COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Junior forward Alyssa Thomas of the Maryland women’s basketball team was named to the Associated Press Preseason All-American Team, released this week. The team was voted on by a panel of national media members.

Thomas led the ACC in scoring last year with 17.2 points per game and was named ACC Player of the Year. She was just the second sophomore to earn the league’s top individual honor. She finished the year among the best in the league with 8.0 rebounds per game, assists (3.2), free throw percentage (80.1) and defensive rebounds (5.5).

At the end of the 2011-12 season, she was named an AP First Team All-American, WBCA Division I Coaches’ All-American and a USBWA All-American.

Thomas is joined on the AP’s Preseason All-American Team with Brittney Griner (Baylor), Elena Delle Donne (Delaware), Skylar Diggins (Notre Dame), Chiney Ogwumike (Stanford), and Odyssey Sims (Baylor).

Maryland is ranked No. 5 in the Associated Press preseason poll, released Saturday, as well as in the preseason ESPN/USA Today Division I Coaches’ poll. The Terps have started the season ranked in each of the last eight years.

The Terrapins, who return four of five starters from last year’s ACC Championship squad, ended the 2012-13 season ranked No. 5 in the AP poll. The Terps went 31-5 last year and went to the NCAA Elite Eight.

The Terrapins were picked to finish second in the ACC this year. 2012 ACC Player of the Year Alyssa Thomas, senior Tianna Hawkins and junior Laurin Mincy were all named to the 10-member Preseason All-ACC Team. Thomas was also voted the Preseason Player of the Year.

Incoming freshman Malina Howard was named to the ACC’s Newcomer Watch List. Howard, a native of Twinsburg, Ohio, was the No. 1 post player in the country in this year’s freshman class.

As always, this week’s 15-7-0 is brought to you by Roofing By Elite. Visit them at roofingbyelite.com. We make 15 observations about football ELITE, 7 about football “not so ELITE” and one “zero” who deserves to sleep on the roof from outside of football.

(As a reminder, we don’t do Baltimore Ravens game analysis here. We do PLENTY of that elsewhere. This is about the rest of the world of football.)

“The ELITE 15″…

1. The performance Towson authored in defeat at LSU is still very much worthy of the term “elite”.

On more than one occasion during the first three quarters in Baton Rouge I found myself saying “oh my God oh my God oh my God”. It was an amazing effort from the Tigers in Death Valley…

No matter what, it doesn’t mean this didn’t happen…

I remember taking a picture of the screen when Morgan State lead West Virginia 10-0 in the NCAA Tournament. Things went SIGNIFICANTLY better for Towson after their moment than they did for MSU.

2. Hey! Remember last week when the Houston Texans and Atlanta Falcons were the best team in their respective conferences? Like Sonny & Cher said, “the beat goes on”.

Want to see Danieal Manning make an interception return TD look like a kick return TD? Of course you do.

It’s probably worth taking a closer look at the block Jonathan Joseph laid on Nate Washington during the return…

Oh my. Houston stomped Tennessee, but you knew that was going to happen. Tennessee also lost quarterback Jake Locker for what looks like could be “several weeks” according to CBS. So they’ve got that going for them.

The Falcons-Panthers game was significantly more interesting. Carolina had a chance to pull the upset at the Georgia Dome but (first) Cam Newton fumbled the ball after what would have been a late 3rd down conversion (then) Ron Rivera decided not to go for it on 4th and short but instead give the ball back to Matt Ryan (and) Ryan did this from the shadow of his own endzone…

The Falcons would get a game winner from Matt Bryant to stay undefeated, the Panthers fell to 1-3. Matt Ryan’s thoughts are NSFW if you’re a lip-reader…

Earlier in the game, Cam Newton did THIS…

And I guess spending time in Atlanta has helped Dunta Robinson perfect his Tomahawk Chop…

3. Also from the “don’t forget we’re really good” category, I give you the New England Patriots.

The Pats were in a bit of trouble in the first half of this one, but then they remembered they were the Patriots and scored like 600 unanswered points. Was it 600? I think it was 600. Let’s ask Tom Brady.

By the way-I’m terrible at lip-reading. If you told me he was asking about whether or not Looper was any good, I would believe you.

Now Ryan Fitzpatrick’s reaction…

Maybe he just found out the new stadium is going up in Los Angeles and is getting excited about buying a home in Burbank.

Vince Wilfork nearly killed a man in this one…

And Rob Gronkowski made sure he didn’t miss another spike…

4. Since you started reading this week’s 15-7-0, West Virginia scored three more touchdowns.

WVU QB Geno Smith threw more touchdowns (8) than incomplete passes (6) Saturday against Baylor. He also threw for 656 yards and no picks. Try to keep up…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqDruveDZD0

How about that last catch from JD Woods to seal it? Geesh. You might not have seen it because your head was still spinning from the 133 points scored in the game.

Smith is your Heisman Trophy frontrunner and the Mountaineers are a sexy “dark hose” pick to make a run at the BCS Championship. The folks in Morgantown might want to make sure they have room for a third digit on the scoreboard.

5. Is it safe declare that the Urban Meyer experiment at Ohio State is already working?

First, we start with the fact that ESPN’s College Gameday was in East Lansing this week. It’s noteworthy. Here’s the singular best sign…

That’s just…so…exceptional. Mom and dad are proud of the education they’re paying for you to get at MSU!

The Buckeyes are 5-0 but can’t win anything. This will be an awkward storyline if the season continues this way…

And since the Big Ten stinks, I kinda have to assume it will. Oh and also, the Spartans coaches were complaining postgame that the game film they received from Ohio State wasn’t up to standards. It sounds like whiny bitching from sore losers, but I’ll let you be the judge…

I don’t really understand the issue. Of course, if they had sent the right video, the Spartans probably would have been able to figure out what the Buckeyes’ hand signals were all about…

6. And some weeks Peyton Manning really still IS Peyton Manning.

Remember what everyone said about the Raiders defense? They probably didn’t say enough. The guy most thankful for the asskicking? Demaryius Thomas. Otherwise this would have been REALLY embarrassing…

And for fellow Peyton Manning fantasy owners, this one is worth watching again…

7. The Chargers defense would have been an awfully good start in fantasy football this week.

Well, other than this Jamaal Charles run…

But the six turnovers, they were helpful. And since we’re talking about baked goods, thanks to whoever brought the Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding (I’m sorry I forgot who you are!) to Maritime Magic Friday night (an event to benefit Living Classrooms Foundation). Holy hell I’ve never had anything greater.

I’ve already gotten about a hundred messages via email/Facebook/Twitter/text/Pony Express that said something along the lines of “well Glenn, you got what you wanted.”

To at least an extent, the people sending those messages have been right. After pounding on the desk of the studio at 1550 Hart Rd. in Towson for months (if not years), the Baltimore Ravens acquired a size receiver in the NFL Draft.

In the 6th round of the Draft, the Ravens selected Tommy Streeter, a 6’5″ wide receiver from the University of Miami. Combined with impressive speed (Streeter posted an impressive 4.40 forty time at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis), Streeter seemingly adds a more unique dynamic to Cam Cameron’s offense in 2012. Streeter’s size presents an immediate matchup problem in the red zone (and specifically in the end zone) that the team simply didn’t have in their receiving corps in 2011.

Well…mostly anyway.

You see, the Ravens actually DID briefly have a receiver like that in 2011. If you’ll remember, the Ravens acquired former Buffalo Bills WR James Hardy late in the 2010 season in hopes he could make the team out of Training Camp. Nagging injury issues and a lockout later, Hardy couldn’t crack the 53 and the lack of a size receiver played a role in the Ravens finishing 18th in the NFL in red zone offense.

So Streeter solves all of those problems, right? Right?

As I was also quick to point out, simply being tall wasn’t the only desirable attribute in a new Ravens receiver. Clarence Moore was tall. Randy Hymes was tall. Even Marc Lester was tall. The Ravens not only needed a tall receiver, they needed a receiver who could catch the ball and become a consistent threat in a National Football League offense.

While I liked the team’s decision to draft Streeter, I will admit that I don’t believe the Ravens (and 31 other teams) passed on him for five and a half rounds because they were TOO worried about how good he was. There have been questions about Streeter’s hands, as well as his overall ability to develop into a consistent standout receiver. Those questions may or may not be fair, as the former Hurricanes star could show 31 teams they made a mistake in the coming seasons or they could show one particular team they made the wrong decision to take him even as late as the sixth round.

I guess that’s basically the entire point of this week’s column. After the NFL Draft, analysts attempt to identify “winners” and “losers” from three days of selecting players. Some of these players will go on to outstanding pro careers, others will leave little in the way of a legacy at the NFL level and others still will never play in even a single NFL game.

So do I think the Ravens did a nice job in the NFL Draft? Yeah…I guess. I guess the Baltimore Ravens did a nice job in the NFL Draft.

BALTIMORE, Md. - Morgan State tight Lamont Bryant has been selected by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent shortly after the conclusion of the three-day draft Saturday evening.

Bryant was the second of 12 undrafted free agent selections by the Ravens so far, joining North Carolina cornerback Charles Brown; Mississippi State offensive lineman James Carmon; Clemson fullback Chad Diehl; Georgia fullback Bruce Figgins; Slippery Rock wide receiver Devin Goda; UAB defensive tackle Elliott Henigan; Baylor defensive tackle Nick Jean-Baptiste; Tennessee fullback/linebacker Austin Johnson; Kent State defensive tackle Ishmaa’ily Kitchen; Alabama offensive lineman Alfred McCullough; and Western Kentucky running back Bobby Rainey.

The 6-5, 225-pound Bryant started 11 games in 2012 and ranked as the team’s leading receiver with 21 receptions (371 yards) and two TDs. He capped the season by being selected to the All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference First-Team.

Bryant’s stock rose on draft boards with a standout performance at the Morgan State Pro Day held in March. Bryant measured in at 6’5, 225, had an 80 1/4″ wingspan, ran the 40 in 4.45 and put up 19 reps on bench. He also registered a 10’3″ broad jump, a ridiculous 43″ vertical jump, and ran the short shuttle in 4.38.

In 2010, he recorded five catches for 55 yards (11.0 avg) in eight games. In ’09, he caught 18 passes for 251 yards (13.9-yard average) and two touchdowns on his way to first-team all-conference honors in 10 games.

The Newport News, Va., native was moved from quarterback to tight end in ’08 and saw action in five games on special teams, where he blocked two punts.

The last MSU tight end to enter the NFL was Visanthe Shiancoe who was drafted in the third round (91st overall) in the 2003 NFL Draft by the New York Giants and currently plays for the Minnesota Vikings.

The Baltimore Ravens moved into the next step of the off-season process Saturday night by bringing several valuable players that did not have their named called over the three-day process.

Along with their eight draft picks, a host of other potential Ravens will make their way into Owings Mills in two weeks with the chance to make the roster cut from 90 players in training camp to the 53-man roster when Baltimore  opens up against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football September 10th.

During the 2011 season, several undrafted free agents saw playing time for the Baltimore Ravens. DE/LB Albert McClellan, who was brought in under the circumstances after the 2010 NFL Draft, and Maryland WR/KR LaQuan Williams both saw significant action on special teams and during the game contributing for a team that reached the AFC Title game.

Here is a list of Ravens rookie free agent targets hoping to have similar results who have reportedly been signed or invited to work out for a contract, per league agents, sources, or the players themselves. Highlights of the signings include former Florida QB John Brantley-the successor to Tim Tebow, Morgan State TE LaMont Bryant, Wake Forest SS Cyhl Quarles, and Florida WR/KR Deonte Thompson.

 James Carmon, Mississippi State T: 

The Baltimore native and converted DT has blocked a lot of good pass-rushers in his senior year at Mississippi State.  In one year, he was asked to block South Carolina’s Melvin Ingram, Arkansas’ Jake Bequette, Memphis Dontari Poe, and Ravens 2nd-round pick Courtney Upshaw at Alabama.

Nick Provo; Syracuse TE

Provo’s work was with his hands alone. Struggled in blocking this year for the Orange.

Omar Brown; Marshall SS

Brown made plays in his Marshall career-even against FBS opponents like Ohio State and Virginia Tech.

Justin Tucker, Texas K

Kicked for 2 seasons and punted for four in his Longhorn career. Was carried off the field this season after GW-kick vs. Texas A&M.
Nick Jean-Baptiste, Baylor DT

A nose-tackle candidate who could back up Terrence Cody.
LaMont Bryant, Morgan State TE

Bryant got a call from offensive coordinator Cam Cameron hours after the draft. He asked Bryant, “Do you want to be a Raven?” Bryant said it was an easy answer. He drew interest from the Oakland Raiders, Seattle Seahawks, and Kansas City Chiefs and actually had to choose between the Ravens and the Chiefs in a quick phone decision Saturday night.
Jack Cornell, Illinois OL

Cornell started 13 games this year for the Illini at strong-side guard. Played some tackle his junior year in 2010.

Bobby Rainey, Western Kentucky RB

Coach John Harbaugh has been following him for months. He called him Saturday night to welcome him in. Says he models his game after Barry Sanders, and has a blue-collar approach to the game.

Devin Goda, Slippery Rock (PA) TE/HB

The fifth-year senior had an impressive 2011 in which he caught 75 passes for 1,028 yards and 11 TDs in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. Standing at 6’2, 213 lbs, he runs a 4.54 40-yard dash. The Oakland Raiders were another team vying for his services.

Chris Anzevino, Kent State C

The All-MAC honoree started 36 games for Kent State over the last three seasons.
Austin Johnson, Tennessee FB/LB

After playing FB previously at Tennessee, he switched to ILB for the Vols in 2011, leading them in tackles with 81 and interceptions with four. Faced a lot of adversity coming back from a pre-season arrest in which he was booked for disorderly conduct and public intoxication in which he reportedly fought with another man and was punching cars.
John Brantley, Florida QB

A highly touted high school prospect, John Brantley backed up Tim Tebow for two years at the University of Florida. He was also one of the reasons why Cam Newton transferred out of Florida to Auburn. Struggled with injuries the last two years at Florida, but still finished his Gator career with a completion percentage of 61.7 percent, 30 TDs, 18 INTs and 4,750 yards.

Cyhl Quarles, Wake Forest SS

Led the Demon Deacons in tackles this season and was moved all over the field this year for Wake Forest.

Deonte Thompson, Florida WR

The Florida WR struggled with drops his senior year, causing his quarterback, John Brantley, to look elsewhere in the Gator offense. Only had 21 catches in 2011. But his speed, which is reportedly in the 4.3′s could make him an excellent return candidate.

Charles Brown, UNC CB

An excellent cover corner, he had two interceptions and led North Carolina in breakups. Another return candidate for the Ravens.
Antoine McClain, Clemson OG

A pancake machine; he had 183 of them over 41 games in his four-year Tiger career.

Elliot Henigan, UAB DT

Played with a sports hernia throughout 2011 and still finished with close to 40 tackles. Either takes his guy out behind the line of scrimmage or is taken out of the play.

Be sure to follow @WNST on Twitter for your Ravens news as the 2012 roster takes shape and check the BuyaToyota.com Audio Vault at

Honorable Mention: Mixed Martial Arts-Bellator Fighting Championships 64 (Friday 8pm from Windsor, Ontario, Canada live on MTV2); Women’s College Lacrosse: Maryland @ North Carolina (Saturday 3pm from Chapel Hill, NC live on ESPN3.com); Soccer: Team USA Women vs. Brazil (Tuesday 7am from Chiba, Japan live on ESPN2), MLS-Seattle Sounders @ DC United (Saturday 7:30pm RFK Stadium)

10. Alabama Shakes (Saturday 8pm Rams Head Live); Cody Canada/Shooter Jennings (Friday 8pm Recher Theatre); Kevin Costner & Modern West (Tuesday & Wednesday 8pm Rams Head on Stage); Snow Patrol (Friday 7pm Saturday 8pm 9:30 Club); Moody Blues (Tuesday 8pm D.A.R. Constitution Hall); Of Monsters And Men “My Head Is An Animal” available in stores/on iTunes (Tuesday)

I’ll be at RHL Saturday night because I’m ALL IN…

I wish I could tell you I enjoyed The Moody Blues. Sadly I do not. But here’s this because there’s not much going on this week…

Now here’s Snow Patrol. Look, if Paul McCartney was playing this week I’d post something of his…

I think I posted the studio version of “Little Talks” by Of Monsters and Men last week. But I’m posting them again this week because THEY’RE REALLY FREAKING GOOD…

9. Mike Epps (Saturday 8pm 1st Mariner Arena); Kevin James (Wednesday 7:30pm Warner Theatre); Royal Comedy Tour feat. Bruce Bruce, Sommore, Mark Curry, Earthquake (Saturday 8pm Show Place Arena); “War Horse” available on Blu-Ray/DVD (Tuesday); “American Reunion” out in theaters (Friday)

We’re going to see “American Reunion” Thursday night/Friday morning at midnight in White Marsh. If you’re not going to see “American Reunion” Thursday night/Friday morning at midnight you’re a terrible human being and I don’t want to be your friend. So just make it simple and come with us. We’ll probably hit Tilted Kilt before then.

But honestly, if you don’t go see this movie you’re just the worst person of all time…

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Sophomore Alyssa Thomas of the Maryland women’s basketball team is one of five players named to the Associated Press All-America First Team announced Tuesday.

Thomas, the 2012 ACC Player of the Year, is joined on the First Team by Baylor’s Brittney Griner, Notre Dame’s Skylar Diggins, Stanford’s Nneka Ogwumike and Delaware’s Elena Delle Donne.

Thomas is the Terrapins’ fourth AP All-American. Crystal Langhorne (2006, 2007, 2008),Kristi Toliver (2008, 2009) and Marissa Coleman (2009) all earned the honor at least once in their respective careers. Langhorne was also honored as a sophomore when she was named to the Second Team in 2006.

Thomas leads the ACC in scoring with 17.2 points per game and is among the best in the league with 8.0 rebounds per game, assists (3.2), free throw percentage (80.1) and defensive rebounds (5.5).

Thomas is just the second underclassman ever to be named ACC Player of the Year. She scored a career-high 29 points in the ACC title game to lead Maryland to its 10th league championship. She was named Tournament MVP and is only the seventh player, and first underclassman, to be named league Player of the Year and Tournament MVP in the same season.

The Second Team honorees are Chiney Ogwumike, Stanford; Odyssey Sims, Baylor; Shenise Johnson, Miami; Samantha Prahalis, Ohio State; and Julie Wojta of Green Bay. Connecticut’s Tiffany Hayes, Kentucky’s A’dia Mathies, Duke’s Elizabeth Williams, Tennessee’s Shekinna Stricklen and Miami’s Riquna Williams all made the Third Team.

Behind two comebacks and a 21-4 run to end the game, Maryland rallied past Texas A&M 81-74 on Sunday in the Regional Semifinals. The Terps advanced to their fourth Elite Eight under head coach Brenda Frese.

Laurin Mincy had 21 points and for her career-high 12 rebounds for her first career double-double. Thomas added 21 points and nine rebounds for the second-seeded Terrapins. They trailed by 18 points in the first half and by 12 in the second half, but Maryland fought its way back and held the defending national champion Aggies to just one basket in the final 10 minutes.

The Terrapins had won 10 straight and 13 of 14 since Jan. 26. The Terrapins are 31-18 (.633) all-time in NCAA Tournament games. Frese owns an NCAA Tournament record of 20-7 (.741) and 19-6 (.760) at Maryland. Frese has led the Terps to eight NCAA Tournament appearances, four Elite Eights and the 2006 national championship.

Honorable Mention: Soccer-Cuba @ US Under-23 Men (Thursday 9pm from Nashville live on Universal Sports Network), Canada @ US Under-23 Men (Saturday 9pm from Nashville live on Universal Sports), El Salvador @ US Under-23 Men (Monday 9pm from Nashville live on Universal Sports), MLS-DC United @ Vancouver Whitecaps (Saturday 10pm from Vancouver live on Comcast SportsNet); Tennis: ATP Tour WTA Tour Sony Ericsson Open (Saturday-Monday 11am from Miami live on Tennis Channel); Boxing: Friday Night Fights-Antwone Smith vs. Roberto Garcia (Friday 9pm from Pharr, TX live on ESPN2), ShoBox-Diego Magdaleno vs. Eduardo Lazcano (Friday 11pm from Tucson, AZ live on Showtime), Erik Morales vs. Danny Garcia (Saturday 10pm from Houston live on HBO), Zab Judah vs. Vernon Paris (Saturday 10pm from New York live on NBC Sports Network); Mixed Martial Arts: Bellator Fighting Championships 62 (Friday 8pm from Laredo, TX live on MTV2)

10. The Head And The Heart (Tuesday 7pm Rams Head Live), Crack The Sky (Saturday 8pm Rams Head Live); Adema (Wednesday 7pm Recher Theatre); Psychedelic Furs (Tuesday 8pm Rams Head on Stage), Phil Vassar (Wednesday 6pm & 9pm Rams Head on Stage); Gotye (Thursday 7pm 9:30 Club), Fatboy Slim (Friday 9pm 9:30 Club), The Joy Formidable (Monday 7pm 9:30 Club); Fiona Apple (Wednesday 9pm Sixth & I Historic Synagogue); Kevin Eubanks (Thursday-Sunday Blues Alley); Angelique Kidjo (Saturday 8pm Lisner Auditorium); ShamrockFest feat. Dropkick Murphys, Gavin Degraw, Carbon Leaf (Saturday RFK Stadium); The Shins “Port of Morrow” available in stores/on iTunes (Tuesday)

Here’s a truth. The Head and The Heart had one of the ABSOLUTE best songs of 2011…

Gotye is the band whose name you have NO IDEA how to pronounce but you just can’t get out of your head…

Fiona Apple once did a video in her underwear. It was awkward because 14 year old Glenn was both aroused and terribly disturbed…

I saw The Shins on Saturday Night Live a few weeks ago. I wasn’t sure I was into them. I’m into them.

9. Ralphie May (Friday 8pm Lisner Auditorium); Bret Ernst (Thursday-Saturday Baltimore Comedy Factory); Pablo Francisco (Thursday-Sunday DC Improv); “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” & “The Muppets” available on Blu-Ray/DVD (Tuesday); “The Hunger Games” opens in theaters (Friday); Beer, Bourbon & BBQ (Friday & Saturday Timonium Fairgrounds)

I will be at BBBBQ Saturday morning with my “Reality Check Players” partner John Collingsworth. If you intended to do something with me at some point during the day Saturday understand…well…just be prepared for anything.

I’ll be giving away a pair of tickets to Friday night on Tuesday and Wednesday on “The Reality Check.” Not sure if Beer, Bourbon & BBQ is an event for you? I have a simple question. Does this look like something you’d enjoy?

What about this?

See you this weekend.