The Terps usually break their huddles by yelling "champions." It would be nice if they played like champions.

Last night in Blacksburg they looked like anything but champs while falling behind by 20 points in the first 6 minutes of the game with Virginia Tech. They had more turnovers than points: 6 to 2. The game resembled a layup line for the Hokies.

Had the Terps taken the Hokies too lightly? Was it a case of the 4th ranked Terps getting the best shot of every team they play? Maybe it was a little of both. Or maybe this team just isn't made of championship material. I see too many mistakes made by experienced players for the Terps to go far in this year's NCAA tournament.

The guards have difficulty handling pressure defenses and tend to make bad decisions with the ball even when not being pressured. Surprisingly, the leaders of the turnover parade are the juniors and seniors. All too often, the offense stagnates and the team is reduced to watching Kristi Toliver dribble around the perimeter and jack up jump shots. That's the bad news.

The good news is that the Terps have a 24-2 record after having rallied to defeat Virginia Tech 74-71 in OT. The same players that tried to hand the game to Tech in the first half (Toliver, Langhorne, Harper and Coleman) played up to their potential in the second half.

Coach Park's use of a 2-3 zone was very effective in stopping the dribble penetration of Andrea Barbour and containing the outside shooting of Brittaney Cook. And even though junior Kristi Toliver still makes many questionable decisons in her role as the Terps' primary ball handler, there is no one I'd rather see shoot the ball with the game on the line.

Still, I would like to see the coaches develop some of the young talent on the team. The Terps will need depth in order to realize their goal of a national championship. Otherwise this season will have a hokie ending just like the last.