Trying something new today...we're gonna use the jump. Trying to keep the front page nice and clean. Check out the full MM after the jump.
Gary Interviews Tiger Woods (With Assistance from Chick Hernandez)
Quick, someone queue up the standard "OMG Gary's not recruiting he's golfing" complaint in 3...2...1... Anyway, at least Gary's putting his sick golfing skills to use. Watch part two of the interview here.
Bog: NYC Fans to UMD Grad Fred Funk: "Funk You"
The only reason I have this here because this is probably the only time the lead story in the MM will involve golf, and guaranteed the only time the MM will contain two golf stories. Thus, it makes the headline fit better with the actual article.
I have trouble imagining a golf fan saying this, but that's what it is:
"Here, I hear 'Fear the Turtle!', and 'Go Fred!' and all that other stuff," Funk said. "And up at Bethpage, I hear, 'Hey, Funk you!' it's a little difference in the crowd. New York, D.C., they're not the same."
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"Oh yeah, absolutely," he said. "I heard it about 9,000 times. I hear it some other places, but in New York they were really going at it--'Hey, Funk You!' and then there's, 'Hey, you Funked up!' "
Is Maryland-UNC a real rivalry?
Or, that should be, more than Maryland-Duke? Pat Forde thinks so.
Maryland-North Carolina: The Terrapins have shocked the Tar Heels each of the past three seasons, and no fan base in the ACC is as irritating (and occasionally tasteless) as Maryland's.
Also, I (halfheartedly) resent the irritating and tasteless comment. Tasteless, yes, but Duke's fanbase has to be more irritating.
Andre Monroe talks about Terp commit
Maryland recruiting has been busy lately, garnering three commits, from Andre Monroe, Matt Robinson, and Jeremiah Johnson, within the past few days. While fans might want those recruits to be a bit higher regarded, beggars can't be choosers. Anyway, Matt Bracken of the Sun sat down to talk with Monroe about his commitment.
After Maryland offered, New Mexico, Akron, Bowling Green, Miami (OH) and Ohio followed suit with scholarships of their own. Other major schools expressed interest, and Monroe took visits to Pittsburgh, Duke and North Carolina. But the Terps remained his only BCS-conference offer. St. John’s coach Joe Patterson thinks there’s a simple explanation for Monroe’s relatively low-profile recruitment. "[Monroe’s height] was the only thing you ever heard anyone talking about ... as far as any issues he may have had," Patterson said. "If he had been a couple of inches taller, I’m sure he would’ve been a national recruit."
I'm trying to have faith that all these under the radar guys will turn out, but it's tough when their other offers are New Mexico and Akron.
Leslie, Jones Shine at Vince Carter Camp
This is a few days old, but it's still worth a read. First, CJ Leslie was called the #3 scorer at the Vince Carter wing camp:
3. C.J. Leslie, 2010, (Word of God/Raleigh, N.C.) Leslie is an explosive, active athlete who is a big-time finisher when he gets in the paint. He has a quick first step to the basket; he stays low on the drive to finish high above the rim. He gets points from finishing dump-off passes from his teammates' penetration along with climbing on the offensive glass. You will see him at the foul line quite a bit, as he is an aggressive scorer who is always attacking the basket with his wiry, strong body. He needs to work on his perimeter jumper from deep and a pull-up, midrange jumper.
Terrence Jones was a bit more impressive, garnering the top slasher spot.
1. Terrence Jones, 2010, (Portland, Ore./Jefferson) This lefty is a physical specimen who drives the ball with explosive strength and overpowers defenders on his way to the basket. A good percentage of his points come from the free throw line because he is so strong and attacks the basket on the drive and from the post. Jones finishes through contact well and finds himself at the foul line frequently. To elevate his game to another level we'd like to see him refine his perimeter shooting ability and weak-hand drives .
Tobias Harris at the Amare Stoudamire Camp
Two things that I found interesting - 1) Harris, unlike other Terp target tweeners CJ Leslie and Terrence Jones, attended the camp for big men, and not wings, and 2) he - probably unsurprisingly - had the best face-up game there.
Harris has the skills and body type to be a face-up 4 or even a 3 someday. He has the bounce to elevate over defenders in the post, but presently his frame is too slender to bang inside. Out on the perimeter, he has the skills, athleticism and motor to be an outstanding college player. He attacks the basket with reckless abandon. Because of his slender frame, he is able to slither through the defense for the finish, usually with a nice floater. His handling is slick for his size, and he can knock down the pull-up jumper.
ESPNRISE Article on Jordan Goodman
Jordan Goodman is a premier Terps target for 2011, and ESPNRISE has a nice piece on him and his situation.
"There is no question that his mother's passing had a huge impact on Jordan," Deon Goodman said. "We relocated, and Jordan has changed schools -- [his mother's death] probably not only affected Jordan's academics, it probably affected his basketball, too."
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"He has tremendous upside. His potential is unlimited," Forbes said. "He can go all the way, be a great player in college, maybe a pro if he works hard. You are talking about a 6-9 kid with athletic ability. Now, yes, he must get stronger, get more consistent with his shot and his defense, but the talent is there."
Zags Article on 2011 Terp Target Mike Taylor
Mike Taylor is a possibility for the 2011 recruiting class, and although he hasn't been highly rated, he's gone against good competition. That competition? That would be Lance Stephenson. Taylor attends Boys & Girls HS in Brookyln, the main rival of Stephenson's Lincoln HS, and his proximity to Lance is probably one reason the Terps are looking at him. But anyway, the story:
Taylor holds offers from Indiana, Maryland, Providence, Pittsburgh, Louisville, St. John’s and Rutgers, according to Boys & Girls assistant Elmer Anderson. "I really dont’t have any favorites right now," Taylor said. "I’ll probably wait till the beginning or middle of my senior year to commit."
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When Taylor dropped 19 points, including five 3-pointers on Lance Stephenson and Lincoln in a 71-61 victory on Jan. 6, St. John’s head coach Norm Roberts was joined by Pitt associate head coach Tom Herrion and Rutgers assistant Craig Carter. "Mike Taylor can really shoot the ball," said recruiting expert Tom Konchalski. "He’s a terrific 3-point shooter."
Sac Bee says Niners Not Using Ex-Terp Vernon Davis Correctly
I concur, Sacramento Bee. Davis has the ability to be the top TE in the league, and they've turned him into "probably...the best blocking tight end in the league". Wonderful.
But as the Maryland coaches noted, that doesn't mean he can't make big plays out of short passes. "He's a guy who needs to face the quarterback and get some (yards after the catch)," Galt said. "He's very good after he catches the ball."
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Which is to say, if Davis' old coaches were giving new 49ers offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye advice, it would be this: Keep it simple and Davis will make you look smart.