THREW Mikes EyEz

Original Writings, Images, Video and Artworks of Mike Hartley

Tag Archives: basketball


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A cold season

This season for the University of Maryland men’s basketball team hasn’t gone to well. It’s one of those years when I don’t get to pick them in a pool to go all the way again. I’ve been following them for 58 years, and they have made the tournament 31 years. We are used to sitting on the edge of our seats on selection Sunday to see where we are seeded in the tournament. We plan for the tournament games together. Not this year.

Last night was their next to last regular season game. And it didn’t go well against Wisconsin. The Badgers are 6th in the Big 10 and a lock to make the tournament with a 20-6 record entering the game.

Truth be told, Maryland is not out of it yet. They would have to with the Big 10 tournament, not being a gambler, I would still say the odds of that are off the charts. So, the likelihood of a much different March Madness this year looms. Oh, I’ll still watch the games because it’s still the most exciting thing in sport on TV.

The cold of winter is about to be scorched by March Madness. Photo by Mike Hartley

My friends have been pretty hard on the new coach Buzz Williams this year. I hope to prove them wrong with a good season next year and remind them of their jump in judgement.

Well onto a new day and new challenges. I’m off to a good start with exercise. Also getting busy with some future plans for spring and summer.

Random Thoughts of the Day

  • I see the Senate failed to do their job yet again yesterday to reign Trump in.
  • I wish some memories of my early youth didn’t stand out so much.
  • Started way too many projects at one time.
  • For a long time, I didn’t know how to change my attitude on my own.
  • There are situations in life when you realize the effort isn’t worth it any longer, it’s kind of a sad day.


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SWEET Sunday

The Maryland Terps are going to the SWEET 16 and I’m dancing around my basement tonight. I believe they said it was the first buzzer beater of the tournament. Fitting given we have been beaten 4 times this year by that.

I’ve been a fan of this team since 1967 when I went to my first game. That was kind of strange, but it did break the ice a bit. And by that mean I had just lost my father at 9 years old and a year later my mother went to the Big Brother organization. An alumni of Maryland reached out and took me to a game, and I was hooked.

Cole Field House was a GIANT Stadium (for a 10 year old) about 15K seats. But the energy, excitement and game hooked me from that point. I started playing ball every day I had a chance. My friends did also and played for decades after. And we all follow Maryland passionately to this day.

But the sweetest thing about this now, my son is also a big fan. I so enjoy being able to go to games and talk basketball with him. And I see him developing that passion that will carry him throughout life. I can’t wait to take his son also.

I might have to break down and buy some merch for us now, to remember this special year.

GO TERPS Photo by a FAN


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I’m sorry

I’m sorry if I created a misunderstanding. I said I’d be watching the 5 on 5 on the court for March.

Wrong Court. Photo by Mike Hartley

It’s that wonderful time of year. The sound of basketballs going through the net, the crowd jumping in unison, people moved to tears of joy or sorrow. Ah, March Madness is under way with it’s preliminary tune up – the conference tournaments, which conclude with the Selection Show on Sunday evening for the seedings and matchups for the BIG DANCE next week.

The home team The University of Maryland has had a wonderful year and I wish them great success in the coming days. GO TERPS


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Inspiring

My son and I attended the final game of the regular season for the Maryland Terps men’s hoop team yesterday and relished the victory. It’s been a special season. One that was unexpectedly very successful. It appears Maryland will finish in 2nd or 3rd in the Conference when they were picked to finish 11th on average.

It’s also been a rarity of a season in many ways. I’ll start with the coach. After last season he was already on the hot seat, despite not having much talent. An entirely new starting lineup this year with the exception of one player. That one player is a senior. What? A senior still playing for the same team for 4 years. And not a bad player at that. He could have transferred when a coaching change was made in his time. He stayed. He is Maryland Pride.

Julian Reese and his teammates have come together as a unit in a unique way very quickly. The success the entire starting unit dubbed the “CRAB FIVE“, a takeoff of the old Michigan teams “Fab Five” has had together is special.

Anyone on that starting unit can score 20-30 points a game. All 5 starters average in double figures. The team averages 81.5 points a game. But the strongest part of the team is their defense. They are stifling. Defense has kept them in every game this season.

And while the bench hasn’t been the scoring machine they have provided some pressure defense and a few key plays this season to keep victories alive.

I so hope they do well in the Big 10 Tournament and the Big Dance NCAA Tourney. It would be nice to send the seniors off with a championship and keep this train rolling. Because when this team is playing well, they can play with anyone in the country. Go TERPS.

XFINITY center needs another Championship Banner. A great way to end the regular season and enter the playoffs. Photo by Mike Hartley

I hope to attend a lot more games next year.


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UCLA of the East

Charles “Lefty” Driesell passed away today and that has a lot of Maryland Basketball fans with heavy hearts. Lefty put Maryland Basketball on the map and made it a National Power. He was intense, exciting, animated, and a winner at many institutions.

I loved his famous foot stomp on the sidelines when things weren’t going right. Or coming out of the tunnel before the games with the double V for Victory salute with both hands to the crowd which would go wild about him.

He could get Cole Field House rocking like no other. I first attended a game the year before he became a coach and I’ve been going ever since. I watch Maryland basketball religiously because of him. I can still remember his first big victory over South Carolina.

My tie of the Lefthander. RIP – Photo by Mike Hartley

I hope they fill the stadium today and that the moment of silence is followed with a giant roar of thanks to the legendary coach.

Articles about Lefty

John Fienstien of the Washington Post

Kevin Soong of the Washington Post