Let’s be honest. Maryland didn’t have any business winning this game. But the good news is, neither did Virginia. Maybe that’s what made this game so interesting. And by “interesting,” I mean “boring.”

But Maryland pulled it out, 74-68. Just another game permutation this group found a way to solve. That’s why they’re ACC regular season co-champions. To the points:

1. Play of the game: UVA coach Tony Bennett getting teed up while arguing a foul call with 38 seconds left, helping the Terps extend a one-point lead to five. This sums it all up.
2. Player of the game: There’s a senior – Greivis Vasquez? – who really stood out for me today. 23 points, 5 assists, 4 steals and 13 points in the final six minutes. The ACC player of the year just keeps on riding.
3. Although the teams ended up with respectable shooting numbers, there were plenty of scoring droughts in this one. In fact, you might say that, until the last eight minutes or so, the whole game was a scoring drought.
4. Maryland: 35 total rebounds, 17 offensive. UVA: 21 total rebounds, four offensive. I don’t care if they’re playing a little league water polo team. I will take that stat and I will like it.
5. This game was sleeeeeepy. For both sides. But when David Pearman pulled out that pillow and literally took a nap on the sideline, I was like, okay, that’s a little excessive.
6. I think Maryland’s malaise is justified, however. We all know about the Snowtorious three games in five days, but after today they’ve now played eight over the past 21 days. That includes the Georgia Tech double buzzer beater, the Virginia Tech three-hour delay double-overtime superjam and beer truck extravaganza, and the nail-biter over Duke on senior night. Think this club needs a break.
7. This is, of course, a lot less amusing if they lose. 
8. Which they might have done, had UVA top player Sylven Landesberg not been suspended right before the game for not living up to his academic obligations or whatever. Sorry Sylven. This can’t be welcome news for the learning centers that bear your name.
9. UVA might also have won if their most clutch player hadn’t been
   Will Sherrill. But I wouldn’t worry about Will. He’s going to make a fine constitutional law professor one day. 
10. It was funny when UVA guard Mustapha Farrakhan missed everything on a three and got the “air-ball!” chant. Plenty of Terp fans in attendance. It was like going to a Steelers game at FedEx Field. The constitutional law debate team must have been playing at the same time. Or maybe Maryland students look for any reason they can to visit a respectable college town. Either way.

See you in the ACC tournament!

(Photo credit: AP photo via The Baltimore Sun)