Atlantic 11 Continues to Disintegrate

This is Todd Bozeman. He doesn't look furious.

No Local Poll this week. If you're starved for an update, consider this: since last we polled, No. 2 Virginia has lost (by 38), No. 3 VCU has lost (to James Madison), No. 4 George Mason has lost (to Georgia State), No. 5 James Madison has lost (to Charleston), No. 6 UMBC has lost, No. 7 Old Dominion has lost (to UAB), No. 8 Virginia Tech has lost (to Richmond), No. 9 American has lost, and No. 10 Morgan State has lost. Twice. To Niagara and Denver. That's a lot of losses, to a lot of mediocrity. That also means that, after Georgetown, the hottest team in the Atlantic 11 is....Maryland? Shudder.

To get you right in the Season of Meh, here are a few college links worth perusing. Starting with

* FitzFacts's amazing Atlantic 11 ballot, in limerick form. A personal fave:

Morgan State
For a team that has not ever been

To the Tournament for a quick spin

'08 could be the year

They break into a cheer

I just hope they avoid the play-in

* Concerning Morgan State's loss to Niagara, the school said this: "Morgan State was losing to Niagara by as much as 25 points before launching a furious comeback in the 2nd half that fell short." The Bears lost by 20. Concerning the loss to Denver, the school said this: "Morgan State was losing to Denver by as much as 13 points before launching a furious comeback in the 2nd half only to fall short." That, folks, is a team that needs to work on its furious comebacks.

* James Madison hoops? Good good good. Coach high-fiving fans and grabbing the post-game microphone, beat writers talking of possible CAA titles.

* Longwood hoops? Um, not good.

Due to its lack of an affiliation with any Division 1 conference, the school based in Farmville, Va., which is halfway between Richmond and Roanoke, endures a Washington Generals-like existence, playing the bulk of its games on the road against whatever program needs a one-game schedule filler.

Predictably, such an existence hasn't been very kind to the former females-only institution, which went co-ed in the 1970s (and maintains a 2-1 female-male ratio). The Lancers, who have played in 20 states and the District of Columbia over the past three seasons, fell to 5-63 in their last 68 road games.

* Maryland hoops? Ready for HGTV. The Terps have redecorated their locker room. No name tags? Truly, they are now learning how the other half lives.

* The family members of Terp Josh Wilson and D.C. native Julian Peterson are rooting for the Skins this weekend, despite the fact that Wilson and Peterson happen to play for the Seahawks. And how about Sam Hollenbach, Stephon Heyer and Josh Wilson--the three go-to quotes from the 2006 Terps--all factoring into this game?

* Speaking of Local Boys, Kevin Durant's welcome home party! Tonight!

* Local Poll voter Scott Van Pelt Style points out that Chuck Brown and Go-Go both received a shout-out from Kenny Albert/Daryl Johnston during the Orange Bowl.

By Dan Steinberg | January 4, 2008; 8:49 AM ET | Category: College Basketball , College Football
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Comments

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The Morgan St. one is a great Haiku. If only I knew where Morgan State was located.

Posted by: WaPoLiveFan16 | January 4, 2008 09:27 AM

Why was I not informed about the 2-1 female/male ratio at Longwood when I was making my college choice?

Posted by: Rob Iola | January 4, 2008 09:33 AM

My Local 11-tracking spreadsheet has the following in the cell below my #1 spot, filled by Georgetown:

(massive, virtually unbridgeable gap)

I am considering forming my next ballot by putting the Hoyas at 1 and then drawing names out of a hat.

Posted by: Chest Rockwell | January 4, 2008 09:41 AM

Ugh. Our poll-eligible teams need a pep talk from its voters I think

Posted by: smperk | January 4, 2008 09:44 AM

We should just change the poll to the local 11 worst teams and rank them from worst to less worse. It'd be easier to do and a good way to cope with this drek. Gahhh

Posted by: Chimpanzee Rage | January 4, 2008 10:21 AM

1. Morgan State is located in Northeast Baltimore, about a 10 min. drive from Johns Hopkins. It is my alma mater and my current employer.

2. As an employee, I am all to familiar with MSU Sports Information's love affair with the term 'furious comeback.' It is a cancer along the same lines as hard fought.

Posted by: ScottVanPeltStyle.com | January 4, 2008 10:26 AM

Sounds like Morgan State has a "Furious Five." Does that make Todd Bozeman their Grandmaster Flash? They are close to the edge of the Atlantic 11. Sure hope they don't lose their heads.

Posted by: Bill Fitzgerald | January 4, 2008 10:55 AM

Bozeman only looks furious when you serve him ham sandwiches.

Posted by: onside kick | January 4, 2008 12:28 PM

Why don't we make this a women's team poll? It will be less annoying come March when Georgetown fans realize they have a team too.

The Chuck Brown reference was the highlight of the broadcast. I hope Stinespring is out after that game.

Posted by: sitruc | January 4, 2008 01:08 PM

Chuck Brown AND Russ Grimm have kids on the VA Tech football team?!? Are they recruiting Mike Golic's kid, too, in order to complete a celebrity-offspring trifecta?
After Albert and Johnston mentioned D.C.'s Godfather of Go-Go, I couldn't get the Go-Go beat out of my head.

Posted by: Arlington Pimp | January 4, 2008 04:37 PM

Sons of two former Skins isn't enough?

Posted by: sitruc | January 4, 2008 11:19 PM

Atlantic 11 Continues to Disintegrate

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