoles, coached by Leonard Hamilton, actually started the season ranked 25th. However, with a 9-5 record that includes losses to South Alabama and Mercer, they have been one of the league's most disappointing teams.
Led by Michael Snaer and Okaro White, FSU does sport some talent. In their last game, they won at Clemson.
Though winnable, this will not be an easy game for Maryland.
If the Terps can hold serve at home on Wednesday and then win at Miami on Sunday night against the Hurricanes, I think a Top 25 appearance will be happening.
Are the Maryland Terrapins for real? I have been a believer all along.
Now it's time for them to prove me right and all of their skeptics wrong.
BH
