Terps' Stock Suddenly Rises

These Maryland players have endured a home loss to Morgan State and a 41-point loss at Duke. They heard they would finish near the bottom of the ACC and read nearly 10,000 words in this newspaper criticizing their perceived lack of talent.

But in seven minutes of game action yesterday, including a frenetic overtime session against No. 3 North Carolina, the Terrapins abruptly changed the tenor and trajectory of a season many felt would be all but lost by late February. After rallying from nine down with 1 minute 54 seconds remaining in regulation to beat the Tar Heels, an at-large NCAA tournament berth that long seemed improbable is now within reach.

"If they are not talking about us now for the NCAA tournament, then I'm not sure what it's going to take," Maryland senior Dave Neal said. "We wanted to prove we could play with just about anybody."

By securing their fourth victory of the season over a top 50 team, Maryland (17-9, 6-6 ACC) would have a realistic chance at an NCAA tournament berth with road wins over North Carolina State and Virginia and one victory in the ACC tournament. Beating Duke or Wake Forest, two other upcoming opponents, would be even more of a boost.

The number of strong mid-major teams in contention for at-large berths is smaller than usual. And many of the high-major teams in contention for the final at-large bids have particularly mediocre résumés.

That means, even with only one true road victory and a Ratings Percentage Index ranking of 63 entering yesterday's game, there is room for Maryland on the tournament bubble. With two weeks remaining in the regular season, the Terrapins have a better chance than Georgetown -- the team that whipped them by 27 points on Nov. 30 -- of reaching the NCAAs, and few would have envisioned that scenario six weeks ago.

"I do think people counted us out," Neal said. "I was looking and a lot of people had Miami in at 4-7 and we were out. It kind of just blew my mind that they had them above us. Now people have to talk about us."

Aside from amassing top 50 victories and a respectable RPI, Maryland needed to pass the eye test. Selection committee members look to select teams that other opponents don't want to play, teams that are capable of advancing in the NCAAs against top-tier competition.

After losing to Duke by 41 points, Clemson by 29 and North Carolina by 17 in the last month alone, Maryland did not look like a team that could hang with the nation's elite. That changed yesterday.

The Terrapins match up far better against their next opponent, Duke, than they did against North Carolina, which possessed "an NBA front line," Maryland Coach Gary Williams said.

"If we beat Duke" on Wednesday, Neal said, "that makes a huge statement."

Almost as big as the one Maryland made yesterday.