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Swengali: Who's Better, Hoyas or Terps?
Express' Matt Swenson calls 'em as he sees 'em.
BECAUSE IT APPEARS WE'LL NEVER again get to settle this debate on the court, why not stir up a good old-fashioned sports bar fight.
Who's the best college basketball team in the area: Georgetown or Maryland (sorry Mason fans, this isn't your year)?
The folks at The Tombs can point to the Hoyas' No. 12 ranking and will probably cite last year's Final Four appearance. Of course, this is a far different group.
R.J. Bentleys may have been a bit quiet after those losses to American and Ohio, but the Terps seemed to have turned a corner before Wednesday's slip-up against Virginia Tech.
Some basic facts point to Georgetown. It has a better record and more experienced players. Yet the Hoyas haven't meshed on the court like last year's group. Silly mistakes and sloppy shooting are making it hard for Georgetown to score more than 60 points per game.
Maryland plays a more enjoyable — at least to watch — brand of basketball and owns a win over North Carolina, the best team either local squad has beaten.
On a strictly match-up side, the Terps have the edge. They can force a frenetic pace that the Hoyas don't excel in, and they have both James Gist and Bambale Osby to counteract big Roy Hibbert.
Long term, Georgetown probably has the potential for more of an upside. Time, though, is running out on seeing the best performance the Hoyas have in them.
Wouldn't it be great if the schools just buried the hatchet and played this game annually?
» RELATED: Georgetown struggles with intensity while Maryland turns the ball over.
Photo by Marc Squire/Getty Images
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Addison Road
Seriously? The Terps have a matchup edge against the Hoyas? There are so many rediculous statements in this article I don't know where to begin.
Maybe Georgetown scores so little because we play at the 323rd (out of 341) fastest pace in the country.
How is Maryland's average offense going to score on the nations leading FG% defense. Holding teams to under 40% FG% from 2, and under 30% from 3.
And why are the Terps 7-5 in the weak ACC (only 2 good teams) and the Hoyas 11-3 in one of the deepest conferences in the country.
People are quick to attack the Hoyas but we are 21-4, control our own destiny for the Big East crown, and have done this without playing as well as we could have.
Lastly explain to me how Maryland can force us into a frenetic pace when the only team who has successfully accomplished this was Memphis.
Simply the Hoyas are currently the class of DC basketball.
By Nathan , Posted February 22, 2008 9:50 AMAre you serious? This is the most ridiculous discussion I've ever seen. How can a middle of the pack ACC team in a conference that will send four teams to the tourney if it's lucky compare to a team that has been in 1st or tied for 1st place in the Big East for well over a month? The Big East will send eight and myabe even nine teams to the Dance. Georgetown has the best field goal defense in America and is in the top ten of the RPI. Only in the "College Park" Post would anyone even propose a debate about this. Georgetown is by far the better team at the moment and the better program overall. Stop wasting people's time.
By Donald , Posted February 22, 2008 9:52 AMThis article must be a parody.
By thediesel , Posted February 22, 2008 10:25 AMIf the "more enjoyable" basketball you refer to includes multiple turnovers, a laughable inability to solve a pick and roll (see Duke and Va Tech games), and a criminal neglect of any defensive attention then yes, Maryland is a more enjoyable brand of basketball. If you want to watch actual coordination of 5 men on the court with an understanding of defensive assignments then please watch Georgetown play in the NCAA tournament this year. (The first brand of basketball mentioned belongs in the NIT).
By Ben , Posted February 22, 2008 10:35 AM1 Game a year - neutral site in the area (Baltimore, Richmond etc) - 50%/50% ticket split right down the middle and we settle this thing on the court, every year...
By Matteo , Posted February 22, 2008 10:47 AMuh i think patrick can kinda play a little with their bigs in fact may be the best sixth man in the country bring em on goh oyas
By lic , Posted February 22, 2008 12:22 PMI certainly enjoyed Maryland's style while watching their losses to Missouri, UCLA, BC, American, Ohio, Duke and Virginia Tech (twice).
"Long term, Georgetown probably has the potential for more of an upside." A bold statement. Have the Terps eclipsed Georgetown at any point this season? Do they not have a higher upside, or potential for upside, right now?
"the Terps seemed to have turned a corner before Wednesday's slip-up against Virginia Tech." That's quite the boasting coming out of RJ Bentley's (whatever that is).
"Silly mistakes and sloppy shooting" have far less to do with the Hoyas scoring under 60 than their pace, and they are much more efficient than the Terps (GU is ranked 28, MD is 157).
Good try, there is no debate this year.
By danj , Posted February 22, 2008 6:04 PM