Maryland 74, NC State 69. That’s your final. Don’t let the margin let you believe that NC State played well, smart, or with any enthusiasm or sense of urgency.
Here is Sidney Lowe’s program in a nutshell – the only guy who consistently played hard and as if he had a brain in his head was Julius Mays. The only guy who even looked for his shot in the last 10 minutes. You remember him, don’t you? He’s the guy who hasn’t played in the last 9 or so games. Yep, that’s a program on the rise. Sure. Repeat it until you believe it, if it makes you sleep better.
After racing out to a 21-8 lead, NC State laid down and died. I don’t remember Maryland taking a tough shot the entire second half. Is Maryland a great team with multiple players that can create offense? Fuck no. One decent player and a bunch of stiffs who might do one thing halfway decently.
Still, the Terps did occasionally miss in the second half. And they got the damned rebound every. Single. Time. Is Maryland a big, athletic team with an NBA-caliber frontcourt? Fuck no. They start four guards and one undersized power forward.
This NC State team will not make the NIT. It may make the CBI or College Insider tourney. Who fucking cares. If this “effort” is all they had to give for such a critical ACC tournament for the program…I don’t want to see them play anymore this season.
