Terps seek another winning streak

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland won seven straight games before falling flat against Miami in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament. The loss was not entirely unexpected, given the fashion in which the Terrapins performed this season.<br> <br> When Maryland plays with passion and a sense of urgency, it usually wins. Faced with the prospect of missing the NCAA tournament for a third straight season, the Terrapins rebounded from a 3-6 start in the ACC with a seven-game run that included two wins over Duke and one against league champion North Carolina.<br> <br> Then came last week&#39;s 67-62 dud against last-place Miami. The Terrapins played up to their potential only after falling into a deep hole that proved too large to overcome.<br> <br> ``I&#39;m not going to say it&#39;s a fluke, but we didn&#39;t play Maryland basketball. When we don&#39;t play Maryland basketball, that&#39;s the result,&#39;&#39; junior James Gist said. ``When we do, we can win seven straight, eight straight.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> The Terrapins won their first eight games, sagged mightily, then rescued the season with a seven-game push. Now, as they prepare for the NCAA tournament, the Terps are looking for one more winning streak six games would earn them the national championship.<br> <br> But they&#39;re going to have to hustle after loose balls, box out under the basket and cover the floor when the opposition attempts a fast break.<br> <br> That brand of basketball was missing against Miami, a team that went 12-20 overall and 4-12 in the ACC including a 63-58 road win over a less-than-inspired Maryland squad on Jan. 10.<br> <br> In the rematch, Miami outrebounded the Terrapins 42-34. If Davidson gets the better of Maryland on the boards in Buffalo on Thursday, the Terrapins could be home by the weekend.<br> <br> ``When we come with energy, jumping around and flying around, we know it&#39;s going to be a good game. We didn&#39;t have that against Miami. That was the difference right there,&#39;&#39; senior center Ekene Ibekwe said.<br> <br> The Hurricanes needed to win to keep alive their hope of playing in the NCAA tournament. The Terrapins were already in, and played like it.<br> <br> ``They just came out with more energy. If we keep that energy and bring it to Buffalo, then we&#39;ll be all right,&#39;&#39; Ibekwe said. ``That&#39;s the type of team we are. We thrive on energy and emotion.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Asked to describe the areas in which the Terrapins needed to improve before Thursday, senior guard D.J. Strawberry replied, ``Our rebounding and our intensity. We need that because that&#39;s the way we play. I think our intensity and energy wins us basketball games sometimes. We have to bring that back.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> No one on the team has more exuberance than freshman guard Greivis Vasquez, who has no intention of ending his first trip to the NCAA tournament anytime soon.<br> <br> ``As freshmen, I think we did a pretty good job this year helping to get this team to the tournament,&#39;&#39; he said, referring to himself and fellow guard Eric Hayes. ``I&#39;m happy, but I&#39;m not satisfied. I&#39;m looking forward to winning some games in the NCAA tournament and finishing a great freshman year.&#39;&#39;

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