Local College Basketball Wrap-Up

Mar 21, 2015; College Park, MD, USA; Maryland Terrapins center Brionna Jones (42) smiles against the New Mexico State Aggies in the first round of the women

Now that the local college basketball season is basically done, I thought I would wrap up and compare any “guesses” I made in terms of records ahead of the season. My new “guess” is that I did amazingly well. So lets find out.

Maryland Women’s Basketball

"“No one will be surprised that the University of Maryland is the top women’s team in the state as they are frankly one of the best in the land. They did lose their major scorer in Alyssa Thomas, but return Lexie Brown, Shatori Walker-Kimbrough  and Brionna Jones. Expect them to do well in their first year in the Big Ten Conference. Another Final Four run is a distinct possibility.”"

I did well on that one. Brionna Jones is the inside threat that very few teams can prep for. She is fast and quick and clogs up the inside. And not only did the Terps do well in their first year in the Big Ten Conference, but they flat out dominated it.

Maryland Men’s Basketball

I don’t think I made a specific prediction on the Terps as I focused on some of the smaller teams. But let’s say I would have guessed a 28-7 record and 2nd in the Big Ten. Yeah, let’s say that.

UMES Men’s Basketball

I predicted a tough year for the Hawks as they were starting with a new coach and a pretty long tradition of lack of success. I said they would be 6-25 before the MEAC Tournament. Instead they went a strong 18-15 after a first round loss in the CollegeInsider.com tournament. Okay, that one can be a loss on my part. Congratulations to the Hawks.

But there is good news. In my original I article I reported that …

"“… more successful than the team, UMES mascot Harry the Hawk is in the final 16 of CollegeCourtReport.com’s Mascot Mayhem contest.”"

Guess what? Harry won.

Coppin State Men’s Basketball

I said the Eagles would be 15-14 before the MEAC Tournament. Instead they went 8-23 overall. I really must have mixed up my MEAC teams.

Morgan State Men’s Basketball

Speaking of MEAC teams, I predicted the Bears would go 18-10 before the MEAC Tournament. Once again I need to stay away from that conference as the Bears went 7-24 overall.

UMBC Men’s Basketball

Thankfully we move to the America East Conference. I had predicted the Retrievers would go 10-10 before the America East Tournament. And just to show you that it is not only the MEAC where my bad predictions lie, the team went 4-26 overall.

Mount St. Mary’s Men’s Basketball

It is fun watching the Coach Christian’s-led team from Frederick County. And I knew the team would end up 17-12 before the Northeast Conference Tournament. The overall 15-15 record, I will say was pretty close. Yes, let’s say that.

Towson Men’s Basketball

Finally I had the Tigers going 16-15 before the CAA Tournament. Is 12-20 overall close? I think so. Close enough for horseshoes and hand grenades.

So I guess the story is not to listen too closely to prognosticators on the web.