After falling in the season opener to then #1 Kentucky 72-69, Maryland basketball has won a dozen straight.

The Terps closed out non-conference play with a 81-63 win over IUPUI at the Comast Center this afternoon. Freshman guard Seth Allen led a balanced Maryland attack with 13 points.

Associated Press voters have shown little respect for the Terps, Maryland getting only five votes, good for 35th in the country in the latest AP Poll. Maryland has had an easy schedule since the opener against the defending national champs, with their only significant win coming against Northwestern in the Big 10/ACC challenge.

Maryland coach Mark Turgeon has turned the program around in a big way and very quickly. The Terps returned only four scholarship players this season, but have a solid ten man rotation featuring two transfers and four highly regarded freshman that were brought on board in the offseason.

ACC play begins on Saturday when Virginia Tech (9-4) visits the Comcast Center for a Noon tipoff.

Four more college football stars have decided to give up their final year of eligibility and enter the NFL draft.

Matt Elam Florida Safety- Although not yet official, Elam's high school coach Jack Daniels tells the Palm Beach Post that Elam has already made the decision to enter the draft. Elam was named first team All-American and should be high on the Redskins wish list. Projections call for Elam to go late in first round or early in the second, so the 'Skins will need a bit of luck to get a shot at Elam. Elam had four interceptions this season with 65 tackles, including 10 for loss.

Corey Lemonier Auburn DL/LB- Despite a disappointing junior season, Lemonier has decided to enter the draft. Lemonier has the versatility of playing a 4-3 end or a 3-4 outside linebacker. With Adam Carriker and Brian Orakpo returning from injury in 2013 and Jarvis Jenkins and Rob Jackson emerging in their absence, Lemonier is not a need for Washington. Lemonier is the sixth defensive lineman to leave early, the most of any position.

Stefphon Jefferson Nevada RB- Jefferson was second in the nation in rushing this season with 1,883 yards on the ground to go along with 24 touchdowns. Obviously, Mike Shanahan doesn't spend early picks at the position, nor do the 'Skins have a glaring need at the position. South Carolina's Marcus Lattimore, Arkansas' Knile Davis and Giovani Bernand from North Carolina are other backs already declaring for the draft.

Robert Woods USC WR- Injuries plagued the USC wide receiver early on, but he still "managed" 76 receptions. As a sophomore, Woods hauled in a Pac-12 record 111 catches, earning pre-season All-America honors. Woods projects a late selection on day one and barring a trade, isn't on the Redskins radar. Woods' high school teammate, Marquise Lee was the Biletnikoff Award winner this season, but is only a sophomore.

Happy New Year from DC Pro Sports to you and your family from DC Pro Sports Report.

It look to be a good year shaping up already for DC sports fans.  Our Washington Redskins are in the NFL playoffs and NFC East division champions.  It's not just that.  Look beyond the playoffs for 2013.  This team has plenty of reasons to give us excite for 2013.  The youth movement that Mike Shanahan embarked on late in 2011 has this team set for a promising future.  Robert Griffin III and Alfred Morris give Redskins fans plenty of reason to smile and be excited.  The fact this team ran off seven straight wins, after starting 3-6, is another powerful reason to be excited.  It goes tot he very character of the team as a whole.  This is not the same old Redskins.  It's a new Redskins. 

The Washington Nationals are set to compete for years to come and we can boast the best starting pitching staff in all of baseball.  Adding Dan Heren just makes it even more powerful.  The likes of Stephen Strasburg, Bryce Harper, and Jordan Zimmermann thrill Nats fans everywhere.  The fact we won't have to deal with a Strasburg shutdown issues is thrilling in itself.  It is very difficult, if not impossible, to not like the makeup and character of this club.  It is going to be a pleasure to cover this team in 2013. 

As for the Washington Capitals, things are looking a bit optimistic that hockey may very well return within the next ten days.  Caps fans will be excited to get their team back. 

As for the Washington Wizards, well, we have no answers there. We see very little hope otherwise.  It's sad to see.  All DC sports is looking up, except for the basketball team. 

We will continue to bring you the original mock draft database, the NFL Mock Database, the NBA Mock Database, the NHL Mock Database and the MLB Mock Database.  Sure there are imitations out there, but we were the first and original databases.   Few ways to keep you updated on when Database updates are done.  First, bookmark the Databases your are interested in and frequently check them.  We are updating the NFL database a few times per week and the other three databases at least once per week.  You can follow Mock Databases on Twitter and can follow them on Facebook. 

Beyond just our website, you can also Like and Share the DC Pro Sports Report Facebook page.  Follow us on Twitter too. 

Finally, we will continue in 2013 to build our new DC pro sports Fan Forums.  We encourage you to join our community.  It's a great time to talk and share opinions about DC pro sports teams.  Help us build our forums and become a participating member.  We pride ourselves on intelligent discussion and maintaining a friendly community and do not permit antics and bullying in our forums.  That's a promise.  Join us in 2013.  We look forward to forging new friendships. 

We look forward to bring you continuing coverage of all four teams, opening up new avenues of coverage, bringing you original, opinion filled content, and continuing to provide a voice on DC sports through our frequent appearances on News Channel 8 as a DC sports news source. 

So bring it on 2013!  DC pro sports are ready to roll!

Although the Redskins host a playoff game in mere days, I thought it would be okay to look ahead to next season -- just because it's officially 2013 now. [Happy New Year, by the way.] We have no dates, but we do know who the Redskins will play and where they will play them in 2013. Have a look.

HOME: Bears, Lions, 49ers, Chiefs, Chargers, Cowboys, Giants, Eagles

AWAY: Raiders, Broncos, Falcons, Packers, Vikings, Cowboys, Giants, Eagles

The first thing that jumps out is that the Redskins are playing the NFC North and the AFC West next year. The Redskins get the two weaker NFC North teams -- Chicago and Detroit -- at home next year, but have to go into the Metrodome and Lambeau Field to play the North's two playoff teams. 

The second thing I noticed is that Washington's home schedule looks easier than its road schedule. Only one 2013 home opponent -- the 49ers -- is a 2012 playoff team. Four of Washington's eight road games are against playoff teams -- the Broncos, Falcons, Packers and Vikings. That includes a road game against both team's with the best record in their conference, the Broncos and Falcons. The Skins do get something of a break by playing the 2012's worst team -- the Chiefs -- and the Raiders, one of the worst teams in the league this year. 

A tougher schedule is the price most teams play for improving so this is a good sign for the fortunes of the Redskins.

This is the 2013 NFL Draft order from picks one through twenty. The remaining selections will be determined by the result of the Super Bowl tournament. 

Earlier today I was a guest on NewsTalk with Bruce Depuyt on News Channel 8 to discuss the year in sports in Washington, D.C. We covered the Redskins and Nationals most of all, but also touched on the Wizards, the Capitals and more, as well as the issue of realignment among local colleges. It's a fun show so have a look.

(@Ovi8)

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin is going to be a married man.

In news first reported by the Russian's IMG Agent David Abrutyn on twitter and later confirmed on Ovi's own account, Ovechkin has engaged to his girlfriend and tennis superstar Maria Kirilenko.

The couple warmed the hearts of Caps fans all summer with their adventures, as Ovechkin followed Kirilenko to the Olympics in London and she watched him starring for his hometown Dynamo Moscow.

And now, on New Year's Eve, the two announced their engagement.

Here's wishing Alex Ovechkin and Maria Kirilenko a wonderful future together, including a sumptuos 2013, and hoping most of it is spent in Washington.

As part of our continuing coverage leading up to the NFL draft, DC Pro will keep you up to date with the latest college football stars entering the draft early.

Rutgers CB Logan Ryan: The 6'0" 190 pound Ryan is considered one of the top five cornerback prospects in the draft. Ryan would be a perfect fit for the Redskins, but is expected to go in the first 40 selections. Ryan is not only very talented, but is known for a strong work ethic. Ryan had four interceptions and 17 pass breakup's this season. Ryan is also very strong versus the run as evidenced by his 94 tackles in 2012.

Texas A&M DE Damontre Moore: The 6'4" 250 Moore will be selected very high on day one of the draft. With the Redskins witout a first round selection, the chance of him ending in Burgundy and Gold are virtually nill. Projecting as a 3-4 outside linebacker at the next level, Moore also plays a position of strength on the 'Skins. With Rob Jackson having a breakout season and Brian Orakpo returning from injury, Washington is solid at the position led by Ryan Kerrigan.

The Nation's Capital has been a long, depressed sports city.  We have watched for two decades as the Redskins fared no better than third place, but mostly dwelled in the cellar in the NFC East.  We have watched head coach after head coach fail.  We have watched 21 different players take the helm of quarterback.  Since 1992, with very blips here and there, Redskins football has been nothing short of, well, quite depressing. 

Over that same twenty year period, we have watched a small weasel on the other side of the beltway, Peter Angelos, block this city from hosting major league baseball.  That finally gave way in 2005 when the lowly Montreal Expos relocated to the District.  The bad news for Washington baseball fans was the fact they inherited a franchise run into the ground by former Expos owner Jeffrey Loria.  After his completely inept ownership, Major League Baseball took control of the franchise and absolutely sucked the franchise of young talent.  The Lerner family brought Washington's it baseball franchise, but warned that it would take at least five years to rebuild a completely destroyed franchise.  Washington fans labored through come pretty awful baseball. Still, the Lerner's preached patience.    

At the same time, Daniel Snyder gave the Redskins fans the biggest gift they received in ten years, he fired incompetent GM Vinny Cerrato.  Redskins Nation celebrated.  They celebrated further when Snyder announced the hiring of Mike Shanahan as Team President and head coach and GM Bruce Allen.  The Redskins could finally boast a competent front office run by football people.  Dan Snyder had made amends, telling Redskins fans, he realized the error of his ways and turned the football operations over to Shanahan.  Yet, Shanahan fired similar warnings to the Redskins faithful that the Lerner family sent to the new Nationals fan base, that it would take time to fix the messy state of the Redskins franchise. 

While both franchises embarked on rebuilding depleted talent franchises, the fan bases of each grew weary and impatient.  The Nationals rebuild took the six years.  The Redskins appeared to not improve under Shanahan, posting a 6-10 and 5-11 season in his first two years.  

Fast forward to 2012, the year we are about to say goodbye.  The Redskins and Nationals shared very similar, eerily so, the paths they took.  yes, the Nats were a bit different.  They dominated from the start, while the Redskins faltered early.  However, both teams won their respective division titles, while literally no one projected either.  Additionally, both teams were led by two stud youngsters, the Nats by Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper, the Redskins by Robert Griffin III and Alfred Morris.   

So as we head into 2013, we first thank the fan bases of both teams for exercising the patience and following the trust placed by the fans to the respective front offices.  Second, we thank the Ownership of both teams, the Lerner family and Daniel Snyder.  The Lerner family had a plan and exercised the patience to see than plan through.  For Snyder, he learned how to become an effective and successful owner, by entrusting his front office to professional people and by exercising patience himself.

What we got are two division championships, four incredibly gifted, young, bright superstars to thrill us for years and years to come, and two franchises built on youth and built to make runs for years to come.   

So as we look forward to 2013 and the Redskins playoffs, we look back on 2012 with a smile.  DC Sports seemingly broke out of its depression and found a whole lot of joy; joy that the Nation's Capital deserved so very much and for so very long.  And it all was led by young talent on both franchises.  We head to 2013 with much enthusiasm, hope, and and energy as fans.  We thank the Washington Nationals and Washington Redskins for a great 2012!. 

The pre-game words of Redskins rookie QB Robert Griffin III, come to us via Dan Steinberg from the Washington Post.  Just these words are why Robert Griffin III is beyond the whole 'rookie quarterback' thing.  The Redskins players made RGIII a team captain at the bye week, sitting at 3-6, for a reason.  He was not just that phenomenal player on the field.  He was blossoming into the leader of this football club.  No more words say it than his pre-game comments.

"This is our house.  This is our night.  This is our division."  RGIII

Again.  He is more than just a rookie quarterback.