Senior James Gist said that last night was the first time that squad was referenced this year. It surely won't be the last.
Though that group showed more growth during the regular season, any team that beats top-ranked North Carolina on the road - as this season's Terps did in January - is capable of raising eyebrows over the course of three days. So it's not wise to entirely rule out a Terps run.
"We win the ACC tournament, we go to the NCAA," coach Gary Williams said. "That solves it."
Maryland could, however, still benefit from a blurry national landscape. The field of at-large teams this year is not especially good. And because the Terps also aren't especially good, their name will still be tossed around.
Realistically, there are fewer than a half-dozen vacant spots in the tournament and 12-15 bubble teams vying for them. Schools such as Oregon, Florida, Villanova, Temple, New Mexico and Dayton are doing a much better job at staking their claim.
Last night's loss won't devastate the Terps' Rating Percentage Index heading into the ACC tournament (the Terps were No. 64). But looking ahead to Charlotte, winning in the opening round Thursday night against Boston College (No. 115) would mean little. In fact, nothing short of reaching the championship game will be enough. And even then, there will be skeptics.
Because good teams tend to peak late in the year, with most bubble teams, at some point you just know. You stop dissecting numbers, comparing schedules and studying top-50 wins.
In yet another must-win game, the Terps played the final four minutes with their senior leader on the bench. On the court, Dave Neal and Jerome Burney were in charge of taking care of the middle. This was what was left of the Terps' fading postseason hopes.
The North Carolina win felt like it happened a season ago. You could hear the teeth of the paper shredder gnashing the Terps' accomplishments.
At some point, you stop watching the court and turn your eyes to the clock. A season that not long ago had so much promise has been reduced to the ticking seconds that precede an unavoidable fate.
rick.maese@baltsun.com
