Again, it was fun while it lasted. Via the Memphis Commercial-Appeal:
Pilgrim visited Memphis last Sunday and Maryland late last week but chose to play for Oklahoma State, which had a big hole at power forward when incoming recruit Karron Johnson failed to qualify and enrolled at junior college.
That's a shame: Pilgrim could've added a lot to the team next year. With him, Maryland could've had a(n outside) chance to be elite. But it's important to note that this is the same team as it was before Pilgrim settled (pun 100% intended) in Stillwater. We knew they were a fringe top 25 team then, and they're still a fringe top 25 team now.
The only thing that scares me is the recruiting momentum recently. We've lost out on Lance Stephenson (our choice) and Deshawn Painter and Matt Pilgrim (not our choice). Although news on the 2010 frontier is very good, we've yet to lock up that all important 3rd commit. We aren't anywhere close to panic mode yet - we're farther along in most recruitments (like Roscoe Smith's) than we normally get - but I'm starting to feel a little uneasy.
But to finish out the post optimistically: Pilgrim would've been a big get, but an ultimately unnecessary one. This team as it stands is completely capable of finishing in the top 4 or 3 in the ACC, especially if everything breaks right on injuries and freshmen development.