Yesterday, Maryland suffered its first loss in the season’s first four games. Given that the Terps are playing nine underclassmen on their active 10-player roster, it’s probably best to think of it as a learning exercise.

During the 2009 WNBA All-Star game, the 2010 class of inductees into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame was announced. Among the list of six honorees was a woman it was my pleasure to get to know in the ’80s: Former University of Maryland Head Coach Chris Weller.

Why did the Maryland Terrapins lose their Elite Eight game in the 2009 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament? Was it defense? Was it offense? The phase of the moon? No…it was something much more insidious and yet predictable.

There really isn’t much to say about Marissa Coleman’s performance during the game between Maryland and Vanderbilt in the “Sweet Sixteen” game of the 2009 NCAA Women’s Basketball tournament that isn’t covered by, “Wow.”

What does it take for Maryland women’s basketball to get respect?

It was another battle to save in the vault between the Terps and the Blue Devils. Though this was the first time they met in the ACC Tournament finals, it wasn’t their first meeting in a final in their history. But, as in the 2006 NCAA Championship game, Maryland toughed it out for a hard-won win (Duke 89 – MD 92).

Long-time readers of my blogs know that I loves me my women’s basketball. College, pro, International, Olympic… I’ll watch and likely enjoy. But even among that embarrassment of riches, there is and always will be one team that has my heart

There are some that forecast a difficult year for Maryland Women’s Basketball. I think they are going to have an easier go of it than Tennessee or LSU, who got decimated by graduation. Maryland still has Kristi Toliver and Marissa Coleman to take this young team back for their second natty.

The #1 ranked University of Maryland Field Hockey Team just defeated Duke 1-0 in the 2005 NCAA championship game.