Maryland @ Duke

**pvfan** · January 9th, 2006, 03:41 PM

By far the biggest rivalry in college sports today. Maryland has won the last three meetings and was the underdog in every single one of them. The terps will be dogs again come Wed. Night when they make their annual trip to Cameron Indoor.
Projected Starting Lineups
Maryland
PG: D.J. Strawberry
SG: Chris McCray
SF: Nick Caner-Medley
PF: Ekene Ibekwe
C: James Gist

To me Maryland has to play big, if not SheWill and company are going to kill them inside. They have got to get SheWill in foul trouble early to have any type of chance, the game at College Park was won on fouls last year.

Duke
PG: Greg Paulus
SG: JJ Redick
SF: Sean Dockery/Lee Melchioni (Not sure who K throws out there)
PF: Josh McRoberts
C: SheWill

Duke has to knock down three's from the outside to win, in their last game at Wake Forest they were unstopable behind the line. Redick will be guarded by McCray who has shutdown Redick in the last three meetings.

Matchups:
Strawberry vs. Paulus Advantage: Paulus
McCray vs. Redick Advantage: Push due to the recent history of this contest, dont be suprised if Redick drops 30 though.
Caner-Medley vs. Dockery/Melchioni Advantage: Caner-Medley
Ibekwe vs. McRoberts Advantage: Ibekwe experience and speed kills
Gist vs. SheWill Advantage: SheWill matchup of the game imo if Shelden doesn't get into foul trouble and plays his normal game Duke will win.

My Prediction
Mind:
Duke 85 Maryland 74

Heart:
Maryland 83 Duke 79

I just got a feeling that old Mr. Rat will have his boys up for this one. BTW, if your watching this game and see Karl Hess annoucned as an official do yourself a favor and turn the game off. Duke will win regardless.

**RaiderWahoo0105** · January 9th, 2006, 03:43 PM

ESPN analysts once said that the only two teams in the ACC who never play like they are scared of Duke are Maryland and Virginia (though we may not always have the talent to stack up, we don't let the Duke aura phase us out of what we're capable of). Though I'm inherently not a Terp fan, I hate the Blue Devils more.

Go Terps.

**gcdevil22** · January 9th, 2006, 03:50 PM

Duke/Maryland wouldn't match up to Ohio St/Michigan...FSU/Fla...or even Duke/UNC in bball...heck id rather go see Army/Navy than Maryland/Duke

**pvfan** · January 9th, 2006, 03:58 PM

Today it's by far the biggest rivalry. Go to a Duke/Maryland game you might change your mind. I wouldn't advise taking any children though. Ask Boozer's mom is she remembers getting hit in the head or Coach K's wife who no longer attends games at Maryland. Or how about the 100's of Maryland fans who were thrown out of the ACC Tournament in North Carolina before a Duke Game. How about going on ebay and typing in Maryland/Duke and seeing the highest regular season ticket prices to any college basketball game. You might just change your mind. [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

**gcdevil22** · January 9th, 2006, 04:03 PM

no doubt it's a big game for both schools...it's just not as attractive to outsiders as the others

**imported_mega** · January 9th, 2006, 04:07 PM

youd rather go see army and navy in basketball than maryland and duke

can we say hater in the house.

**CoeburnCane** · January 9th, 2006, 04:37 PM

If Ibekwe and Caner-Medley hit the snooze alarm and don't wake up for the game, Duke by 20 or more. If they show up to play, then it will be close and down to the wire. I'd give Gary Williams more credit for knowing how to coach against Krzyzewski effectively than I would the players for winning the past 3. I know the players play the game, but Gary knows how to game plan and prepare his kids for K's style. I think Miami beating Maryland shows that they were looking forward to this game already, and that may mean bad news for Duke b/c you don't want to face a wounded and wearied Maryland when they're intent on beating you. Lately, it's become kind of a VT/Miami football thing--even if Maryland doesn't go to the big dance, they can always hang their hat on being able to beat Duke at least once a season. I would actually take it as a good sign if I were a Maryland fan if Maryland played hard but lost. That means that Maryland would be motivated to keep winning their other games instead of pinning their hopes & dreams on a win or two over Duke.

All things happening as they should, no surprises, Duke 93, Maryland 75. If Maryland shows up and plays like they're capable, Duke 84, Maryland 75.