Archive for the ‘Athletics Department’ Category

October 22nd, 2010 | 07:17 pm

Men’s basketball odds and ends

I blogged a few weeks back that Gary Williams mentioned there would be a surprise at Maryland Madness. I speculated that it could range from something as simple as new uniforms to a major announcement like recruits committing to Maryland. It seems that the return of black uniforms and Williams entering with a Top Gun themed video are surprises.

The commitment of center prospect Johnny O’Bryant was off the table way before the event, as he committed to LSU. But on Oct. 28 we will learn if Baltimore shooting guard Nick Faust is taking his talents to College Park, when he announces his decision between Maryland, Villanova and Florida State on ESPNU. The highly-touted recruit was at Maryland Madness with ‘11 commit Sterling Gibbs, and was reported to have a good time. Johnny O’Bryant raved about how great going to Byrd Stadium was before committing elsewhere, so you have to take that with a grain of salt.

I haven’t been able to find an instance in which a player announced his decision to come to Maryland on national television before, so if Faust choses the Terps it could be a first. But Faust will be visiting Villanova over the weekend.

Some also speculated that the surprise could be Greivis Vasquez making an appearance at Maryland Madness. The reigning ACC Player of the Year was nowhere to be found. But according to sources within the athletics department, raising his No. 21 up to the rafters of Comcast Center is under consideration. Apparently, the fact that there is no specific criteria for such an honor (awards, point total, etc.) is having some impact on the process. Considering he was an All-American, won ACC Player of the Year and all he accomplished as a senior, it would be surprising.

Posted in Athletics Department, Men's Basketball | No Comments »

May 18th, 2010 | 04:06 pm

Terps to the Big Ten? Not so fast

Big Ten expansion talk has led to rampant speculation about Maryland possibly leaving the ACC for the Big Ten. The Washington Examiner’s Jim Williams has reported that Maryland might receive an invite:

The Big Ten began discussions Monday about conference expansion, and somewhere in a pile of folders is a file on the University of Maryland. According to two sources — both former Big Ten coaches — and a number of media outlets, the Terps are being considered for an invitation.

But Athletic Director Debbie Yow has said it would be news to her if the Terps were being considered as an addition.

“The discussion is a waste of time,” Yow said via e-mail today. “No communication has occurred.”

Does that mean that the Terps would turn down the invite if it were to come?

“I never ’speculate’ on possible scenarios,” Yow said, “bad form to comment on things/situations that do not exist.”

Expansion rumors are swirling, with everyone from Big 12 programs like Nebraska and Missouri all the way to Big East schools such as Pittsburgh and Rutgers joining the Big Ten. Notre Dame is apparently at the top of the Big Ten’s wish list — as they have been for years — but the Irish continue to be hesitant to abscond from their independent football status and Big East basketball affiliation.

Jeremy Schneider is The Diamondback’s Terrapin softball beat writer. He can be reached at schneider@umdbk.com.

Posted in Athletics Department, Football, Sports | No Comments »

February 6th, 2010 | 06:21 pm

In other words: North Carolina preview

Posted in Athletics Department, Men's Basketball | No Comments »

December 1st, 2009 | 09:00 am

Baseball releases 2010 schedule

Weeks after the majority of the conference released their schedule, the Terrapin baseball team unveiled their 2010 season today.

Every season is a difficult schedule when you play in the ACC, but coach Erik Bakich made a point to improve the team’s quality of opposition. Mathematically, this year’s schedule will be more difficult, but not by much. There will be seven new opponents, but outside of conference foe Miami, the newcomers won’t set the world on fire.

There are some more subtle differences that could still have an impact. Read on for a few observations.

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Posted in Athletics Department, Sports | No Comments »

November 1st, 2009 | 01:31 pm

Athletics Department to reward extra loyalty points for early-arriving students…

An e-mail regarding this change in the loyalty point system should be going out to all students soon. I thought I’d lay it out for everyone anyway:

Starting with exhibition game against Indiana Univ. (PA) on November 3, the athletic department will be implementing a system that rewards students for arriving early at men’s basketball games.

The doors for men’s basketball will open 90 minutes prior to all home games during the 2009-10 season. Students who arrive between 90 and 60 minutes prior to the game will be awarded an additional loyalty point. Earning more loyalty points will give you a greater chance at obtaining tickets when games go to a lottery system.

Student sections are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis so arrive early to choose the best available courtside seats. Be there early and cheer loudly to show why Maryland has the best home court advantage in the country.

Thanks for your support and Go Terps!

We all know how important loyalty points are, especially this season with a fair amount of anticipation built up around campus already.

If the Terps live up to some of these Top-25 preseason expectations, it’s possible there will be games other than Duke and North Carolina that go to a lottery system, in which case some students might get left out of Comcast Center.

This move brings up some intersting questions: How important is it for fans to show up over an hour early to a game? Will this help curb the problem of scan-and-leavers? How fair is this to students who have class or work?

Hopefully, we’ll be able to have some more detailed explanation and reaction in Tuesday’s Monday’s Diamondback, in time for the team’s exhibition opener. For now though, feel free to leave your thoughts on the new wrinkle to the system in the comments section below.

Aaron Kraut is The Diamondback’s sports editor. He can be reached at akraut@umdbk.com.

Posted in Athletics Department, Men's Basketball, Sports | 3 Comments »

September 23rd, 2009 | 11:56 pm

Terrapin Baseball: Three Fall Storylines

The Terrapin baseball program issued a press release yesterday announcing the start of fall practice for the baseball team, the first under new head coach Erik Bakich and his staff.

In reality the team has been working out and getting repetitions since the start of school. But with all programs operating under the universal start date the NCAA adopted last year, the “official” start only happened yesterday.

I haven’t had a whole lot of news to post about the program since my story on the rebuilding of the program ran. And most of the stories, since Bakich was hired in May, revolved around the new coach and the rest of his staff.

The season is a very long way away (I am already excited about the thought of college baseball at Shipley Field in February) but that doesn’t mean it isn’t too early to talk about the actual team and its expectations for this season.

Rest assured the 2010 version of the Terps will be markedly different. Take a look at some of the interesting storylines to follow as Bakich and the Terps will try to reach their goal of the ACC Tournament.

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Posted in Athletics Department, Sports | No Comments »

September 16th, 2009 | 11:05 pm

Myles Brand dies

NCAA President Myles Brand died tonight of pancreatic cancer.

Brand (pictured above) was known for his iron fist and reform policies. NCAA officials have not announced who will replace Brand, according to news services.

ajoseph@umdbk.com

Posted in Athletics Department, Sports | No Comments »

September 14th, 2009 | 10:15 am

Women’s Soccer Ranked No. 9

After winning two games this week, the Terps were vaulted into the top 10 of Soccer America’s Top 25 poll released earlier this morning.

This past week, the Terps (7-0) went on the road to defeat American last Wednesday and beat James Madison at home yesterday, 1-0.

The team is off to its best start since 1996, when it went 15-0-1 to begin the season. The Terps are one of just three teams in the ACC that remain unbeaten, joining North Carolina and Boston College. UNC still holds the No. 1 spot, while Boston College comes in at No. 4.

Including the Terps, there are only six unbeaten teams remaining in the top 25. Forward Jasmyne Spencer leads the team with four goals, while senior goalkeeper Mary Casey has notched five shutouts so far this season.

The last time the team was ranked in the top ten was at the beginning of the 1997 season, when the Terps were No. 7.

Chris Eckard is The Diamondback’s women’s soccer beat reporter. He can be reached at eckard@umdbk.com. Follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ceckard

Posted in Athletics Department, Sports, Women's Soccer | No Comments »

September 4th, 2009 | 01:33 am

Why I picked Cal…

Sorry Terps. Photo source: San Francisco Chronicle

Sorry Terps.

Today in the print edition of The Diamondback, I predicted a Cal blowout (38-16) in tomorrow’s Terps vs. Golden Bears season opener out in Berkeley.

We promised an explanation, you know, in case anyone out there gets angry over what one college student newspaper sports editor has to say. (I sure hope that isn’t the case.)

Basically, it boils down to this:

If this game was played in the first week of October instead of in the first week of September, the Terps would not lose by as many as 22 points (the point spread has remained steady at +21.5). But the fact is, Saturday will be the very first significant game action for too many Terp starters to elicit much confidence.

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Posted in Athletics Department, Football | 1 Comment »