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Luke Jones

Top 20 moments in Camden Yards history: No. 11

Luke Jones

As we move closer to the start of the 20th season at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, I take a look back at the top 20 moments in the history of the ballpark. Selected moments had to relate directly to the action on the field at the time. No orchestrated events such as World Series anniversary celebrations or Orioles Hall of Fame inductions were eligible. Previous selections: 20. Wieters’ debut 19. Nomo tosses only no-hitter in Oriole Park history 18. Orioles rally from nine-run deficit against Boston 17. 30-3 16. Showalter takes the helm 15. Palmeiro homers in Oriole debut 14. Griffey’s Warehouse shot 13. Sparring with Seattle 12. Davis defies the odds 11. Hoiles’ dreamlike slam stuns Mariners – May 17, 1996 A unique moment in sports is occasionally so memorable that it takes on a life of itself. An event where only several thousand were present gradually transforms into an occasion witnessed by hundreds of thousands, if only for its improbable nature and the euphoria its aftermath creates. There’s nothing more cliched in sports than the boyhood dream of stepping to the plate in the bottom of the ninth with your team trailing by three runs. Full count,

Top 20 moments in Camden Yards history: No. 12

Luke Jones

Winding down to the start of the 20th season at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, I take a look back at the top 20 moments in the history of the ballpark. Selected moments had to relate directly to the action on the field at the time. No orchestrated events such as World Series anniversary celebrations or Orioles Hall of Fame inductions were eligible. Previous selections: 20. Wieters’ debut 19. Nomo tosses only no-hitter in Oriole Park history 18. Orioles rally from nine-run deficit against Boston 17. 30-3 16. Showalter takes the helm 15. Palmeiro homers in Oriole debut 14. Griffey’s Warehouse shot 13. Sparring with Seattle 12. Eric Davis defies the odds – Sept. 15, 1997 It wouldn’t have mattered if Eric Davis never stepped foot on a baseball field again. This was worlds more important than pennant races, home runs, or winning a game played by children. But the sight of Davis trotting out to right field three months after being diagnosed with cancer and undergoing what was assumed to be season-ending surgery was a moment unlike any other in the history of Camden Yards. The man who had had a baseball-sized tumor removed from his colon in the

Top 20 moments in Camden Yards history: No. 13

Luke Jones

As we count down to the start of the 20th season at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, I take a look back at the top 20 moments in the history of the ballpark. Selected moments had to relate directly to the action on the field at the time. No orchestrated events such as World Series anniversary celebrations or Orioles Hall of Fame inductions were eligible. Previous selections: 20. Wieters’ debut 19. Nomo tosses the only no-hitter in Oriole Park history 18. Orioles rally from nine-run deficit against Boston 17. 30-3 16. Showalter takes the helm 15. Palmeiro homers in Oriole debut 14. Griffey’s Warehouse shot 13. Sparring with Seattle – June 6, 1993 The next choice on the list would easily top a list of the ugliest moments in Camden Yards history, but it’s a scene those in attendance will never forget. After sleepwalking through the first two months of the season, the Orioles found themselves in sixth place and nine games out in the seven-team AL East when the Seattle Mariners came to town in early June. Baltimore took the first two games of the series and was thinking sweep with ace Mike Mussina taking the hill on a

Top 20 moments in Camden Yards history: No. 14

Luke Jones

As we move closer to the start of the 20th season at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, I take a look back at the top 20 moments in the history of the ballpark. Selected moments had to relate directly to the action on the field at the time. No orchestrated events such as World Series anniversary celebrations or Orioles Hall of Fame inductions were eligible. Previous selections: 20. Wieters’ debut 19. Nomo tosses the only no-hitter in Oriole Park history 18. Orioles rally from nine-run deficit against Boston 17. 30-3 16. Showalter takes the helm 15. Palmeiro homers in Oriole debut 14. Griffey hits the B&O Warehouse – July 12, 1993 Since the opening of Oriole Park at Camden Yards, left-handed hitters have taken aim at the historic B&O Warehouse. The hard-swinging — and hard-missing — Sam Horn was the first slugger fans speculated might be able to reach it in the inaugural season. But in the 1,511 games played at Camden Yards (including 10 postseason games), no one has reached the 1,116-foot long, eight-story building on the fly. Few have even gotten close. Only 52 home runs have landed on Eutaw Street as entire seasons occasionally pass without a

Top 20 moments in Camden Yards history: No. 15

Luke Jones

With the start of the 20th season at Oriole Park at Camden Yards only two weeks away, I take a look back at the top 20 moments in the history of the ballpark. Selected moments had to relate directly to the action on the field at the time. No orchestrated events such as World Series anniversary celebrations or Orioles Hall of Fame inductions were eligible. Previous selections: 20. Matt Wieters’ debut 19. Hideo Nomo tosses the only no-hitter in Oriole Park history 18. Orioles rally from nine-run deficit against Boston 17. 30-3 16. Buck Showalter takes the helm 15. Raffy goes deep in first game with Orioles – April 4, 1994 His disgraced name will forever be linked to steroids and the infamous pointing of a finger while testifying at a congressional hearing on performance-enhancing drugs months before failing a drug test in the final year of his career — as a member of the Orioles. He’ll likely never earn a spot in the National Baseball Hall of Fame or even induction to the Orioles Hall of Fame after serving a 10-day suspension for testing positive for the anabolic steroid stanozolol only days after accumulating his 3,000th hit in 2005.

Top 20 moments in Camden Yards history: No. 16

Luke Jones

As we approach the start of the 20th season at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, I take a look back at the top 20 moments in the history of the ballpark. Selected moments had to relate directly to the action on the field at the time. No orchestrated events such as World Series anniversary celebrations or Orioles Hall of Fame inductions were eligible. Previous selections: 20. Matt Wieters’ debut 19. Hideo Nomo tosses the only no-hitter in Oriole Park history 18. Orioles rally from nine-run deficit against Boston 17. 30-3 16. Baltimore Buck – Aug. 3, 2010 It was a four-month long nightmare that extended far beyond the misery experienced over the course of 13 consecutive losing seasons. The 2010 season crashed with a 2-16 start and claimed manager Dave Trembley’s job in early June with the Orioles holding an embarrassing 15-39 mark. Fortunes didn’t improve much under interim manager Juan Samuel over the next two months as the Orioles appeared destined to top the 1988 club’s record for futility (54-107). Meanwhile, president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail dragged out the search for a permanent field general, leaving players and fans to ponder a plethora of candidates. As the calendar

Top 20 moments in Camden Yards history: No. 17

Luke Jones

Counting down to the start of the 20th season at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, I take a look back at the top 20 moments in the history of the ballpark. Selected moments had to relate directly to the action on the field at the time. No orchestrated events such as World Series anniversary celebrations or Orioles Hall of Fame inductions were eligible. Previous selections: 20. Matt Wieters’ debut 19. Hideo Nomo tosses the only no-hitter in Oriole Park history 18. Orioles rally from nine-run deficit against Boston 17. 30-3 – Aug. 22, 2007 Sometimes a picture tells you everything you need to know. It was a historic moment in baseball history, even if it came at the expense of the hometown team. Perhaps the most remarkable part of the Texas Rangers’ absurd 30-3 victory in the first game of a doubleheader was the fact that the Orioles led 3-0 heading into the fourth inning. If only they could have quit right there. With a score that looked more like a Cowboys-Ravens’ result — if not for the Ravens holding a 3-0 all-time record against Dallas — the Rangers became the first team in 110 years to plate 30 runs

Bordick elected to Orioles Hall of Fame

Luke Jones

The man who drew the unenviable task of permanently replacing Cal Ripken at shortstop will now join the Baltimore legend in the Orioles Hall of Fame. Former shortstop and current minor league instructor Mike Bordick has been elected to the team’s Hall of Fame, the Orioles announced in a press release Saturday. Head athletic trainer Richie Bancells was named this year’s Herb Armstrong Award winner. Signed prior to the 1997 season to take over the shortstop position with Ripken sliding over to third base, Bordick spent six years with the Orioles and was named to the 2000 All-Star team before being traded to the New York Mets at the trade deadline that season. He re-signed with Baltimore that offseason, playing two more years with the Orioles. Bordick owns the third-highest fielding percentage (.982) among shortstops with at least 1,000 games played in major league history, trailing only Omar Vizquel and Jimmy Roberts. His defense was never better than 2002 when the veteran set big league records in fielding percentage (.998), fewest errors (one), consecutive games without an error (110), and consecutive errorless chances (543). His record-setting year, however, did not net him a Gold Glove award. Known primarily for his

Top 20 moments in Camden Yards history: No. 18

Luke Jones

Leading up to the start of the 20th season at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, I take a look back at the top 20 moments in the history of the ballpark. Selected moments had to relate directly to the action on the field at the time. No orchestrated events such as World Series anniversary celebrations or Orioles Hall of Fame inductions were eligible. Previous selections: 20. Matt Wieters’ debut 19. Hideo Nomo tosses the only no-hitter in Oriole Park history 18. Orioles stage greatest comeback in team history – June 30, 2009 Another merciless pounding at the hands of Boston, or so it seemed. The Orioles had lost eight straight to the Red Sox, and their unruly traveling fans were basking in the glory of a 10-1 lead in the seventh inning. Most fans watching at home had given up on the massacre and flipped to reruns — hey, it’s hard to resist The Office — on a midsummer night of television. Nobody knew it, but the Orioles were about to thrill the few hometown fans remaining in the ballpark and stun the Sox supporters taunting those making their way to the exits. By the time the Orioles went to

Top 20 moments in Camden Yards history: No. 19

Luke Jones

To count down to the start of the 20th season at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, I take a look back at the top 20 moments in the history of the ballpark. Selected moments had to relate directly to the action on the field at the time. No orchestrated events such as World Series anniversary celebrations or Orioles Hall of Fame inductions were eligible. Previous selections: 20. Matt Wieters’ debut 19. Nomo’s no-no – April 4, 2001 Most top moments on the list fall in the Orioles’ favor, but it’s impossible to overlook something that had never happened before and hasn’t taken place since at Camden Yards. Nomomania had once gripped Chavez Ravine in the mid-1990s, but former Dodgers pitcher Hideo Nomo had seen the shine wear off the apple as he pitched for four teams in three years prior to his arrival in Boston in 2001. After being lit up in the Grapefruit League to the tune of an 11.37 ERA, no one knew what to expect as he took the hill in his first start for the Red Sox. After the Orioles had defeated the Red Sox in an 11-inning thriller on Opening Day, history would be made

Terps land prized Montrose Christian wing Justin Anderson

Luke Jones

Needing uplifting news after a deflating week for the program, the postseason-less Terps landed their highest-rated recruit in eight years. Montrose Christian small forward Justin Anderson announced his intentions to play at the University of Maryland, choosing Gary Williams and the Terps despite serious interest from ACC rivals Virginia and North Carolina. The junior wing is a consensus four-star recruit and top-50 talent who has shown explosive athleticism and defensive tenacity while playing for the distinguished Stu Vetter. Should his current standing hold up or improve, Anderson would be the highest-rated freshman for Maryland since Mike Jones in 2003. “I wanted to get the decision over with,” Anderson said in a televised interview with Comcast SportsNet. “Not in a rush, but I felt as though it was about that time I can start creating a relationship with coach Williams and with his assistants and start working on the game in the way that they want me to to be ready for Maryland when I get there.” Anderson pointed to location and the success of former ACC player of the year Greivis Vasquez, who also attended Montrose Christian, as major factors in his decision to commit to Maryland so early. He

Top 20 Moments in Camden Yards history: No. 20

Luke Jones

With the home opener of the 2011 season less than three weeks away, it’s nearly impossible to believe Oriole Park at Camden Yards will open its 20th season on April 4th. Since opening in 1992, the retro-classic ballpark continues to be the standard by which new parks are judged. Nineteen baseball stadiums have opened since Camden Yards first became the new “old” place to enjoy a ballgame in the shadow of the B&O Warehouse in downtown Baltimore. Even with a few minor facelifts and the well-chronicled struggles on the field, the jewel that is Oriole Park still sparkles nearly 20 years after its birth at 333 West Camden Street. To count down to the start of the 20th season at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, I take a look back at the top 20 moments in the history of the ballpark. Pleasant memories have been few and far between since — potential spoiler alert — Cal Ripken’s retirement a decade ago, but numerous snapshots have been engraved in our collective baseball memories, good and bad. In an effort to create parameters for selection, moments had to relate directly to the action on the field at the time. Therefore, no orchestrated events

Maryland misery: What happened and what’s next for the Terps?

Luke Jones

As you settled in Tuesday night to embark in this new era of the “First Four” and tried to figure out what channel truTV was on, or if you settled for the ho-hum action of the NIT, the noticeable absence of Maryland basketball leaves many in the area pondering the same question. What’s next for the Terps? After failing to qualify for the NCAA tournament or NIT for the first time since 1993, Maryland finds itself in territory not seen in College Park since the inky shadow of NCAA probation was still lingering. But after a couple days to digest the duel rejection that ended a season of disappointment, are you really that distraught over missing out on the NIT, a tournament nobody wanted to go to anyway? In retrospect, what did you really expect entering the 2010-11 season? Losing three key seniors, including ACC player of the year Greivis Vasquez, not only left a 54.5 percent hole in scoring, but also valuable leadership difficult to replace. Beyond the anticipated improvement of Jordan Williams — who blossomed into the best big man in the ACC as a sophomore — coach Gary Williams would bestow his hopes on three seniors who

Shell-shocked Terps left out of N.I.T. field as season comes to end

Luke Jones

Following their 87-71 loss to Duke in the ACC tournament quarterfinals on Friday, the Terps knew they wouldn’t be playing in the NCAA tournament. Little did they know the NIT would also pass on them, ending their season without even knowing it as they walked off the Greensboro Coliseum floor. For the first time since 1992-93, Maryland (19-14) will not appear in a postseason tournament, snapping the longest active streak in the ACC and ending a disappointing season sooner than expected. “After 19 wins and beating Penn State, Florida State and Clemson, it’s disappointing that we’re not at least in the NIT,” said Gary Williams in a released statement Sunday night. “We played right with Duke for 35 minutes and got a win in the ACC tournament. It’s kind of surprising we weren’t selected.” This year’s National Invitation Tournament includes 14 regular season champions who — by not winning their conference tournaments to qualify for the NCAA field of 68 — received automatic bids under NIT rules. This left only 18 at-large bids for the 32-team tournament, and given Maryland’s unimpressive resume that included only one win against top-50 RPI schools, the Terps (98th in the RPI, according to RealTimeRPI.com)

Late collapse to Duke paints (im)perfect picture of Maryland’s season

Luke Jones

If you’ve been seeking the abridged version of a frustrating season for Maryland, the final 10 minutes of an 87-71 loss to Duke on Friday night revealed everything you needed to know about the Terps. After an impressive performance over the first 30 minutes against the second-seeded Blue Devils in the ACC tournament quarterfinals, the Terps were in position to challenge the No. 5 team in the country, trailing 63-60 after a Dino Gregory layup at the 10:13 mark. All-ACC senior Nolan Smith was ineffective throughout the night and left the game with a toe injury with just under seven minutes left. The normally sharpshooting Blue Devils were a paltry 3-for-15 from beyond the arc. And despite a huge night from  all-conference senior Kyle Singler (29 points for the game), the Maryland defense swarmed the ball on nearly every possession, leaving a perimeter-dependent team with few open looks. Opportunity was sitting right there as Maryland had essentially made it a 10-minute game against one of the best teams in the country. It wasn’t the near-perfect performance they needed to secure the upset, but Duke’s struggles had allowed an energized Maryland team to hang around. And then, like we’ve seen all

Maryland-Duke: Turtle Power live chat at 7:00

Luke Jones

***Join us in the Turtle Power live chat as the Terps take on Duke in the ACC quarterfinals*** After snapping their three-game losing streak with a 75-67 win over N.C. State Thursday night, Maryland (19-13, 7-9 ACC) faces No. 5 Duke (27-4, 13-3 ACC) in the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament at 7:00. The Terps will try to beat Mike Krzyzewski’s Blue Devils for the first time this season, falling twice in the regular season. A win would place them in the semifinals (against the winner of Virginia Tech-Florida State) for the first time since 2009 when the seventh-seeded Terrapins defeated a tough Wake Forest squad in the quarterfinals, a feat that essentially punched their ticket to the NCAA tournament. Tonight’s game will be televised locally on WNUV-TV 54 and on ESPN2 (for those outside the ACC Network region). The Turtle Power live chat will be open beginning at 7:00 and remember to follow us on Twitter (@WNST) for the quickest updates and analysis regarding the happenings at the Greensboro Coliseum.

Terps pass easy test over N.C. State in ACC tourney opener

Luke Jones

Give Maryland credit for not mailing it in after losing three straight to finish the regular season. The seventh-seeded Terps did what they were supposed to in a 75-67 victory over N.C. State in the opening round of the ACC tournament. It wasn’t the prettiest performance, but it didn’t need to be against the Wolfpack, who couldn’t have put forth a more lifeless effort in the likely final game of the Sidney Lowe era. Jordan Williams’ 16 points and 13 rebounds punched Maryland’s ticket for a second-round matchup against Duke on Friday night, giving the Terps a third opportunity to gain a win over the Blue Devils in 2011. The Terps held N.C. State to 33.8 percent shooting and an anemic 2-for-17 performance from beyond the arc, interrupting an alarming trend of sloppy perimeter defense over the last month. The Wolfpack’s leading scorer Tracy Smith — dealing with a sore knee that forced him to come off the bench — lacked his normal energy, and sophomore Scott Wood (0-for-6 from 3-point range) failed to find the rhythm he enjoyed against the Terps last month. Maryland (19-13) exploded to an early 12-2 lead and never trailed in the game, dictating the

Maryland-N.C. State: Turtle Power live chat at 7

Luke Jones

***Join us in the Turtle Power live chat beginning at 7:00 as the Terps face N.C. State*** The ACC tournament is underway in Greensboro, N.C. as the Maryland Terrapins (18-13, 7-9 ACC) take on N.C. State in the first round at 7:00 p.m. The winner earns the daunting task of facing Duke on Friday night As improbable as it is, the Terps will attempt to grab the first of four victories needed in the next four days to earn the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. Anything less and Maryland will accept the reality of missing the Big Dance and having to settle for a likely invitation to the NIT. Tonight’s game will be televised on ESPN2 with Mike Patrick and Len Elmore calling the action from the Greensboro Coliseum. As always, join us in the Turtle Power live chat beginning at 7:00 and follow us on Twitter (@WNST) for the quickest updates and analysis of the happenings in the ACC tournament.

Maryland’s J. Williams, Stoglin grab ACC honors

Luke Jones

Having completed one of the most successful seasons by a big man in the history of Maryland basketball, Jordan Williams was selected to the all-ACC first team on Monday afternoon. The sophomore from Torrington, Conn. received 210 points from the 75 members of the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association, second-most overall behind Duke’s senior guard Nolan Smith who was the only unanimous choice. Virginia Tech senior — and Baltimore native — Malcolm Delaney, Duke senior Kyle Singler, and Boston College junior Reggie Jackson round out the first team of all-ACC players. Williams led the ACC and was third nationally in rebounding (11.6 per game) and posted a single-season school record of 23 double-doubles in his second season in College Park. His 16.9 points per game average was sixth in the conference and 54.1 percent field-goal percentage was second in the ACC. The national recognition continues to pour in for Williams as he also earned third-team selections on the FOXsports.com and Yahoo! Sports All-America basketball teams. Point guard Terrell Stoglin capped off a spectacular finish to the regular season by grabbing all-freshman honors, joining North Carolina’s Kendall Marshall and Harrison Barnes, Wake Forest’s Travis McKie, and N.C. State’s C.J. Leslie. The freshman

Terps set to play N.C. State in 1st round of ACC tournament

Luke Jones

On the heels of an alarming three-game losing streak to finish the regular season, Maryland had to wait for Sunday’s conference action to learn who it would play in the first round of the ACC tournament in Greensboro, N.C. With Miami falling to Georgia Tech on Sunday, the Terps (18-13, 7-9 ACC) discovered they would play as the No. 7 seed against N.C. State, who fell to Florida State on Sunday evening. Maryland will play the Wolfpack in the conference tournament for the first time since 2009 when the Terps prevailed in another first-round matchup. Knowing they have no chance for at-large consideration after finishing with a losing record in a down year for the ACC, the Terps’ mission this coming weekend is quite clear if they want to avoid their fourth trip to the NIT in seven years and advance to the NCAA tournament: Win the entire thing. Maryland has not won the ACC tournament since 2004 when John Gilchrist earned Most Valuable Player honors by leading the sixth-seeded Terps to wins over Wake Forest, N.C. State, and Duke to cut down the nets in Greensboro. That 2004 edition would mark the end of the nine-team format that included

Terps’ late-season fade continues with 74-60 loss to Virginia

Luke Jones

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Minutes after Maryland’s regular season concluded with a third straight loss, Gary Williams offered a remark that could summarize his team’s entire season. “Close doesn’t count, especially this time of year. You have to figure out a way to win those games.” It’s a mantra that rings true for a team that’s failed to close out victories against top opponents and to complete comeback efforts on several occasions. It’s the reality the Terps now face, needing to win four straight in the conference tournament as their only means to make the NCAA tournament. Continuing their late-season collapse, the Terps fell to Virginia, 74-60, in a game controlled by the Cavaliers all afternoon on Maryland’s Senior Day. The loss leaves Maryland (18-13, 7-9 ACC) with a three-game losing streak to finish the regular season for the first time since 2005 and Williams to search for answers before the ACC tournament in Greensboro, N.C. next weekend. The Cavaliers (16-14, 7-9 ACC) slowed the tempo to their liking, turning it over just six times as Maryland’s full-court pressure failed to produce any points off turnovers. Virginia received career-high performances by junior center Assane Sene (15 points) and junior guard

Maryland-Virginia: Turtle Power live chat at 2:00

Luke Jones

***Join us in the Turtle Power live chat as Maryland takes on the Virginia Cavaliers in the regular season finale*** COLLEGE PARK, Md. — It’s Senior Day at Comcast Center as the Maryland Terrapins (18-12, 7-8 ACC) close out the regular season by hosting the Virginia Cavaliers (15-14, 6-9 ACC) at 2:00. Seniors Dino Gregory, Cliff Tucker, and Adrian Bowie will be honored as they play their final regular season game in College Park. The senior class has clearly been a disappointment this season with Maryland counting on the three to play bigger roles after losing over half of its point production from a season ago. Despite an NCAA tournament bid looking to be out of reach unless the Terps win the ACC tournament, Maryland will look to close out the regular season on a high note by reaching the .500 mark in conference play and build some momentum heading into Greensboro, N.C. next Thursday. This afternoon’s game can be seen on the ACC Network (WNUV-TV 54 in Baltimore) with Tim Brant and Dave Odom calling the action from Comcast Center. As always, join us in the Turtle Power chat beginning at 2:00 and follow us on Twitter (@WNST) for

Terps make flimsy March statement in 80-66 loss at Miami

Luke Jones

Depending on how you viewed Maryland’s remote NCAA tournament hopes entering Wednesday night’s game at Miami, it might not have mattered how the Terps fared against the Hurricanes. If they needed to win the ACC tournament to secure an invitation to the field of 68, the outcome in the penultimate game of the regular season wouldn’t have changed anything on paper, right? Following a 80-66 drubbing in Coral Gables, the Terps played as though they had similar thoughts in mind. Maryland looked every bit the part of a team with little to play for and after Malcolm Grant’s 3-pointer put the Hurricanes ahead 14-12 with 13:17 remaining in the first half, the Terps trailed the rest of the way. Instead of beating a mediocre Miami squad to declare they would be a difficult out in Greensboro next week, the Terps (18-12, 7-8 ACC) made a different statement entirely by turning in their weakest performance of the season. Their blowout loss at home to Virginia Tech in January was brutal, but at least the Hokies appear on their way to the NCAA tournament — though a home loss to Boston College Tuesday made that less of a certainty for Seth Greenberg’s

Maryland-Miami: Turtle Power live chat at 7:00

Luke Jones

***Join us in the Turtle Power live chat as Maryland takes on the Canes at 7:00*** The Terps begin the final week of the regular season tonight as they travel to Coral Gables, Fla. to meet the Miami Hurricanes (17-12, 5-9 ACC) in their only meeting of the season. Following a disappointing loss at North Carolina on Sunday that put its at-large hopes essentially out of reach, Maryland (18-11, 7-7 ACC) must focus its attention on finishing the regular season with two wins (the finale takes place at home against Virginia on Saturday) to gain a higher seed in the ACC tournament, where the Terps will look to cut down the nets to earn a spot in the field of 68. Tonight’s game will be televised on ESPNU with Carter Blackburn and LaPhonso Ellis calling the action from BankUnited Center. As always, join us in the Turtle Power live chat beginning at 7:00 and follow us on Twitter (@WNST) for the quickest updates and analysis regarding tonight’s game.

Maryland overwhelmed by UNC, 87-76, as at-large hopes go up in smoke

Luke Jones

In a game the Terps needed to win to keep their at-large hopes alive for a bid to the NCAA tournament, North Carolina was the bigger, stronger, and faster team. Gary Williams called timeout after timeout — burning his last one with 10:32 remaining in the game — to search for the right words or combination of players to ignite a spark. But short of finding Juan Dixon or Greivis Vasquez sitting at the end of the bench — or at least a Lonny Baxter to counterbalance the Tar Heels’ dominant frontcourt — it wasn’t going to matter. The Terps ran into a buzz saw that was simply better than them in an 87-76 loss in Chapel Hill Sunday night. Short of a miracle run in Greensboro, N.C. in two weeks, Maryland saw its tournament hopes fade away in a similar fashion to many of their losses this season. A respectable effort, but just not good enough. North Carolina’s frontcourt combination of Tyler Zeller and John Henson combined for 35 points and 21 rebounds as the Tar Heels racked up 19 offensive rebounds, 14 coming in the first half to build a 43-31 lead at intermission. The Heels’ 46-42 edge

Maryland-North Carolina pre-game notes

Luke Jones

***Join us in the Turtle Power live chat beginning at 7:30 as Maryland takes on the Tar Heels at the Dean Dome*** With a final chance to make a loud statement for an at-large selection to the NCAA Tournament, the Maryland Terrapins (18-10, 7-6 ACC) are in Chapel Hill to take on No. 19 North Carolina (21-6, 11-2 ACC) tonight at 7:45. The Tar Heels are bigger (with 7-footer Tyler Zeller and 6-foot-10 John Henson leading the frontcourt), love to play in transition much like the Terps, and will attempt to stifle Maryland with one of the best defenses in the nation. North Carolina has taken its play to a different level since freshman point guard Kendall Marshall (5.1 assists per game) took the reins of the Heels offense in place of Larry Drew II, who has since left the program. Not to be outdone by Marshall, freshman Terrell Stoglin has exploded for the Terps in recent weeks and will need a big night at the Dean Dome for Maryland to pull off the upset. Stoglin (10.9 points per game) has emerged as the second-leading scorer on the team behind big man Jordan Wiliams (17.2). This one could easily turn

Maryland’s tournament hopes still alive after 78-62 win over FSU

Luke Jones

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — If their NCAA tournament chances were flatlining following back-to-back road losses to Boston College and Virginia Tech, the Terps discovered a pulse, if only a faint one, on Wednesday night. Five Maryland players reached double-digit scoring, and the Terps held Florida State to just 39 percent shooting in the second half to seize a convincing 78-62 win over the Seminoles, their first win over a top-50 RPI school this season. It was the type of performance Gary Williams was waiting for all season despite an ominous start to the evening at Comcast Center. With the “Wall” nearly empty at tip-off (see below) and not filling much more during the game, the veteran coach was clearly displeased with the lack of student support — evident in his post-game comments thanking those in attendance for “not giving up” and pointing out negativity in the student newspaper. Williams couldn’t have felt much better when the Seminoles sprung out to a 9-2 lead two minutes into the game with all points coming from the sharp-shooting Deividas Dulkys. The opening looked and felt like the disastrous 12-0 start against Virginia Tech last month, a game in which the Terps never found

Maryland-FSU: Turtle Power live chat at 9:00

Luke Jones

***Join us in the Turtle Power live chat beginning at 9:00 as the Terps battle Florida State in their only meeting of the regular season.*** COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Looking for that elusive first win against a top-50 RPI school, the Terps (17-10, 6-6 ACC) are in action this evening against the Florida State Seminoles (19-7, 9-3 ACC) at Comcast Center. With the Seminoles missing leading scorer Chris Singleton and Maryland desperately needing to stack wins in the last leg of the conference schedule, little needs to be said about how important this game is for Gary Williams and the Terps. Florida State has won three straight games against the bottom feeders of the ACC (Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, and Virginia) and is looking for its fourth ACC road to further solidify its NCAA tournament resume. The Terps look to continue the success they enjoyed last season over the Seminoles when they swept the season series. Maryland has won three consecutive home games against Florida State and carries a 13-3 all-time home record in the matchup. After being named ACC Rookie of the Week on Monday, Terrell Stoglin aims to continue his hot hand after scoring 25 points each against

Terps finish strong to top NC State, 87-80

Luke Jones

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — With the backdrop of Greivis Vasquez’s jersey being raised to the rafters and the 10th anniversary celebration of the 2001 Final Four team, Maryland had plenty of extra motivation Sunday to rebound from its disappointing two-game road trip that’s left their tournament hopes in major jeopardy. And bounce back they did, using career performances from Terrell Stoglin and Dino Gregory as well as a game-high 26 points from Jordan Williams to give the Terps an 87-80 victory over North Carolina State, giving Maryland (17-10, 6-6 ACC) only its third win of the season in games decided by 10 points or fewer. “It seems like every game when we’re down or when we’re fighting a team we can’t get that win,” Williams said. “And tonight when I looked up and we were about to win the game, I was like, ‘It’s about time, we finally got over that hump.’” The sophomore forward scored 26 points in the first 28 minutes of the game but was held scoreless in the final 12, leaving him one point shy of his career mark. It forced the Terps to look elsewhere for the means to finish off a close game, a

Maryland-NC State pre-game notes

Luke Jones

***Join us in the Turtle Power live chat beginning at 5:30 as the Terps take on the Wolfpack*** COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Despite Maryland’s NCAA tournament hopes looking bleak with five games remaining in the regular season, Comcast Center is abuzz for tonight’s contest with NC State. Former Terp and current Memphis Grizzlies guard Greivis Vasquez will have his No. 21 jersey raised to the rafters at halftime in what figures to be an emotional moment in College Park. And while he wouldn’t admit, Gary Williams has some extra incentive taking on NC State with former Maryland athletic director Debbie Yow now holding the same position in Raleigh. Despite the subplots, the Terps (16-10, 5-6 ACC) desperately need to stack wins to keep their remote tournament hopes alive and figure to have an excellent chance against Sidney Lowe’s Wolfpack. North Carolina State (14-11, 4-7 ACC) has won two in a row against Clemson and Wake Forest but has underachieved in what appears to be Lowe’s swan song season with the Wolfpack. Maryland has won seven straight against the Wolfpack and looks to rebound from a disappointing 0-2 road trip with critical losses at Boston College and Virginia Tech in the

After falling to Virginia Tech, Maryland must look to backcourt future

Luke Jones

It was an entertaining and highly competitive game in Blacksburg, but it produced the tired final act we’ve seen too many times this season. Despite plenty of opportunities, Maryland fell short against Virginia Tech, 91-83, on Tuesday night, downgrading the Terps’ faint NCAA tournament hopes from life support to a virtual flatline with five games remaining in the regular season. Dropping to 5-6 in the conference and being swept by a third ACC team — the Hokies joining Duke and Boston College as schools with two wins over Maryland — simply won’t garner any deserved consideration for the tournament in a down year for the ACC. Barring a miraculous finish unseen since the Terps’ ACC tournament championship in 2004, Maryland will find itself playing in the NIT for the first time since 2008 when current seniors Adrian Bowie, Cliff Tucker, and Dino Gregory were finishing their freshman year. As deflating as that reality is in the middle of February, a tiny beacon of hope shined at Cassell Coliseum with the impressive performance of freshman Terrell Stoglin. The shifty guard scored a career-high 25 points — 15 coming before intermission after the Terps had fallen behind by 10 points early in

Maryland-Virginia Tech: Turtle Power live chat at 8:00

Luke Jones

The reeling Terps are desperate for a win to preserve their faint NCAA tournament hopes as they take on the Virginia Tech Hokies in Blacksburg at 8:00. Tonight’s game will be televised on the ACC Network (WNUV-TV 54 in Baltimore) with Tim Brando and Dan Bonner calling the action from Cassell Coliseum. As always, watch the action with us in the Turtle Power live chat beginning at 8:00 and remember to follow us on Twitter (@WNST) for the quickest updates and analysis!

Maryland releases 2011 football schedule

Luke Jones

The University of Maryland revealed its 2011 football schedule Monday afternoon and will begin the Randy Edsall era in a nationally-televised primetime game on Labor Day. The Terps kick off the 2011 season against Miami at Byrd Stadium, marking the second straight year Maryland will begin its season on Labor Day after beating Navy at M&T Bank Stadium last season. The opener against the Hurricanes will mark the first time the Terps have opened the season against an ACC opponent since playing North Carolina in 2001. Even more intrigue would exist in the opener against Miami should former Hurricanes head coach Randy Shannon accept Maryland’s offer to become its new defensive coordinator, replacing the recently-departed Don Brown who accepted the same position at the University of Connecticut. “We were approached by the ACC about playing Miami in a primetime national broadcast on ESPN,” Maryland director of athletics Kevin Anderson said in a released statement. “Based on the positive experience that our student-athletes and many of our fans enjoyed last season playing on Labor Day, we agreed to the request.” Other highlights include a Sept. 17 home game against rival West Virginia as well as a meeting with Notre Dame at

Tournament hopes grow fainter in Terps’ 76-72 loss to BC

Luke Jones

He might not be Mr. October, but Boston College’s Reggie Jackson dealt a postseason blow to Maryland that would have made the Hall of Fame slugger proud on Saturday afternoon. Jackson’s career-high 31 points on 12-for-16 shooting led the Eagles to a 76-72 victory over the Terps in Chestnut Hill, putting Maryland’s NCAA tournament hopes on life support with six games remaining in the regular season. Five Maryland players reached double figures, but the Terps could not overcome Jackson’s heroics as the junior guard went 5-for-7 from beyond the arc to give the Eagles the season sweep. Boston College improved to 6-5 in the ACC while the Terps dropped to 5-5 in the conference. Dino Gregory led the Terps with 15 points while freshmen guards Pe’Shon Howard and Terrell Stoglin each had 14 points and combined for 10 assists. Jordan Williams, frustrated for much of the afternoon by double-teams in the paint, finished with just 12 points and eight rebounds. Other than a brief time early in the first half, the Eagles had no problem with Maryland’s full-court press and shot 48.2 percent from the field, often getting easy looks in the process. The game featured two of the biggest

Maryland-Boston College: Turtle Power live chat at 1:00

Luke Jones

***Watch with us in the Turtle Power live chat beginning at 1:00 p.m.*** Seeking their first top-50 RPI win of the season and revenge after a home loss in December, the Terps travel to Chestnut Hill to take on Boston College at 1:00. Maryland (16-8, 5-4 ACC) sorely needs a victory against the Eagles (15-9, 5-5 ACC), who have dropped four of their last five games in conference play. The Terps are winners of five of their last six, but only one (a 79-77 win over Clemson) has come against a team in the top 100 of the RPI — not exactly a major boost to the team’s NCAA tournament hopes. Boston College bested the Terps in College Park on December 12, scoring the game’s final seven points over the closing 2:40 of the second half to give the Eagles a 79-75 victory. The home loss snapped Maryland’s 15-game winning streak at the Comcast Center. The road team has won the last six regular season games in the all-time series. This afternoon’s game can be seen on the ACC Network (WNUV-TV 54 in Baltimore) at 1:00 p.m. with Tom Werme and Cory Alexander calling the action from Conte Forum. As

Terps squash Longwood, now face make-or-break road stretch

Luke Jones

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — You’d be hard pressed to find a more lopsided affair than independent Longwood traveling to Comcast Center to meet the Terps on Wednesday night. With just one starter taller than 6-foot-2, the Lancers were overmatched, overwhelmed, and overawed by Maryland in a merciless 106-52 beating. The Terps (16-8, 5-4 ACC) exploded to an early 11-0 lead and never relented as junior Sean Mosley led all scorers with 20 points while sophomore star Jordan Williams dealt with surprising foul trouble against the undersized Lancers (8-19), finishing with just nine points and 11 rebounds. Maryland held an overwhelming 55-28 edge on the glass, its biggest margin of the season. Six players reached double-digit scoring for the Terps as they concluded the non-conference portion of their schedule, finishing a perfect 10-0 at home against out-of-conference foes. Perhaps more impressive than the scoring output was the Terps’ season-high 28 assists, giving them 55 in their last two games. “You still have to make shots,” said Gary Williams, who earned his 665th career victory to pass legendary UCLA coach John Wooden on the all-time wins list. “It’s one thing to make the pass, but we finished off some really good passes

Terps rebound against Wake Forest, 91-70

Luke Jones

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Bouncing back quickly from an 18-point loss to your biggest rival is always a challenge, even when the next game is against the worst team in the conference. Despite Gary Williams’ concern that his team would come out flat Saturday afternoon, the Terps did exactly what was expected of them as they blew out hapless Wake Forest, 91-70, at Comcast Center. Maryland controlled the tempo throughout the afternoon, holding a double-digit lead for a large portion of the game. After the Demon Deacons narrowed the edge to 60-50 with 10:07 to play, the Terps used a 13-0 run to hammer the final nail in the coffin and improve to 5-4 in the ACC. Jordan Williams matched a career-high 27 points and grabbed 15 rebounds for his NCAA-leading 20th double-double of the season. Adrian Bowie added 13 points and six assists and Cliff Tucker chipped in 10 points off the bench. Defensively, the Terps forced 19 turnovers, scoring 21 points off the Wake Forest miscues. “You get knocked down [after a loss], you get up,” the Maryland coach said. “It’s no more complicated than that.” The Terps (15-8) didn’t need much to knock down the Demon Deacons

Is Vlad simply Sammy Sosa version 2.0 for Orioles?

Luke Jones

It may have come seven years too late, but the Orioles finally persuaded Vlad the Impaler to bring his free-swinging talents to Baltimore. And before you shout charges of negativity and raining on a feel-good parade — fans in this town deserve a celebration as much as any city in baseball after 13 years of hell — I’ll admit to sharing enthusiastic visions of Vladimir Guerrero raking baseballs into the left field seats at Camden Yards. Guerrero brings an imposing presence to the heart of the lineup and should — along with veteran first baseman Derrek Lee — offer the legitimate protection that Nick Markakis, Matt Wieters, and Adam Jones painfully lacked a season ago. He should make the team better in 2011, though how much is up for debate. My hesitation isn’t even about the $8 million price tag that so many statheads will whine about with accusations of the Orioles bidding against themselves and blocking Nolan Reimold and Felix Pie for the possible luxury of another two wins (in terms of WAR or “wins above replacement” for the sabermetrically-challenged). The reality is sabermetrics and responsible spending habits don’t exist in a vacuum when you’re playing the free-agent market

Lights go out on Terps in 80-62 loss to Duke

Luke Jones

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — As media waited for Gary Williams’ post-game press conference, the lights went out in the auxiliary gymnasium where the Maryland coach speaks to reporters after games. It was an appropriate ending to a disappointing night for the Terps in an 80-62 loss to No. 5 Duke, a game in which Maryland tried to climb back in it at several points behind an electric atmosphere at Comcast Center. Poor shooting, the surrendering of second-chance baskets, and lackadaisical perimeter defense spelled out what anyone who watched Wednesday night’s game could plainly see. “It’s a team thing,” said Williams, questioning his team’s energy level much like he did after a home loss to Virginia Tech two weeks ago. “You have to be ready to play. You have to believe that you can win that game. That’s what we have to work on.” To beat Duke, Maryland (14-8, 4-4 ACC) needed to play a near-perfect game to compensate for their deficiencies on the perimeter, using its size and playing tough defense (ranked ninth in the nation in opponent field-goal percentage entering Wednesday night’s game) to knock off the more-talented Blue Devils. The Terps did neither as Duke (20-2, 7-1 ACC)

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