I know we usually keep our Q&As with out of town writers strictly to football, but with ACC play really heating up and the Canes (12-3, 1-1) set to take on Maryland (12-3, 1-0) tonight in a rather large early conference game I figured I'd try to do it with hoops.
This week, I exchanged emails with Terps beat writer Patrick Stevens of The Washington Times, who shared my thoughts on the game with his readers over on his blog D1SCOURSE. This 3-point shot of questions should get U ready for tonight's big game.
Q: Considering Miami has won five of the six meetings since it joined the ACC, I've got to imagine the Terps are very much looking forward to this meeting Wednesday night. Is this a game Gary Williams and his players circled on their calendars with red ink? Or, is it just another ACC game?
A: It's certainly an important game for Maryland, but it is probably best the Terps don't think too much about their repeated debacles against Miami.
Three things stand out about Wednesday. First, it is Maryland's first true road game of the season. The Terps have played four neutral-court games, but they might be the last team in the country to actually venture into an opponent's home gym (determining that, by the way, is my Tuesday morning project). Three, Maryland is the only team in the league playing Duke and North Carolina twice, and it gets a home-and-home with Miami on top of that. That is a big hole to climb out of on paper, and poaching one of those three opponents on the road would go a long way to making a successful season.
Q: The Terps haven't participated in the NCAA Tournament in two of the last three years. I know they've gotten off to a nice 12-3 start. But why should people believe this Maryland team will get back into the tournament this year? How are the Terps better?
A: It's three of four years in the NIT, as a lot of cranky fans in the Baltimore/D.C. area would no doubt quickly remind anyone who asked.
In terms of resume analysis, Maryland is better because it has a couple nonconference victories (vs. Michigan State, Michigan) that should hold up for the rest of the regular season. As for actual on-court reasons, this team defends better (out of necessity) than the Terps have in the last few years. Though it is prone to spells of shaky play, those woes are more a function of ability than effort.
In many ways, this is a true test of Gary Williams' ability to coach up his kind of players. All the highly 
regarded recruits who entered the program in the years immediately following the 2002 national title are gone. In their place are a bunch of steady, useful players --- but of them, only Greivis Vasquez qualifies as a standout right now.It's anyone's guess if this actually can be a tournament team. Certainly, the last week offered plenty of reasons doubt it can happen. But if there's a logical argument in support of a team without a true consistent post option making the postseason, it's the presence of a wily coach with a shiny national championship trophy on his resume who still feels he has plenty to prove.
Q: When you look at this matchup, what is the one weakness you think Miami can expose to win this game?
A: Maryland is going to feel like it's stuck in "Groundhog Day" by the time the ACC tournament rolls around. Assuming a team (a) is smart; (b) has some decent size in the post; and (c) doesn't commit 28 turnovers like Georgia Tech did, it is going to try to maul Maryland inside.
The Terps start the 6-foot-7 Dave Neal at the five. The interior rotation also includes the 6-foot-7 Dino Gregory and the 6-foot-8 Braxton Dupree. Both are Baltimore products, and Dupree in particular has looked lost for much of the season. That's a harsh blow for the Terps, because he is the one true big body they have even after dropping 20 pounds in the offseason. (Miami fans might remember sophomore Jerome Burney, who played well off the bench last year in Coral Gables. Burney, a truly unlucky fellow who redshirted his first season because of foot problems, hasn't played since early December with a stress fracture in his right foot).
If I'm Miami, I am trying to figure out how to get it to Dwayne Collins. And Cyrus McGowan. And Brian Asbury and Adrian Thomas. And Collins again. And again. And again. That's not to say Jack McClinton couldn't fill his usual role as perimeter assassin. But Maryland is more vulnerable inside, and even Williams conceded last week the Terps still must figure out how to counteract bigger teams. Wednesday represents a huge test in that regard.
thanks for the work you do, manny. good stuff.
Posted by: caneslaw213 | January 14, 2009 at 05:06 PM
This is going to be a great game and the Canes come out with a victory .
UM 84 Maryland 73
Lets Go CANES.
Posted by: deebee | January 14, 2009 at 05:27 PM
Nice job manny thanks for the insight!
Posted by: Um2012 | January 14, 2009 at 05:36 PM
Keep the bball comin Manny...
Posted by: Big Moo | January 14, 2009 at 06:03 PM
The more bb the better Manny .......
Posted by: Hurricane Moe | January 14, 2009 at 06:23 PM
Manny,
Can you give us some vision on Bryce Brown? Depending on which site you go to (rivals or scout) it either has him committed to Miami or leaning towwards Oregon (amoungst others). Where is this kid at mentally? He is going to be a star and its going to be really disappointing to see him bail on the U
Thanks
Posted by: Shawn | January 14, 2009 at 06:24 PM
Sooo let me get this straight, no tv tonight for Canes BBall. Instead I can watch, Gaytor nc celebration, Gaytor basketball, or American Idol...Nice!
Posted by: Big Moo | January 14, 2009 at 07:26 PM
its on ESPN360, if you have that.
Posted by: canefanatic777 | January 14, 2009 at 07:46 PM
Game on TV and Radio:
TV: Raycom (WBFS-My 33 in South Florida) Radio: 560 WQAM
Posted by: CoolRuler | January 14, 2009 at 08:57 PM
hurricanesports.com lists the coverage for the games.
Posted by: CoolRuler | January 14, 2009 at 08:59 PM
the game is on MY33 on directv.
Posted by: JayEl | January 14, 2009 at 09:08 PM
Anyone know where a fella could watch this streaming online if he's out in California?
Posted by: CaneInLA | January 14, 2009 at 09:09 PM
channel 724 on directv has the game
Posted by: U2cane | January 14, 2009 at 09:18 PM
35-23 at the half. WE BLOW.
Posted by: SOUP | January 14, 2009 at 10:03 PM
Manny,
Can you give us some vision on Bryce Brown?
Posted by: Shawn | January 14, 2009 at 06:24 PM
Hey stupid. In case you haven't figured it out yet, Manny could care less about football. All he cares about it Nascar and BBall. Just wait til either Susan writes a story, ESPN publishes something on their recruiting page, or rivals/scout post something new. Then after 2 days pass, Manny fill "update" his blog. Obviously you're new to Eye On The U. I have a website that you could come over to and chat though!
Posted by: SOUP | January 14, 2009 at 10:07 PM
Fake SOUP...U are NOT even convincing. Give it a rest.
Posted by: 86Cane | January 14, 2009 at 10:11 PM
I miss green :(
Posted by: SOUP | January 14, 2009 at 10:26 PM
Fake 86, where's Tom?
Posted by: SOUP | January 14, 2009 at 10:28 PM
HUGE WIN!
Posted by: canefanatic777 | January 14, 2009 at 10:52 PM
The U wins!! great comeback... Kids have heart and never gave up!!! Great WIN!
Posted by: oby1 | January 14, 2009 at 10:54 PM
whoah!!!whoah!!!!did anybody just see that!!!! HUGE HUGE win!!! playin from behind!!! thats what im talkin about baby!!!! i had lost hope!!!! but we pulled it out!!!
Posted by: Nate | January 14, 2009 at 10:54 PM
Same here.. I started watching the Heat game and came back because I thought we were going to be blown out.. But these kids showed me something tonight.. They battled.. and protected their court...
Posted by: oby-1 | January 14, 2009 at 11:01 PM
BIG win tonight
Posted by: mra | January 14, 2009 at 11:06 PM
Great great comeback......they were asleep early on. The 2 three-pointers that McClinton hit down the stretch of the game were ridiculously difficult......what a player he is at the end of games.
Posted by: JayEl | January 14, 2009 at 11:11 PM
Great come from behind win for the CANES!!! against a quality ACC opponent. Circle this win. This could be the one that decides our tournament fate. We still must cut down on turnovers, make foul shots and feed the ball in the post to Collins. The offense should run threw Collins.
Posted by: duvalcanesfan | January 14, 2009 at 11:58 PM
just want o know what bryce brown is doing, anyone know
Posted by: Shawn | January 15, 2009 at 12:10 AM
i had lost hope!!!! but we pulled it out!!!
Posted by: Nate | January 14, 2009 at 10:54 PM
I started watching the Heat game and came back because I thought we were going to be blown out..
Posted by: oby-1 | January 14, 2009 at 11:01 PM
Front running fans are U ? Typical
Posted by: Yeahhh We Win !!! Boooo We Lose ... | January 15, 2009 at 06:06 AM
35-23 at the half. WE BLOW.
Posted by: SOUP | January 14, 2009 at 10:03 PM
No SOUP. You Blow. Just like your "gator tail" feelings toward Canes football.
Turn on the lights - get out from under the desk - and go outside . . . it's nice and chilly.
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Posted by: WEL | February 27, 2009 at 08:21 AM