I don't like the University of Maryland.  More specifically, I don't like University of Maryland men's basketball.  Anyone who knows me or used to listen to my sports talk show knows I don't like Maryland basketball.  Look, Mark Turgeon seems like a nice fellow.  I have nothing against him.  But my dislike of all things Terrapin started 30 years ago.  It's ingrained in me.  It is not going to change.

So, for the first time in 20 years, our beloved Towson University Tiger men's basketball team will travel down to College Park to take on the No. 24 Terps this Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.  It is a game that many Tiger fans have been hoping would be played for a long time.  If you look back over the last 20 seasons, it is probably a good thing Towson waited this long to play the game.

If we are being honest, Towson basketball has not been very good over most of the past 20 seasons.  Not until Pat Skerry came to take over the Tigers have we had much success.  Since the Tigers last played the Terps on November 30 of 1996, the only winning seasons Towson has had have been under Coach Skerry.  While Maryland was winning a national championship and getting to the NCAA's annually, the Tigers were struggling to get to double digit wins.

Now though, the Tigers are a solid program.  Over the last four years, no one has won more conference games in the CAA than Towson.  The Tigers are starting off the 2016-17 season in fine form.  The Tigers are 2-0 after Tuesday night's victory over the Morgan State Bears. Better yet, the Towson 2-0 start is with back to back road wins.

Maybe this is the year.  Maybe the 20 year wait will be worth it.  Why not?  This program has beaten Louisville.  This program has beaten St. John's.  This program has beaten West Virginia.  This current team could be as good if not better than those that slayed those schools.

Last time the two teams met in 1996, the Tigers got trounced 93-76.  During that game, the two head coaches, Terry Truax and Gary Williams, started screaming at each other from their respective benches.  The year before, the Tigers had lost to Maryland by five at what is now Royal Farms Arena.  In that game, the Tigers led for much of the contest, but due to some questionable officiating, Maryland won in the final moments.  I will never forget an absurd flagrant foul call on Tiger Stevie Thomas that turned the tide in Maryland's favor.

Back in 1985, Lefty Driesell won his 500^th career game against the Tigers.  Lefty had lost the previous four games and pressed Towson for 40 minutes to make sure he got that 500^th victory.  The Towson roster had been depleted and was filled with walk-ons.  Maryland, led by the late great Lenny Bias won 91-38.  After the game, Coach Truax presented Lefty with a cake to commemorate his 500^th win.  A cake he brought down on the bus with him.

So yes I don't like Maryland basketball.  I never will.  You won't find a happier person in the state come four o'clock Sunday afternoon if the visiting team is victorious.

It's a busy weekend coming up.  On Saturday, Gordy Combs and I will have the broadcast of the final Towson football game for the 2016 season.  The Tigers travel to Rhode Island to take on the Rams.  Gordy and I start the broadcast at 11:45 a .m. with kickoff at noon.

Then Sunday, I'll have the call of the Towson-Maryland matchup starting at 1:45 p.m. with the opening tip at 2.   

Until next week, GO TIGERS!!! CRUSH MARYLAND!!!