Wake-up call for rest of Terps
With Maryland set to play ACC foe Virginia tonight, coach Gary Williams doesn't want the Terps to look back at that awful 77-56 beating they took from Duke on Saturday at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
This is understandable -- when you climb out of a smoldering train wreck, your first thought is never: Hey, let's go back and look at that again!
But here's one thing the Terps had better remember from their Saturday beatdown: when Greivis Vasquez is having a tough game, somebody else better step up.
Vasquez was hounded unmercifully by the Duke defense -- the Devils came out farther on the perimeter to check him and did a lot of switching that kept him constantly smothered.
The result was this: the Terps scoring leader had just two points in the first half, the Maryland offense bogged down and Duke established its momentum, rolling to a 40-24 lead at the intermission.
No one else stepped up for the Terps. Sure, Cliff Tucker had a nice game (12 points). But Maryland needed about four more Cliff Tuckers to get back in this one.
The two other seniors in the starting lineup were ineffectual.
Landon Milbourne (2 points) couldn't find his shot all afternoon. Eric Hayes (8 points) couldn't spot up for threes with the Duke guards coming so far out on defense. And Jordan Williams, the highly-touted freshman who has played so well of late, was overwhelmed by all the big bodies the Blue Devils kept sending inside.
As Vasquez goes, so go the Terps -- that's a truism. But somebody else has to step up when he's having an off-day.
There's too much talent and senior leadership on this team for that not to happen. And when it doesn't happen, the game can get away from the Terps in a hurry.
Comments
I think Vasquez has a better chance to break free of coverage when he doesn't have to bring the ball up the court. Have someone else run the point and use screens to get Vasquez some space to operate. A lot of times he brought the ball up, passed it off and never touched the ball again during that possession.
Posted by: teeze | February 15, 2010 11:09 AM
The reality is plain and simple our guards can't create there own shots off of a dribble plain and simple.Duke played there defense in such a matter that they pushed us out further then we are use to and since they don't have the quickness off the dribble to drive they are dead. Md only plays good when they can run and hit the open man . Saturday's game was like watching men against boys.We had no intensity at all on saturday and you just can't play hard at home and expect to win against good teams. That was a dreadful performance.
Posted by: blancione | February 15, 2010 11:14 AM
Going into the Duke game, I thought the Terps would have a chance. Then Verne Lundquist tells me that it is Coach K's 1000 game at Duke AND its his birthday. Game Over before the tip.
I think they get back on track tonight and win their 3 games this week.
Posted by: Christian | February 15, 2010 12:37 PM
Use Tucker and leave him in the game. The poor guy is constantly looking over at the bench waiting to get yanked. If Hayes gets his looks, fine. If he doesn't, put Cliff in and let him create. Milbourne has to hit his shots tonight and Mosely needs to pound on people in the paint. Virginia is a desperate team and Maryland has to match their intensity from the jump. This is shaping up to be an ugly game and the Terps gotta have it. You can do it boys.
Posted by: Ray in Texas | February 15, 2010 5:36 PM