The Loss Column — Baltimore Sports Blog and Community

I kind of took the weekend off from Loss Column-related matters so that I could attend to playing Wii and having a cookout. I think I needed the refresher.

It helped remind me that I can’t — shouldn’t — focus too exclusively on Orioles-related matters here. They’re the biggest thing going, but Baltimore sports is still about more than that. Even in May.

So, first, the good: major props to the Johns Hopkins men’s lacrosse team, which took down the hated Duke Blue Devils on Saturday in the semifinals of the NCAA Division I championships. Nobody seemed to think this was possible — every knowledgeable commentator I’ve read/heard ranks it as an impressive upset. That the Blue Jays subsequently lost to Syracuse in the finals does nothing to diminish the accomplishment. Whenever a team from Maryland takes down Duke — at any time, in any sport — it’s a victory for us all.

Not only that, but the Blue Jays’ baseball team is battling for a national title at this very moment. I’ll try to remember to dig up and post the results.

Now, on to Gary Williams and his Terps, who chose Friday afternoon on a holiday weekend (they’re pros, after all) to drop the news that troubled-but-talented recruit Tyree Evans has asked out of his commitment and won’t be attending College Park.

For those of you who haven’t followed the Evans story, the gist of it is: Gary wanted to bring him in despite a rather checkered past, and Debbie Yow wasn’t quite on board (or even aware). Know-it-all media types started getting angry, and the whole thing went to hell.

The reaction to Evans’ withdrawal has been predictable enough. Lots of “they never should have gone after him to begin with” and “this is a stain on the Maryland program” and yadda yadda. Lots of armchair moralizing, in other words, from the same people who call for firings when the team fails to make the field of 64.

But here’s the truth: Gary didn’t do anything wrong, and neither he nor the program should be raked over the coals.

Evans is a talented player — on this even his detractors agree — who would have helped breathe life into Maryland Basketball. His JuCo coach vouched for his commitment, and his legal troubles are all at least as old as 2006. The kid looked at Maryland and saw a chance to redeem himself, and Gary was willing to give it to him. Yes, it was a risk. Maybe even a bad idea. But a stain on the program? A shameful episode?

Nonsense.

More bad news for the Maryland Terrapins Men’s Basketball Team (their play of late demands a formal address).

Bubble teams like the Terps have to hope that the mid-major conference tournaments go as planned. When a mid-major #1 seed loses in their conference tournament it creates one more bubble team for the selection committee to consider. That’s what happened tonight and yesterday.

First, it was VCU (last season’s Duke-upsetting heroes) losing in the CAA semifinals to William and Mary. W&M then lost to George Mason, giving Mason an automatic bid.

Lots of people feel VCU might deserve a spot anyway. I’m one of those people.

Then tonight, San Diego knocked off #22 Gonzaga in the WCC tournament final to get their own automatic bid. This was after SD took down Saint Mary’s — a team that had been nationally ranked this season. The WCC will likely now send three teams to the tournament. Cue the “ACC of the West” comparisons/jokes.

This means three spots (VCU, Gonzaga, Saint Mary’s) that would have been open to a team like Maryland are now taken. For the Terps to make it now they have to win at least two games in the ACC tournament — over Boston College and then Clemson. Three games is more realistic, and that third one would probably be against Duke.

Not going to happen. This is UMBC’s year. They’re playing their conference tournament final at home on Saturday. I’m going to try to make it out there, but if I can’t I’ll be with them in spirit. I hope you’ll all do the same.

Pretty simple for Gary and the boys tonight: beat Virginia on the road and they’re probably in the tournament. Drop the game and it’ll take something like a miracle.

I have a feeling this will be a deeply frustrating affair. Look for a lot of lead changes.

In more pleasant news, UMBC is in the finals of the America East tournament. Drinks are on me (by drinks I mean one drink) if they make the tournament. I’ll be nestled up to that one no matter where or when.

All due respect to the Super Bowl and the World Series, but the Madness is America’s premier sporting event. Is there anything better than those first two weekends?

It’s a good Friday night to relax, sip a bit of this, and consider some weekend discussion topics.

The Loss Column is — justifiably — known as primarily an Orioles site, but in fact this is a clearinghouse for all things Baltimore Sports. The O’s are a primary focus but I don’t want to entirely lose sight of the bigger picture. So, here we go.

– The NFL free agent signing period is open. I don’t have a read on whether or not the Ravens will be active — any thoughts?

They did jettison both Mike Anderson and Mike Flynn this week. Neither move surprises me (maybe Flynn a little), and I take it as a sign that they’re looking to get a little younger and more versatile. Both of which are good things.

With any luck, Chris will have a full NFL post coming soon.

– You might not be paying attention (it’s hard to keep up), but college basketball in Baltimore right now is as healthy as it’s ever been.

UMBC (my beloved alma mater): they’ve won nine straight games and currently sit at 21-7 overall, 13-2 in the America East. They have a very realistic shot at winning their conference tournament and making it into the NCAA field of 65.

Loyola: winners of 11 of 13, they’re at first place in the MAAC and likewise have a real shot at the NCAAs.

Towson: not doing nearly as well at 11-17 overall, 6-11 in the CAA. But they’ve shown signs of improvement, and let’s not forget that the CAA is a very tough mid-major conference.

Maryland: on the bubble but still looking OK. At 8-6 in the ACC they have to beat either Clemson (home) or Virginia (away), ideally both. One loss and a conference tournament win or two will get them in.

– Down in DC, the Capitals are putting together a nice playoff run. I don’t know if you can call them serious contenders but they’re certainly a team to watch.

– There’s a fascinating and terribly long article in the New York Times about the new leadership of the Yankees. This isn’t something you can really skim, but it’s worth a read. Check it out here.

I can’t help but look at that fat bastard on the right and think that the Yankees might be headed for a 1980s redux. Probably just wishful thinking.

So there’s all that and anything else you want to talk about. Floor is all kinds of open.

Well, this didn’t take long: Erik Bedard has been named the Mariners‘ opening day starter. It’s an expected move, but I thought they’d at least put on a show during spring training.

In terms of the Orioles, this means that Erik the Great will likely return to the Camden Yards hill on either April 5th or 6th (Sat/Sun). Seems like that might be a game well worth attending, no?

Speaking of spring training, the brain trust behind a site called Spring Training 08 got in touch with me and asked if I’d write a preview. I was happy to do so, and you can read the end result here.

It’s not much different than what we’ve already tossed around in the comments, but I did make some informed guesses about the final makeup of the roster. Then I basically blew those guesses up by admitting that we have no idea who might ultimately be in or out. Feel free to use the comments on this post to take issue with what I had to say, post your own guesses, etc.

Finally, I have to mention the Terps‘ tough loss tonight at Duke. It leaves them at 16-9 overall and 6-4 in the ACC — a whole hell of a lot better than I thought they’d be by now. Their remaining schedule consists of Florida State, Virginia Tech, Miami, Wake Forest, Clemson, and Virginia before the ACC Tournament. Winning 4 of 6 should guarantee them a spot, and winning three plus a game or two in the tournament should do the same.

Barring an epic collapse I think we’re witnessing one of Gary Williams‘ finest coaching performances. Should be a fun few weeks.

Maybe so. They’re up nine at the half on the hated Duke Blue Devils, and Mike Kreejaweeski is already in top whining form. Seeing him and Bambale Osby sharing the same air is proof that god has a great sense of humor. Feel free to chime in if you’re watching.

I’ll update this post later or tomorrow with some thoughts on the game.

Update: yeah…Maryland lost. They played well for the most part, but sloppiness and turnovers in the second half did them in. Anyone who has followed the team at all over the years knows that’s not a surprise.

Next up: Virginia comes to College Park on Wednesday.

You know what’s a great sight? The well-bred southern belles in the Carolina crowd crying in disbelief because the Maryland Terrapins just shocked the world and took down the 18-point favored Tar Heels 82-80.

The strangest part? Maryland pretty much controlled the game. Carolina had their runs, of course, but for the most part it was all Terps.

I hope you got a chance to watch that, folks. Hell of a game.

Maryland’s losses to both Ohio University and American University — at home — have done great damage to my college basketball excitement. When the Terps are bad it just kills the mood.

Until March Madness, that is, when “which teams made it?” matters a lot less than “which teams should I pick?”

A few thoughts between here and there:

– As bad as Maryland looks, they can erase all of it by steamrolling to a winning record in the ACC. There’s nothing right now to suggest they could actually do that, but at least we can keep hope alive.

– UMBC, by contrast, looks fantastic early. They actually managed to beat the same American team that handled Maryland, and right now they’re easily the best men’s team in the state. Next up, though, is Ohio State. I’m looking simply for a good showing there, a loss by no more than 20.

– Here’s a bold prediction: this is the year when we’ll finally see a 16 seed upset a 1 seed.

With the way top talent is spread around college ball these days it’s bound to happen someday. I’ve got a hunch this is the year.

Anybody else watching college ball? Who’s your team? Who’s the mid-major dark horse I need to know about when bracket time comes?