Terps Left Out in the Cold

Oral Roberts in NIT Is Little Consolation

The Terrapins, looking weary late during their ACC tournament loss to Clemson, will miss the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1993. (Jonathan Newton -- The Washington Post)

When the final matchup -- Utah vs. Texas-El Paso -- flashed on the television in Maryland's team lounge, it became official: The Terrapins will miss the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1993.

Sixty-five schools were revealed last night; Maryland wasn't one. The lounge was silent until Coach Gary Williams told players that they had had their opportunities this season. A subdued Williams echoed those remarks to the media minutes later, saying there would be "no griping, no complaining."

Maryland (16-12, 7-9) likely finished one victory shy of earning one of the final at-large berths. The most inconsistent team that Williams has coached in 37 years will conclude its season in the 40-team National Invitation Tournament, where it will meet Oral Roberts (25-7) at 9 p.m. Wednesday in a first-round game at College Park. "You grow up a little bit," Williams said. "When you come to school here, especially for these guys, James Gist was 7 years old the first time we went to the NCAA tournament. That becomes almost like, 'Well, it's automatic, we play at Maryland, we go to the NCAA tournament.' Hopefully we understand now that that is not automatic and you have to earn your way."

Analysts say the bottom of the tournament field is weaker than it has been in years, which gave a Maryland team on a four-game losing streak hope of earning a bid. In the end, though, Maryland lacked the necessary "wins and quality of wins," according to selection committee chairman Bob Bowlsby.

"Maryland is one of the really terrific basketball programs in the country," Bowlsby said. "There is no question about it. I think Gary Williams will tell you that this is not one of his best teams."

Players were disappointed and frustrated but stopped short of saying they were embarrassed. When Nik Caner-Medley was asked whether winning the NIT would take away the pain of last night, the junior said: "No, not at all. One of our goals was to win the national championship and right now we're not in the tournament."

When it was revealed that Alabama-Birmingham and Northern Iowa both earned bids, it dampened Williams's spirits because he knew those two schools were competing with Maryland and a few other schools for the final two at-large slots.

When yesterday dawned, Williams and the players were hopeful but far from confident. Williams knew a significant blow to Maryland's hopes was dealt early Sunday morning with the conclusion of the Mountain West and Big West conference tournaments. Losses by Utah and Pacific ensured that those conferences would each get two spots in the NCAAs, which in turn took two slots away from anxious bubble teams.

Williams said he didn't "quite understand" how the ACC, rated all season as the nation's strongest league, received fewer bids (five) than the Big East and Big 12, both of which got six bids. Maryland also had three victories over the two finalists in the ACC tournament, Duke (two wins) and Georgia Tech.

The biggest negatives were Maryland's 3-7 finish, 2-7 road record and 6-11 record against the nation's top 100 teams. The Terps' Ratings Percentage Index was adequate at 57; their strength of schedule rating was impressive at 23. No school from a top six power conference with a better RPI than Maryland was left out.

Maryland had a better strength of schedule rating than Alabama-Birmingham (92) and Northern Iowa (74), but those two teams both won at least 20 games. "If strength of schedule was the only criteria," Williams said, "we'd be in the NCAAs."

John Gilchrist said there was no discussion about the team declining an NIT invite, and several players said the team will have no problem being motivated. But it remains to be seen if Maryland will be near full strength.

Williams described the team's health as "not good." Gist missed Thursday's ACC first-round game against Clemson with a bruised knee. Gilchrist played only one minute of the second half because of a sprained ankle. Williams said it's uncertain whether either player will be able to play in this week's NIT.

At several points this season, Maryland appeared a cinch to make the NCAAs. When the Terps beat Duke and Georgia Tech, two Final Four teams last season, in a four-day span at the end of January, they were 13-5 overall and 4-3 in the ACC.

"There are two groups of teams in the NIT," Williams said. "One group that is really happy to be there. And one group not happy to be there."

Terrapins Note: Gilchrist said there is a 50 percent chance he will return next season. "At this point, I just have to do what's best for my family and myself," he said.