For Maryland Terrapins, Trouble Starts with T, Rhymes with C, Stands for 'Canes

It could also rhyme with P and stand for polls, or with T and stand for trap Game (if T really "rhymes" with itself...according to Rick Ross it does...perhaps more study is needed). 

But am I the only one who's nervous about this whole OMG-Maryland's-going-to-win-the-ACC  phenomenon?  They received votes for a top 25 ranking this week for the first time in a while.

The ACC is wide open, people exclaim! Anything can happen!

After all, Maryland just beat N.C. State, N.C. State beat Duke, and Duke beat Clemson. So we don't even have to play Clemson, right?  We'll get the W based on column-inch mindshare alone!

But can't we all see this coming from a mile away? Maryland wins a few games, the accolades flow, and the trap is sprung. To the team's credit, they're saying the right things, but I still get the feeling we're just the same old pasture animal wandering into the same old abbatoir. And the bone saw is coming to town tonight.

That's right: it's the last-place Miami Hurricanes, or as I like to call them, Maryland's nemesis.  So be afraid, Terp fans. Be very afraid. 

True, Miami is a bad team in total disarray . But would you really be that surprised if the Terps lost?

If so, you shouldn't be. Over the past four years, Maryland is 2-5 against the mighty 'Canes, who went a sparkling 27-42 in the ACC in that same span. The games always seem to be impeccably scheduled for maximum complacency potential . With Maryland playing so well, that's the Great Satan in this stretch of the season.

It's a cycle of Phil Connors -esque proportions. Last year, the Terps won eight of nine before losing by two to a Miami team that ultimately finished 7-9 in the ACC. Two years ago, the Terps had won five of seven before losing to a Miami team that ultimately finished 8-8.  

But wait. Come back! I'm not finished yet.

Three years ago, Maryland lost TWICE in the same season to a Miami team that finished with a marvelous 4-12 conference record...the first was a regular season loss that halted a five-game winning streak, the second was an ACC tournament loss that snapped a seven-game streak.  Four years ago, Miami stopped a six-game Maryland streak, but ultimately finished 7-9 in the conference.

So it has happened before. And before. And before. 

To make a good case for the tournament, Maryland will need to do more than beat the cellar dwellars of a "wide open" (ie, down) ACC. 

But if wins over the Clemsons and Dukes (still so very theoretical) are going to build the foundation of our Big Dance resume, we've got to first level the lot and clear out all the weeds and rocks and cow crap. That means beating Miami.

Can they do it? Yes. They can. Will they?  I don't know.  What I do know is, you're not a good team if you can't crush the low-hanging fruit.  So come on, Maryland.  Crush it.