Wisconsin Wants a Piece of Maryland?

Okay, I have calmed down from yesterday's Cincy debacle, and I have faith that Gary and the Terrapins have done the same thing. Hopefully they will bring the energy and confidence (along with the heart) that was lacking yesterday to get third place in the Maui Invitational. For God's sake, PLEASE win today!

The regrouping did some good for the Terps... they open the game with a 7-0 run. Of course, it won't last, but Maryland is showing a lot of energy early. Too bad it's raining threes for Wisconsin. It looks like I put my foot in my mouth, because after the first four baskets dropped for Maryland, nothing else has, and the score is 11-9, Wisconsin. One good thing about the Badgers is that they are looking to put the Terps in the bonus real quick with all their fouls. Maybe the Terps learned something from yesterday and will get those 1-and-1's?

A 16-2 run from the Badgers... tisk, tisk. Vasquez is making an ass of himself, and his team, and his costing points left and right. He can't make anything and isn't staying on his man defensively. Steve Blake, Jr., I mean Eric Hayes, is the man to lead to this team. He was on the bench a little too long to my liking yesterday, and I hope he gets more playtime today. Not only is Vasquez bad news for the moment, but Choi is in early AGAIN. I can't wait for December 12th, when Dino Gregory comes back from his mysterious violation of team rules/academic dishonesty.

Wow, the Terps really need to learn to defend the three-point line better. It's like they keep forgetting it's there. I want to say here that I support the NBA three-point line, and think the college three-point line is a load of crap. Anyway... Jimmy Dykes has commented that it's a slow start for Vasquez, and I think we've been hearing that too much for someone who had such preseason hype. Perhaps he feels the same way, because he just scored 6 straight points for Maryland to bring them within 1 point. Now we have free-throws to tie and maybe, fingers crossed, take the lead. And my wish is their command! The Terps have the lead once again, 22-21.

Okay, the and-1 call for Rob Wilson was the biggest load of crap I have ever seen. He seriously went barrelling into Williams and got the extra point to take their lead to 7 points, again. Williams is a big boy, if you haven't noticed, and if he goes flying backwards onto his ass, it's because he was nearly run over. Not a good turn for the Terps right now. But have faith, fans. We won't have a repeat of last night. Right? RIGHT?!

The second the Badgers take their largest lead of the game so far, 9 points, Milbourne answers with a three. A three! For every one of our threes, though, Wisconsin has like 10. Ugh. I'd like to keep the Badger lead to ten before the half. At least they can manage to do that. The score at the half is 37-27.

Coach K's huddle at the half? I think I will watch the Home Shopping Network, thank you.