Terrapin Station
Fansided

Maryland Basketball: Ending Georgetown series would be a mistake

By Chris Bengel

Nov 15, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Maryland Terrapins guard Jaylen Brantley (1) and Maryland Terrapins guard Anthony Cowan (0) celebrates with their teammates on the court after defeating Georgetown Hoyas 76-75 at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 15, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Maryland Terrapins guard Jaylen Brantley (1) and Maryland Terrapins guard Anthony Cowan (0) celebrates with their teammates on the court after defeating Georgetown Hoyas 76-75 at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Maryland basketball program has recently revived their long-standing rivalry with Georgetown.

After playing the last two seasons, the two local marquee teams may see their yearly matchups put on ice.

According to college basketball writer John Feinstein, Maryland and Georgetown won’t be facing one another in the Gavitt Tipoff Games. The annual series pits Big East teams against Big Ten schools.

Maryland has been victorious in the two most recent meetings. Georgetown is undergoing a transition after John Thompson III was fired and former Hoya great Patrick Ewing was hired.

Obviously, this is a matchup that benefits when both schools are extremely competitive. Georgetown has struggled in recent years and hasn’t reached the NCAA Tournament the past two seasons.

Regardless, this is a rivalry that is rich in tradition. Given that Maryland doesn’t face any of its old ACC rivals anymore, playing Georgetown once a year is something that pumps a lot of blood into the region.

Maryland leads the series 39-27 all-time against Georgetown. The two teams hadn’t faced each other in 2008 before the meeting in 2015.

From 1967 to 1980, the two programs faced each other every year except for 1975. The Terps went 9-5 during that stretch, including six of those victories being by double digits.

The prestige also resonates with local recruits, especially if Georgetown begins to get back to national prominence. Some of the most sensational high school basketball is played in the DMV and a majority of those players are being recruited by Maryland and Georgetown on a yearly basis.

If you looked at the records of Maryland and Georgetown following the 2016-17 season, you wouldn’t think that these two teams would be a very competitive contest. However, the Terps had to come from nine points down in the final minute to defeat the Hoyas 76-75.

Maryland fans will fondly remember Kevin Huerter’s game-saving block in the final seconds that sealed the victory.

During the past two meetings, the crowds were electric. Fans gravitated towards this matchup no matter who they rooted for.

Next: Rayshad Lewis transfers to Maryland

This is a rivalry that much of the younger generations of both fanbases don’t know much about. The revival was off to a good start, but not continuing it would stop any momentum that it accumulated.