Who is this team?
It's great for Gary Williams that Maryland is playing this well today against North Carolina, but where has this team been all season?
Greivis Vasquez doesn't take a shot for the first six minutes?
James Gist outplaying Tyler Hansbrough?
For those who aren't watching, it's 41-35 Maryland, with Gist scoring 13 points and pulling down nine rebounds, outscoring Hansbrough by nine. Vasquez has seven assists but also five turnovers.
It's only halftime, and maybe the Terps should consider going right to the bus for the airport, but where was this team the first two months of the season? It's certainly a matter of the freshmen getting comfortable, but it's more a matter of Vasquez playing under control and Gist being a dominant player inside.
How long it will last depends on whether the Terps come out of their locker room with the same focus and intensity, and when the Tar Heels realize they had better start playing before they get upset.
No matter what happens, Maryland can build off this half, and depending on how the second half plays out, the rest of the season.
Comments
Wow, what an amazing win. What a tremendous coaching job too! Agreed, what the heck were they? If they can play like that every game, from here on out, they could indeed post quite a few wins.
Posted by: Tripp | January 19, 2008 6:04 PM
I've watched thousands of college basketball games, literally. Without a doubt, Maryland's victory today against the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill ranks as one of the most exciting and gratifying wins I've ever witnessed.
This is why I am such a rabid and ridiculous fan of Gary Williams and the Terps. If you want to look at the glass as half-empty, with losses to Ohio and American, that's your prerogative. As for me, I choose to rally around Coach Williams once again proving that any team he fields can beat ANY team in the country.
What a blast. Instead of wallowing in the muck, and playing without emotion, Coach Williams dug in and re-energized his squad with hustle, desire, and precision. After 19 seasons as the leader of the Maryland Terrapins, Gary Williams once again showed why fans like me will support and be confident in his ability until he hangs up his sneakers.
Way to go, Terps!
Posted by: Chris | January 19, 2008 6:12 PM
I am hoping that this COLOSSAL upset will give some them some momentum for the rest of the season. I knew this maybe an off year for the Terps but if they could make one hell of a run based off this win that would be outstanding, the players seemed to be more comfortable in this game and that makes a big difference.
Posted by: Marcus | January 19, 2008 10:43 PM
Thank God for Gary Williams. Finally something to cheer about around here!
Posted by: G Mac | January 20, 2008 8:00 AM
this is the first time greivis has settled more into a roll of the point guard. his assist to turnovers was much better, but, he still takes some bad shots. his defense was really good this game. gist and osby really dominated inside. tucker really played well, his defense of ellington was the best of the year from a guard. i noticed when he was out ellington scored his threes that brought them back. i would still like to see hayes at point.
Posted by: ron nixon | January 20, 2008 9:13 AM
this is the first time greivis has settled more into a roll of the point guard. his assist to turnovers was much better, but, he still takes some bad shots. his defense was really good this game. gist and osby really dominated inside. tucker really played well, his defense of ellington was the best of the year from a guard. i noticed when he was out ellington scored his threes that brought them back. i would still like to see hayes at point.
Posted by: ron nixon | January 20, 2008 9:14 AM
After the Terp's victory over N.C. over the weekend --- I wonder what Billy Packer is saying now?
Posted by: Mark C. Mooney | January 20, 2008 11:02 AM
I wonder how much Billy Packer would charge to come back to Comcast about three days before each game for the rest of the season, and announce over the sound system about twenty times that this team has no basketball IQ?
Posted by: Anonymous | January 20, 2008 4:23 PM
ahhhh....christmas in january...after a dismal ravens season and the Terps rough december and early january...finally!!! something to cheer about!!!
Thank you Gary Clause!
I've been predicting since the Va Tech game that Boom is going to end up "All ACC" this year...
Posted by: TerpsFreak | January 20, 2008 4:44 PM
Great, great win, no question, but Gary has to keep these guys on track. This is a game to build on, and I've seen Terps teams revert to bad play after big victories.
It's important that they step up and show that this was not a fluke (as many "experts" are claiming with comments like "The Tarheels were overrated and didn't deserve to be a No. 1 anyway, so this win is no big deal").
No, the Terps need to use this game turn a corner and be the good team that Gary says they can be. If they play smart, stay under control and play that tenacious D, they can start turning some heads. Fear the Turtle!
Posted by: Ken Francis | January 20, 2008 8:09 PM
Vasquez definitely did a great job running the point - which I always felt wasn't his strong suit.
He's got the height to be an off-guard, but I guess personnel and injuries force your hand. That said his energy is just awesome. He takes too many gambles with the ball (the high number of turnovers attest to that) but when the gambles work they turn into easy scores.
Regarding his shot selection, I thought it was spot-on against UNC. He attacked in the second half with an undersized and foul-troubled Lawson defending him, which I felt was the right thing to do.
Posted by: Dennis | January 20, 2008 9:39 PM
Gary seems to be rallying his young squad as he has done in the home stretch the past few years. Plus he's getting a little depth at guard and forward so the Terps may surprise a few of the more publicized ACC teams. They may need a few surprises to be playing in April. Go Terps!!
Posted by: GregA | January 21, 2008 1:02 AM
I have been a Terps fan since 1963, when my husband enrolled at Maryland and we struggled through the years with no money and the main source of entertainment was Terps sports. Gary Williams was the point guard! Saturday's win against North Carolina ranked right up there with winning the national championship. I believe in miracles. Go Terps!
Posted by: Janice Cominsky | January 22, 2008 7:32 AM