Know thy foe: some sources

Here are a few sources if you want to get smarter on the Terps, you want to gauge their fan base's relative confidence (or anxiety in a few instances), and so forth:

(SB Nation Blog: Be sure to always read fan comments for a take on their pulse)

www.testudotimes.com/2016/3/20/11274140/...t-16-ncaa-tournament

(Baltimore Sun Terps coverage)

www.baltimoresun.com/sports/terps/tracking-the-terps/

(Washington Post Terps coverage)

www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/maryland/

I listened to some local talk radio as well today, while shuffling to and from work tasks. The overall themes, if I can aptly summarize them, were as follows:

* Maryland's season has been a roller-coaster of expectations, from sky-high (pre-season) to the depths (after the road loss at Minnesota--IMO, not unlike KU's loss at Okie State) to confident and anticipative again.

* Some seem satisfied with making the Sweet 16 for the first time in 13 years, while others feel a FF is a must.

* RE KU and the game, many believe Maryland is going to come out super relaxed and much more ready to go than in the first two rounds. Their reasoning: the pressure was sky-high for this team to make it out of the first weekend, given lofty pre-season expectations, the long drought since the last Sweet 16, the amount of talent that Turgeon has on hand, and the fact that he's not had post-season success (or even opportunities) up to now.

* Maryland is now playing with "house money," and that could make them far more dangerous for KU.

* There is widespread talk of Charles Barkley's comment about Maryland vs. KU being like a guppy versus a piranha. Even if he's paid to say controversial stuff and doesn't represent KU, they're taking it as a big affront and sign of disrespect, and are trying to channel that into BB material for the team. Playing the "no respect" card, if you will.

* They have the athletes and size to make this a game, but they have to put it together like they were doing earlier in the year or they could have problems. A Hawaii-like game will definitely send them home.

* Turgeon may have come from KU, but he needs to stop treating that program with such reverence. He sometimes comes off as kow-towing to them, or writing off the game as one that they almost can't win. Don't treat Kansas with reverence! (PS: Some felt he was just playing "possum" toward KU, but others felt he has a lousy poker face and genuinely feels reverence toward KU)

* The non-KU fans in Louisville will be pulling for the underdog, so the arena will likely be more balanced than one might think (or even tilt slightly toward Maryland).

For what it's worth, just some "memes" that I picked up from talk radio, call-in fans, and things I've been reading out here today. It doesn't mean anything, relative to the action on the court, but it's just fun/interesting to have that perspective as a mirror or counter to our own.

Rock Chalk...