Mike Phipps

Terps come in at No. 5 in the USA Lacrosse preseason poll. Don't think the full schedule has officially been released yet, but they open at Richmond on Feb. 3.

USA LACROSSE DIVISION I MEN'S PRESEASON TOP 20

1. Notre Dame
2. Duke
3. Virginia
4. Penn State
5. Maryland
6. Johns Hopkins
7. Cornell
8. Army
9. Syracuse
10. Yale
11. Denver
12. Georgetown
13. Michigan
14. Princeton
15. Rutgers
16. Delaware
17. Penn
18. Boston University
19. North Carolina
20. Richmond

Also considered (alphabetical order): Loyola, Marquette, Utah

We're a little over a half hour from kickoff in Nashville between the Terps and Auburn Tigers. This is the 4th meeting all-time between these two programs and first since 1983.

Maryland in all black uniforms with black helmets for today's game.

Obviously, the biggest news coming into this one for Maryland is that Billy Edwards Jr. will start at QB. Both teams have a number of opt outs and guys who hit the transfer portal ahead of this game.

It is cold in Nashville today, in fact it is colder than it is in Maryland.

A win today and Maryland would have a bowl win in a third straight season for the first time in program history.

Maryland four-star OL signee Ryan Howerton was named one of the top performers from this year's Under Armour All-American game by Rivals. As I mentioned during the summer when his recruitment started to heat up, there weren't many OL nationally who did more during camp season to up their stock than Howerton, who was OL MVP of Rivals and Under Armour circuit stops. More at the link.

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Read this story/column by Doyel late last night and I have to say, this guy is one of the biggest clowns in sports journalism, along with guys like Dan Wolken and a few others. Basically, he opines about how awful Maryland fans are because of RR Pt. II and the chants that go along with it.

The hilarious part about this is the fact that Purdue fans chant 'IU sucks!' at every home game, football and basketball, regardless of who they play. They have literally done this for decades. And I'm sure he'll say he's against that, too. But it kinda makes his entire story collapse like a house of cards. You can read the story HERE.

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We complain about a lot of things as Terps fans - and sometimes with good cause - but one thing we’ve been fortunate to have over the last decade is strong lead guards. From Melo to Cowan to Fatts to Young - they have had different styles and strengths, but overall have been highly effective in leading us. We had one year where we got by with an upperclassman committee and duct tape (Ayala, Morsell, and Hart) but other than that blip, we’ve been very fortunate. But next year?? We are in a heap of trouble as it stands now. We don’t have the roster strength to overcome weakness at this position in any way (which should be obvious to us all now). When Young is gone… yikes! Our supposed 2nd best player, Reese, has put up a combined 1 point in two of our biggest games. I think we will continue to struggle this year… but if we don’t land Queen and an impact lead guard in the portal… then next year might be the ugliest year we’ve seen since…???

Jahmir Young was named Big Ten Player of the Week for his play vs. Nicholls St. and UCLA (really two weeks with the holiday). This is his first time being named POW and the first Terp to do so since Ant Cowan in 2020. More at the link below.

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Sweet....

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Bigger spread than I anticipated.

Titan Stadium had two large video screens one on each end. While showing the UMD band and some fans, one fan flicked off the camera. Yea, thats a Maryland thing....laugh.

Watch Willard's full postgame press conference at the link below.

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I post this as I see the lesser bowl games going away at some point. I may go to a first/second round game if possible, no matter who's playing.

Seems interesting that we are listed as 6th on the odds

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Both finalists for the Nattie are BIG schools. At least beginning in August of next year when UCLA, Washington, Oregon and USC join. However, at that juncture both schools will represent the conference. Not bad. In 8 months there will be 18 schools with no divisions. Top two, I believe, go to play each other for the championship. No matter, the odds of any one school winning has decreased because of the numbers. As long as State Penn does not take it, and as long as Franklin is in charge they will not , I am okay. Better buckle up for some really competitive balling.

The Terps will look to play giant killer once again tonight when they host top-ranked Purdue inside Xfinity Center. Maryland knocked off the Boilermakers in College Park last season, part of the Terps' current 19-game home win streak. Willard knows they will have their hands full with Edey and had an interesting take on slowing him down. More at the link below.

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