Testudo Times Roundtable
Week of 4/18
Q: What was your biggest takeaway from the Maryland football spring game?
Todd: Well, I took nothing away. I was watching Taylor Cummings and the women's lacrosse team slice, dice and roast the Buckeyes. I really haven't read about it either, so all I can say is that Maryland is simultaneously 1-0 and 0-1 in the D.J. Durkin era.
Noah: Maryland might not have significantly better quarterback play next season. Caleb Rowe was 7-of-16 and Perry Hills was 14-for-25. Those are disappointing numbers.
Sammi: Like Todd, I was watching the lacrosse teams dominate their opponents. I will say that I wasn't all that impressed with Hills or Rowe, but I'm excited to see what Durkin can bring to the table this coming season. I think there's a lot of potential.
Brian B: From what I've read about the game, we should still expect to see a lot of inconsistency on the offensive side of the ball this season under Walt Bell's new scheme. On the other side of things, it's a little concerning that Maryland's defense, while holding the offense to several three-and-outs, still gave up a handful of long touchdown plays.
Thomas: I was covering that one, and what stood out most to me was the inconsistency on offense. The white team scored five touchdowns of 40+ yards, but also had 14 punts (7 three-and-outs), two turnovers, a missed field goal, and never entered the red zone. But Durkin was pleased with the team's progress, so I guess Saturday's showing is a positive.
Q: The Big Ten is reportedly selling half of its massive new TV deal to Fox for around $250M a year. Do you like the move?
Todd: I'm apprehensive because I've read some comments that Fox has a weaker streaming product than even ESPN. Since that's how I watch nearly all of my B1G sports, that's a bit worrisome. But the money's good so....
Noah: The only thing that Fox has done recently that I've liked was the women's world cup. I'm not a big fan of Fox's big TV event productions, but I AM a big fan of the Big Ten (and Maryland) getting PAID. I don't love the move, but I completely understand it.
Sammi: Money-wise, it's a great move for the Big Ten. However, I'm not crazy about Fox at all, nor do I really enjoy their sports broadcasts. There are so many other streaming companies out there (CBS, ESPN, ABC, etc.), and all of them are better than Fox. But who am I kidding? I'll still watch it.
Brian B: I don't really know enough about how this may affect me personally, so I don't really care that much. I suppose more dinero is more dinero.
Thomas: The biggest downside here is the lesser streaming stuff (although I think BTN2Go will still be around). The upside? Massive gobs of money and more Gus Johnson. Nothing wrong with a little more Gus Johnson.
Q: Both Maryland men's and women's lacrosse have chances to clinch at least a share of the Big Ten title with a win this weekend. The women's team travels to Michigan and the men's team hosts Ohio State. Will both teams clinch this weekend?
Todd: It would be the upset of the century if the women drop their game at Michigan. As for the men, they played such an exceptional game against Navy it makes it harder to see a very good team beating them - let alone one that's having an average season like Ohio State. Nevertheless, this looks like a squad that's simply playing too well on both ends of the field to lose this one.
Noah: You can bet the farm that the women will beat Michigan. The men's team is on a short turnaround against a team that needs a quality win to turn its season around. I do think that both teams will clinch this weekend.
Sammi: I think both are going to clinch this weekend. With their stacked roster and firepower, there's NO way that WLAX drops their game against Michigan. I don't see them losing. The men's team played great against Navy, and I think that if they play with that effort against Ohio State, they'll clinch too.
Brian B: The women's team will certainly clinch, I don't see them losing another game until maybe deep into the NCAA tournament. Ohio State does not appear to be much more than an average team. With the game being at home, I wouldn't be surprised to see the men take care of business either.
Thomas: The men's team might be playing some of the country's best lacrosse right now, and the women's team has definitely been playing the country's best lacrosse all year. So I think they both take care of business.
Q: Which will happen first: 20 losses for softball's Brenna Nation (who currently has 16) OR Maryland women's lacrosse allows 10 goals in a game?
Todd: After watching Maryland's defense against Virginia on Wednesday night, I can't envision any team scoring 10 goals against them in a game. Ohio State and Virginia needed two games together to reach that total and that was with Taylor Cummings and Julia Braig on the bench for most of the second half.
Noah: I think Nation will probably lose four more games before Maryland women's lacrosse allows 10 goals in a game.
Sammi: Nation will lose 20 games first. Women's lacrosse's defense is ranked in the top five and doesn't really have any weaknesses. I don't see them allowing 10 goals. Softball isn't showing too many signs of a turnaround, so I think the former happens first.
Brian B: Nation will unfortunately reach 20 losses before the women's lacrosse team yields 10 goals in a game.
Thomas: 20 losses. She might drop two to Michigan this weekend, and next weekend's Minnesota series won't be a breeze either. Women's lacrosse hasn't allowed 10 goals all year, even to some of the best teams in the nation.
Q: Maryland women's tennis hits the road this weekend for its final two games of the season. The Terps are 9-10 overall and 5-4 in Big Ten play. They'll face two tough teams in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Prediction time: will the Terps finish the season above .500 overall and above .500 in Big Ten play?
Todd: I'm not overly optimistic. Maryland's had a reasonably nice season, but I'm going to play the contrarian here and, while I hope they'll earn at least a split, I say they drop both.
Noah: I think Maryland will split the two games, so the Terps will finish above .500 in conference play, but they'll finish below .500 overall.
Sammi: I like to be positive and, from what I've seen of Maryland women's tennis, they play an extremely competitive match. I see them finishing over .500 in both.
Brian B: They'll finish somewhere around the .500 mark, both overall and within the Big Ten.
Thomas: I think they'll be winners once and get served once. So under .500 overall, but 6-5 in the conference.