About Him: There may not have been a more exciting player to watch in the country this past season than Greivis Vasquez. He stuffed the stat sheet, he played with loads of enthusiasm, and he made as many big shots as anyone this season. He was the ACC player of the year and for good reason.
Greivis Vasquez has an impressive all-around skill set. His scoring ability is evident by looking at his ppg averages over the course of his career. Averaging just a shade under 20 ppg as a senior, the place where Vasquez is the most dangerous is as a jump shooter. He's made impressive strides in this area during his career in College Park, knocking down a respectable 36% of his threes this past season, a number that is probably brought down by the degree of difficulty on some of the shots he takes.
Vasquez is an effective shooter off the catch and off the dribble, and that shooting ability is what sets up his penetration game. Vasquez is not a great scorer off the dribble -- he is an inconsistent mid-range shooter and does not have the length or the vertical explosiveness to be a finisher around the rim -- but he is an excellent passer and playmaker. While he still has a tendency to try and make the spectacular play as opposed to the smart, simple one, there's no two ways around the assist numbers he put up throughout his career. As a senior, his 3.4 t/o's are a bit unsettling, but when you consider how much Maryland relied on having the ball in Vasquez' hands and where his turnover numbers were when he came into Maryland, that stat gets a little less worrisome.
The two areas where Vasquez really excelled were in the pick-and-roll and in transition. He has tremendous court vision, and really understands how to get the ball to his teammates in a position that they can score.
The biggest knock on Vasquez as a potential NBA player is his athleticism. He entered the draft after his junior season, and his 26.5" max vert was the lowest at the combine (he didn't test this year). He's not explosive enough to finish in and around the rim. He doesn't have a great first step, and his lacking quickness made it difficult at times for him to penetrate against collegiate competition. While he did come up with some steals in his college career, his relatively frail frame, short wingspan (6'7" on a 6'6 1/2" player), and his poor lateral quickness make him a huge question mark on the defensive end.
This lack of athleticism means that Vasquez will completely have to makeover the way he plays in the NBA. Vasquez dominates the ball. He needs to ball in his hands to truly be effective, whether it is getting a shot for himself or a shot for his teammates. In the NBA, he is not going to be able to dominate in the same fashion. The biggest question mark -- other than his lack of athleticism -- is whether Vasquez can actually be a role player.
Comparison:
Best Case Scenario: Vasquez is a difficult player to compare given his unique skill set. Marko Jaric is a name I've seen thrown out there a couple of times, and it is a comparison I like. A tall playmaker, Jaric did average 10 points and 6 assists one season.
Worst Case Scenario: The worst case scenario for Vasquez is that he ends up in Europe, which isn't all that bad. He has more of a European game as it is, and playing in a lesser league, Vasquez can still make a quality living.
Outlook: Vasquez has a long road ahead if he is going to carve out an NBA career for himself. He needs to improve his athleticism, he needs to change how he plays -- becoming a role player, a spot-up shooter, and a third or fourth offensive option. He needs to learn how to play he he doesn't have the ball in his hands. I'm not sure if he will ever become that player. Vasquez could sneak into the back end of the first round thanks to some very impressive workouts.
Brash, arrogant, cocky -- anyone one of those terms could be used to describe Greivis Vasquez.
And you wouldn't be wrong.
But perhaps the best way to describe the now-graduated Maryland star is passionate. As easy as it was to hate him -- even if you were a Maryland fan -- it is nearly impossible to say that the guy didn't love competing and that he didn't do everything he could to win. He loved Maryland.
This picture is quite disturbing. (photo credit: The Sporting Blog)
And while it took some time, eventually Vasquez was able to win over the fans in College Park. He will go down in history as one of, if not the, best Terrapin of all time.
Maryland isn't UCLA, but it is still quite impressive to even be mentioned in the same breath as players like Len Bias and Juan Dixon.
Logic would lead you to believe that, as a Terp that will spend a long time in the record books, Vasquez would hate Duke. It would only make sense, right? Players and fans alike, people associated with Maryland are supposed to hate the Dukies. Duke-UNC may be the best rivalry in all of college basketball, but Duke-Maryland really is not all that far behind. Hell, Vasquez even called Cameron Indoor Stadium "My house".
The funny thing is, Vasquez doesn't actually hate Duke. In fact, some might even consider him a Duke fan.
Joshua Hairston is Duke-recruit from the DC area, and he has gotten a chance to get to know Vasquez over the years. This morning during an interview with 620 The Buzz, Hairston had this to say about the most universally despised non-Dukie in the ACC:
He talks about Duke all the time, how much he loves Coach K, the staff and the program itself.
...
When I first met Greivis the first thing he kept talking about was how much he loved Duke and how much he loved Coach K. I thought he was being sarcastic at first but he's very serious about it.
When they [Maryland] were knocked out of the NCAA Tournament we were running a camp together at Montrose (Hairston's high school for his senior season). A kid asked him who he wanted to win the tournament and he said 'Duke all the way'. He's always been a big Duke fan and he hopes we can pull it off. He is a true Duke fan even though he plays for Maryland.
Huh?
So Greivis Vasquez roots for Duke?
To be honest, it does not surprise me all that much.
When it comes to rivalries in sports, its a not-so-well-kept secret that the games mean much more to fans than they do to players. Of course, players want to win games. And in general, the biggest rivalries tend to be between teams that are good year in and year out. When Duke played at Maryland late in the regular season, it was a rivalry game, but the importance wasn't in bragging rights; it was in the fact that the two teams were first and second in the ACC.
Keep in mind that both Duke and Maryland have players from all over the country. Nolan Smith is from the DC area, and Greivis Vasquez went to high school at Montrose Christian, which is right outside DC. You don't think they knew each other before the two players enrolled at their respective schools?
Once these rivalry games are over, the players go back to being friends and social acquaintences off the court.
So like I said, it doesn't surprise me that Vasquez would support a team, a coach, and a group of players that he has competed against over the last four years.
But I bet he's unhappy with Joshua Hairston for making it a national issue. Continue reading...
In this world of NBA Draft early entry and one-and-done freshman, it is difficult to become attached to a college star. They simply don't hang around long enough. But when they do, there is an attachment to that player that is difficult to explain. For me, there will always be a soft spot in my heart for guys like Kirk King and Khalid El-Amin, as I'm sure there is for any fan of any team.
We reached out to some of the blogosphere's best, and over the next couple of weeks we will be running a series of posts saying goodbye to some of the country's best seniors.
Today, Testudo Times says goodbye to Greivis Vasqeuz.
Greivis Vasquez has had a rather amazing career, and not just in how well he played, but also how he was received. Up until the mid-way point of this season, there was a sizable contingent of Maryland fans that couldn’t stand him. In his junior year, his own fans were heckling him in a game Maryland was winning. Looking back on it, the fact that any Terp fan couldn’t get on the Greivis Vasquez bandwagon is shocking and absurd, almost surreal. Other fans have reason to both love and hate Vasquez, but everything about him is lovable for a Maryland fan, from his talent on the court to his overall swagger.
Greivis Vasquez will go down as one of the best in Maryland history. (photo credit: ESPN)
Vasquez had quite the unique game. It’s difficult to explain – he was nearly as well-rounded as Evan Turner, had the passion of Gary Williams (about 40 years younger), and a swagger that matched John Wall. Sure, he wasn’t athletic, and yes, his jumper was off more often than on, but something about him made him unstoppable from time to time. His court vision was amazing, and he luckily subscribed to the Pete Maravich philosophy: “If I can get the ball to the man with a bounce pass or behind the back pass, what’s the difference?” He made his fair share of mistakes, but they were overwhelmed by the extraordinary and the breathtaking.
And that’s not even beginning to delve deeper into his scoring ability, which is better than anyone could haveve expected. He could hit any variety of runners in the lane, the majority being inordinately difficult shots that still fell with alarming accuracy. He was hit or miss from deep, but had a flair for the dramatic – if the shot was important, it was going down. You could bet on it.
Of course, his game itself is ancillary to the way he played it – his style, his personality, his competitiveness, his passion. In a way, the heartbreaking Michigan State game was his entire career in a nutshell – he simply wasn’t going to go out any way other than with a fight, and he put up an incredible one in those final two minutes. He left everything out on the court every single game, and would do whatever he needed to do to win games. If that required 11 assists, he’d dish them. If it required 30 points, he’d drop them.
Part of what endeared him so much to Maryland fans was that he really was a younger version of Gary Williams in every way. What stands out to most is his passion about the game, but what only Maryland fans can truly appreciate it is his dedication to Maryland itself. He didn’t just win for himself, or his teammates, or the fans – he seemed to feel a real connection to the university, the history, and the program itself. In a sense, he won for the University of Maryland and it’s basketball team as much as did for anyone or anything else. In the age of the one-and-done athlete or the job-hopping coach, that type of devotion is endearing.
I could talk all day about Greivis, mentioning everything from his antics (the Clemson mopping) to his off the court work (helping out with Justin’s Quest), but all that would be superfluous. What really matters about Greivis Vasquez has already been said, several times. Where he will go in the NBA with below-average athleticism is still to be determined, as is his legacy in the history-rich Maryland program. But one thing is certain: he will be missed, by all of college basketball.
Most of the talk about last night's performance by Greivis Vasquez centered around not only Maryland's surge to the top of the ACC, but Vasquez' surge to the top of the ACC player of the year ballot.
And to be fair, it was deserved.
Jon Scheyer and Vasquez are without question the two favorites for the award. Both play the role of leading scorer, both handle the point guard duties, and both are instrumental in what their team wants to do on the offensive end.
With the two talented seniors so close in the eyes of most media members, it only made sense that whoever played better would garner the majority of the attention.
Vasquez won that battle. He outscored Scheyer 20 to 19. He had more assists (5) than Scheyer (2). Duke went up 63-60, capping a 14-6 run late in the second half, but it was Vasquez who hit the three to answer and Vasquez whose short jumper put Maryland back ahead 67-65. It was Vasquez who hit the most important, and toughest, shot of the night to give Maryland a 73-69 lead with under 40 seconds left. And it was the block by Vasquez on Scheyer's attempt to answer that sealed the win.
There's a term you will hear so-called basketball experts throw around called a "shot maker". A "shot maker" is a guy that doesn't necessarily need a play called for him, he can create his own. He's a guy that also doesn't necessarily take the smartest shot -- the highest percentage shot -- all the time. "Shot makers" aren't always the most fundamentally sound players.
But a "shot maker" does exactly that.
Greivis Vasquez is a shot maker.
The shot he hit (over Scheyer none-the-less) is not a play that a coach would draw up in the huddle. He avoids using the ball screen set for him. He dribbles across the lane and takes off of one foot heading away from the basket. He squares his shoulders while in the air and shoots a one-handed runner fading away from the rim.
That is pretty much the opposite of the way any player is taught to shoot a ball.
Greivis Vasquez celebrates with Maryland students after they RTC'd/STF'd. (photo credit: Nick Wass/AP)
But the shot went in, and in the end that is all that matters.
"He didn't see anything wrong with it," Maryland head coach Gary Williams said after the game. "I'm with him."
And while that shot may have been the epitome of Greivis Vasquez, what Vasquez provides this Maryland team is so much more than the ability to take and make a tough shot in crunch time during March.
Vasquez is by far the best playmaker on this team. As much as he shoots and scores, Vasquez really is an unselfish player. Last night was a perfect example. He was leading a break and had a chance to get a relatively easy bucket with Scheyer back, but instead dropped it off the Williams for what turned into a Sportscenter top 10 play.
There is not a player in the ACC that is more instrumental in what his team does than Vasquez. It is rare that a Maryland possession on the offensive end does not run through Vasquez. Maryland has some good role players on their roster. Eric Hayes is a heady guard that is a knock down shooter. Sean Mosley and Landon Milbourne are tough, scrappy kids that play bigger than they are. Jordan Williams is a year or two away from being a Lonny Baxter-like presence on the block.
There is some talent on this team.
But think about where they would be without Vasquez.
Maryland was an ACC afterthought in the preseason. After the win last night, they are now tied with Duke for first place in the conference. Vasquez leads the conference in assists and is second in scoring. He's the Terps offensive focal point and emotional leader.
Anyone that thinks he won the ACC player of the year award last night hasn't been paying attention. Continue reading...
Think about all the great players that have come through the ACC. The Jordan's, the Laettner's, the Sampson's, the Bias's. The list goes on.
But none of those players, and no player in the history of the ACC, had ever scored 2,000 points, grabbed 700 rebounds, and dished out 600 assists.
Until Saturday, when Greivis Vasquez scored his 2,000th point, making him the first player in the history of the conference to surpass all three milestones.
"I think [the numbers] speak for themselves," Maryland coach told reporters after the Saturday's game. "Greivis had his critics but the numbers are there and when you look at what he has done for the team this year he has always done everything he could."
"Anybody who thinks that he doesn't belong in the top 5 to 7 players that have ever been [at Maryland], they don't know the game very well."
Greivis Vasquez has had a phenomenal career in College Park. (photo credit: Hometown Annapolis)
Safe to say, Vasquez at the very least will go down as one of the most productive, if not one of the best, players to play in the ACC. You won't find any argument here. There aren't many players in the country more entertaining to watch than Vasquez. Whether it is a pinpoint no-look pass, a smooth floater in the lane, or a little shimmy after a made three, Vasquez certainly has no shortage of showmanship.
Or talent.
You don't put up the numbers he's put up without a wealth of it.
But the difference between this season, where Maryland is contending for an ACC regular season title, and last season, where the Terps had to sneak into the tournament with a late season surge, is that its not all about Greivis this year.
The game on Saturday is a perfect example.
Maryland was playing for the fourth time in eight days thanks to a snow storm that postponed Monday's game against Virginia. In those four games, Vasquez played a team-high 141 of a possible 160 minutes, including 39 on Saturday.
"Vasquez was very tired and he played like a warrior out there," Williams said. "The effort he gave today was probably as good as any game he scores 30 points in. The legs after a while, no matter how good of shape you are in, will get tired. He wasn't able to explode out there against very good, physical guards."
As a result, Vasquez played far from his best game, finishing with 18 points and 8 assists on 5-16 shooting, including a 1-7 performance from deep.
Georgia Tech, on the other hand, played about as well as they could.
Derrick Favors had NBA GM's salivating as he went for 21 points and 18 boards, 9 coming on the offensive end. Iman Shumpert finally found his jump shot, going for 17 points and hitting 3-4 from deep while playing an excellent floor game - 5 boards, 3 assists, 0 turnovers. As a team, they executed down the stretch, got a couple big baskets out of senior leader DeAndre Bell, and made every play they could to pick up a come-from-behind win on the road.
"We probably played our best game of the season," Georgia Tech head coach Paul Hewiit said after the game. "I told the guys, the only thing that would be disappointing out of this game is if we don't come out and have a good practice in preparation for Boston College on Saturday. We're playing our best basketball at the right time of the year, but we were just a little unlucky today."
"We did everything you're supposed to do against a team that's better than anybody in our league with the exception of Duke."
The reason Maryland is at the top of the ACC, the reason they are "better than anybody in [the ACC] with the exception of Duke", is not Greivis Vasquez. Yes, he is their best player, but he was the last two season as well.
The reason Maryland has been as good as they are is the rest of the team. The Terps have an excellent group of role players, and more than anything that was on display on Saturday.
Eric Hayes had 15 point and 5 assists, hitting a key three and a huge driving layup down the stretch in the second half.
Landon Milbourne and Sean Mosley struggled scoring the ball - they combined for just 11 points on 5-19 shooting - but they both played excellent defense and rebounded the ball. Milbourne was especially impressive, as he was matched up with Gani Lawal, who finished with 12 points and 5 boards, both below his season averages.
Jordan Williams finished with 9 points and 12 rebounds, getting a number of big offensive boards and diving on the floor to come up with a loose ball and earn a key possession for the Terps. Fellow big man Dino Gregory was just as good, especially in the first half, as he finished with 9 points.
Cliff Tucker hit a buzzer beater for the Terps Saturday. (photo credit: DC Sports Box)
But it was Cliff Tucker that won the game for the Terps. With four minutes left in the game, he stopped a 12-2 Tech run with a three from the corner that cut the Yellow Jacket lead to 65-63.
That wasn't his biggest shot of the game.
With just 1.5 seconds left on the clock, and after a game-winning 40 footer from Vasquez was waived off because of a timeout by Williams, Tucker hit a three at the buzzer to win the game and keep Maryland a game back (in the loss column) of Duke.
Think about that.
With the game on the line, Gary Williams drew up a play for a junior that averages less than 6.0 ppg when he had guys like Hayes, Vasquez, and Milbourne on the floor.
You think he has confidence in everyone on the roster?
He should.
If Maryland is going to win the ACC, it is going to be a result of their role players getting their jobs done.
What we learned this week: While most of the talk this week is going to be about teams playing themselves off of the bubble, it is worth noting that not everyone is doing so. Here are just a few of the teams playing themselves into the tournament:
Oklahoma State Cowboys: As of today, the Pokes are probably going to be considered a tournament team as they went 2-0 this week and have three straight wins overall. The Pokes have three wins over RPI top 25 teams (at K-State, Texas A&M, Baylor) and nothing too disastrous in the loss column. The issue for OK-State is their remaining schedule - at Texas, Kansas, at Texas A&M, Nebraska. If they beat Nebraska and split against the Texas school, they should be in.
Florida Gators: Prior to this week, the Gators had lost two straight games, falling at South Carolina before getting beat by Xavier at home. They rebounded this week with wins against Auburn and at Ole Miss, putting themselves in good position for the stretch run. Like the Pokes, Florida as a loaded schedule down the stretch - Tennessee, at Georgia, Vandy, at Kentucky. They probably need to win two of those games to feel comfortable heading into the SEC Tournament.
Maryland Terrapins: The Terps probably should feel very good about their chances to earn a bid right now. They are 19-7 overall and 9-3 in the ACC, good for second place. With four games left on their schedule, Maryland should be ok so long as they don't lose out. Two wins, whether they come during the regular season or the ACC Tournament, will be enough for a bid. Maryland's biggest negative right now is a lack of great wins - none of their three top 50 wins are top 25.
Louisville Cardinals: Louisville should have felt good about their chances to make the dance after beating Syracuse last Sunday. But with a lack of depth in their resume, the 'Ville needed to keep winning. While neither of them were pretty - they needed two OT's to beat Notre Dame without Harangody and only beat DePaul by nine - Louisville needed those wins as the last four games on their schedule are rough. If they can win two against Georgetown, at UConn, at Marquette, and Syracuse, they will get in. One win, and they are going to need to do some damage in the Big East tournament.
UTEP Miners: UTEP is still a ways from an at-large bid, simply because they just don't have quality wins. They have just one top 50 win and have only played three top 50 games, which is part of the reason their RPI is so low. But the Miners have been on a tear lately, winning 10 straight games, including Saturday's W over Tulsa. UTEP can afford, at the most, just one more loss this season, although that could mean trouble if they also lose early in the C-USA tournament.
UConn Huskies: UConn's win over Villanova put them in a good spot for getting a bid - win out, and you'll be in. Granted, that's easier said than done, but its necessary. There are five teams tied for eighth in the Big East at 6-8. After getting WVU and Louisville at home, UConn has to travel to Notre Dame and South Florida, two other 6-8 teams with the same winning-out-hopes that UConn has. If the Huskies win out and pick up a game in the Big East, they should be dancing.
Marquette Golden Eagles: Marquette lost at Pitt on Thursday, which was costly but as you know there is no shame in losing at the Peterson Events Center. The Golden Eagles did pick up a huge bubble win over Cincinnati on the road on Sunday, however.
Virginia Tech Hokies: Like Marquette, Virginia Tech lost a game on the road this week - to Duke - but it didn't hurt them. The game that mattered was Tech's win over Wake Forest, a win that put the Hokies into the tournament, at least for now.
Minnesota Golden Gophers: With wins over Wisconsin and Indiana this week, Minnesota put themselves back into the conversation for a bid. They need to win out, as the Gophers overall resume lacks enough oomph up top with the losses the Gopher's have. That's not impossible, even with the roster issues Minnesota has had. A bit of team bonding - everyone shaving their head to support a teammate's sister that has cancer - could be the spark to a great finish to the season.
San Diego State Aztecs: After beating TCU and Utah this week, the Aztecs are officially back in the thick of the bubble. But with just three games left - two bottom feeders in the MWC and at BYU - it is unlikely that SDSU will significantly improve their profile. A trip to the MWC finals will be needed if BYU wins.
Utah State Aggies: The Aggies picked up two big wins this week, beating Louisiana Tech and Wichita State at home. USU has a very good RPI, and after dropping roadies to NMSU and La Tech to open WAC play, the Aggies have won 12 straight. If they don't win the WAC Tournament, it will be interesting to see where the Aggies end up. Their win over BYU will probably be very important.
GAME OF THE WEEK: Maryland 76, Georgia Tech 74
What a finish out in College Park on Saturday afternoon. After a sluggish start, especially on the defensive glass, Maryland seemingly took control against Tech towards the end of the first half and early in the second half. But as Greivis Vasquez struggled with his shot, the Yellow Jackets made a run, outscoring Maryland 12-2 over a four minutes stretch as the Terps simply couldn't get a stop to go up 65-60 with 4:59 left.
The Terps wouldn't go away, as Eric Hayes would score five straight points to give them a 71-68 leadwith 1:24 on the clock. Derrick Favors would answer with a tip-in 30 seconds later, setting up a furious final minute. After Dino Gregory missed a lay-up, Georgia Tech called a time out, isolating DeAndre Bell, who drove to the rim and scored. But at the other end, Vasquez drove down the middle and hit a floater to take the lead back at 73-72. The rest, well, I'll let youtube explain it:
Vasquez struggled a bit in this one, finished with 18 points, 8 assists, and 5 boards, but hitting just 5-16 from the floor. Derrick Favors made NBA scouts drool as he went for 21 points and 18 boards, nine offensive.
Maryland is now in second place in the ACC, but they have a fatal flaw - a lack of an interior presence. A week after Brian Zoubek torched them inside, Favors overmatched Jordan Williams and Gregory (who, to their credit, put up an admirable fight).
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: James Anderson, Oklahoma State
Anderson may end up winning Big XII player of the year this year, and performances like the one he had against Baylor on Saturday is why. Anderson went for 31 points and 12 boards, his third double-double of the season, as the Pokes knocked off Baylor at home to solidify, for now, an at-large berth.
James Anderson had 31 and 12 in a win over Baylor. (photo credit: Austin American-Statesmen)
Anderson also had 20 points and 8 boards on Wednesday against Iowa State. For the week, he averaged 26.5 ppg, 10.0 rpg, and shot 50% from the floor and 9-15 from three. If OK State is to make the tournament, they are going to need more of those performances from Anderson. Their next three games are at Texas, home against Kansas, and at Texas A&M.
They were good too
Greivis Vasquez, Maryland: Vasquez was fantastic in three games this week as the Terps went undefeated and remained just a game back in the loss column from Duke. In wins over Georgia Tech, Virginia, and NC State, Vasquez averaged 24.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg, and 6.3 apg. He may have had his best game of the season against UVa on Monday, going for 30 points, 8 boards, and 5 assists with no turnovers and 12-19 shooting.
Randy Culpepper, UTEP: Fresh off of a 45 point game last Saturday, Culpepper went for 29 points as the Miners extended their winning streak to 10 games with a win at Tulsa. UTEP has an easy finish to the C-USA season, and are firmly in the driver's seat as we hit the stretch run in C-USA.
Ali Faroukmanesh, Northern Iowa: With Jordan Eglseder suspended, someone was going to have to step up for UNI if they were to beat Creighton and Old Dominion, and Faroukmanesh was that guy. He had 17 in the win over Creighton, then dropped 23 on Friday night as the Panthers knocked off Old Dominion.
Kemba Walker, UConn: Kemba averaged 22.5 ppg and 6.5 rpg as the Huskies went 2-0 this week, keeping their tourney hopes alive. The big win came Monday night, as UConn went into Philly and knocked off Villanova. Walker had 29 points and 9 boards in that game, outplaying everyone in Nova's vaunted backcourt.
TEAM OF THE WEEK: Purdue Boilermakers
The Boilermakers extended their winning streak to nine games this week by knocking off both Illinois and Ohio State. They were both big wins, as the Illini and the Buckeyes are two of the five teams battling for the Big Ten title. Purdue has now swept Illinois and split with Ohio State.
But that was far from the only good news Purdue got this week. On Sunday, that same Ohio State team went into East Lansing and knocked off Michigan State, which put Purdue in the driver's seat for the Big Ten title. They are all alone in first place with four games left, sitting a game in front of both Michigan State and Ohio State in the loss column.
Will Purdue be a #1 seed? (photo credit: NBC Sports)
That wasn't all. Villanova also lost on Sunday, which means that Purdue is probably sitting as the fourth No. 1 seed if they season were to end today. Not a bad way to finish the week.
They were good too
Kentucky Wildcats: Its too bad that Purdue had the week they did, because Kentucky was as deserving as anyone to win team of the week this past week. On Tuesday, Kentucky went into Starkville and knocked off Mississippi State in overtime despite being down 67-60 with three minutes left. Then on Saturday, Kentucky picked up their best win of the season, as they went into Nashville and took down a scrappy Vanderbilt team despite, once again, trailing late in the game. For those scoring at home, that's two comeback wins against tough teams on the road in conference play. For some, that was enough to officially make them a believer.
Pitt Panthers: Pitt had a bit of a swoon midway through the season as they lost four of five games, but the Panthers have responded, as they have now won five straight, including two this week. Pitt picked up a win at Marquette on Thursday before knocking off Villanova at home on Sunday. The Panthers are currently tied with West Virginia for third in the league, but with their relatively easy schedule down the stretch combined with the difficult schedules of Villanova and WVU, don't be surprised if Pitt finishes second in the Big East.
Maryland Terrapins: Once you get past the holiday tournaments, it is very rare to see a team play three games in a week, let alone four in eight days. But that's exactly when Maryland did, and they won all three this week, culminating in a thriller with two buzzer beaters to beat Georgia Tech. Maryland is once again all alone in second place in the ACC.
Oklahoma State Cowboys: The Cowboys picked up two big wins this week, beating Iowa State on the road and knocking off Baylor at home, as they now seem to be in good position to earn the Big XII's seventh bid.
Florida Gators: Florida, like OK State, picked up two big wins this week, including a nailbiter at Ole Miss, as they shored up their tourney hopes.
Cornell Big Red: Cornell went 2-0 this week, picking up a big win at Harvard, which combined with Princeton's loss to Penn but Cornell in a commanding spot in the Ivy. If they beat Princeton on Friday, the race for the Ivy League's auto bid is all but over.
Greivis Vasquez proved today that he is one of the best players in the ACC.
I really went out on a limb with that one, huh?
I mean, his numbers speak for themselves; averaging 17.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg, and 6.2 apg will make you the best player on a lot of teams.
Over his last six games, he has been even better, posting 24.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg, and 6.3 apg while shooting 54% from the floor as the Terps bounced back from a rocky start to go 5-1 over that stretch.
But for Vasquez, the numbers have always been there. The talent's always been there. For four years now, ACC coaches have known that in order to beat Maryland, you have to find a way to slow down the flamboyant and versatile Venezuelan.
Easier said than done.
Greivis Vasquez scored 17 second half points as the Terps knocked off Florida State. (photo credit: Baltimore Sun)
Since his sophomore season, Vasquez has not averaged less than 17.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, or 5.0 apg. That's impressive, there is no doubt about that. But what gets lost in looking at points and rebounds and assists is efficiency and the ability to play within a system.
And early in his career, that's where Vasquez struggled. As a sophomore, Vasquez averaged 4.4 turnovers per game. As a junior, he shot just 40.5% from the floor and averaged a career-low 1.14 PPS. None of those numbers are ideal for a player that plays as big of a role as Vasquez does for the Terps.
Greivis has a knack for the spectacular, the ability to make the pass or the shot that ends up on Sportscenter's top 10. Too often in the past, Vasquez would try to rely on that ability, attempting the sensational when the simple was just as effective and much more successful. Too often, Vasquez would take an opponent focusing their defense on him as a challenge. Too often, his attempts to carry the Terps on his back would result in him driving the Terps into the ground.
But Vasquez has matured as player, (Not necessarily as a person, although we at BIAH hope he never does. The two shimmies we got from him tonight were classic.) and tonight was the perfect example.
Last season, when Maryland went to Tallahassee, Vasquez had arguably his worst game as a collegian. He scored just 6 points on 2-13 shooting while turning the ball over 5 times before fouling out in overtime. Maryland ended up losing the game.
Tonight, knowing the Seminole defense was keying in on him, Vasquez had no problem spreading the ball around. Instead of forcing a tough floater or pull-up in the lane, he would kick the ball out when he drew an extra defender. Instead of looking to beat his man one-on-one from the top of the key, he would keep the ball moving around the perimeter. Maryland headed into the break up 41-27, which may have been their best half of basketball on the season.
"In the first half, I think Greivis Vasquez really showed his maturity," Maryland head coach Gary Williams said after the game. "He had a very tough game down at Florida State last year, and he was really looking to get the ball to other people because they were putting quite a few people on him when he drove."
In the second half, Florida State made a run. After a Greivis Vasquez three point play put Maryland up 46-31, the Noles would go on a 14-2 run, getting the lead all the way down to 48-45.
That's when Vasquez took over. With the score 51-47, Vasquez hit a three, scored on a short jumper in the paint, found Eric Hayes for another three, and then capped the 11-2 run by knocking down a three on a 3-on-2 break to give the Terps a commanding 62-49 lead.
Overall, Vasquez had 17 second half points.
The most impressive part of it?
Only one time during the entire second half did I say to myself "Greivis is forcing it."
Greivis attacked when he had the chance and made the most of his open looks as he carried a Terrapins team in danger of blowing a double digit lead at home to a win over a ranked conference opponent. And he did it while playing within the Maryland offense.
"I'll put Greivis with anybody in terms of what he brings overall to a team during a game situation," Williams said. "I'm proud of him."
"But I expect him to play like this. He's that type of player."
What we learned this week: Could Texas actually be the best team in the country?
All season long, the Longhorns have been pegged right behind Kansas as the #2 team in the country, but after outlasting top 10 teams North Carolina and Michigan State in the last eight days, some have questioned whether or not the Longhorns truly are the best team in the country.
Before we get crazy, remember this: neither Michigan State or North Carolina is a complete team or a finished product right now. The Heels are still searching for consistency from their perimeter, while Michigan State is dealing with injuries and problems defining roles for their stars (Raymar Morgan, Kalin Lucas, Durrell Summers). Yes, these two teams have the talent to be a top ten team. Yes, both are going to be in the conversation for Final Fours and conference championships come February. But right now, neither of these teams are playing up to that level. Texas, on the other hand, is.
And the Longhorns are doing it in the most basic way - playing stauch defense on the perimeter, pounding the ball inside, and dominating on the glass. It is akin to the running game in football - you may be able to over power teams early in the season, but as more talented and complex systems begin to come to fruition, it will be the ability of Texas to adapt that will determine whether or not they succeed later in the season.
GAME OF THE WEEK: West Virginia 90, Seton Hall 84 OT
After an and-one bucket from Da'Sean Butler, this game looked to be all but over as West Virginia had taken a 75-65 lead with under a minute left in the game. But Seton Hall was far from done as Eugene Harvey sparked a miraculous comeback. After drawing a foul and hitting two free throws, Butler missed the front end of a one-and-one. Harvey knifed through the West Virginia defense, making a lay-up that cut the lead to six. After Devin Ebanks then missed a free throw, Harvey found Ferrakohn Hall open under the basket for a dunk that cut the lead to four. After forcing a turnover. Harvey hit Hazell coming off of a screen for a three that made it a 75-74 game with 16 seconds left. Butler would hit two free throws at the other end before Harvey again found Hazell, who buried a three from 25 feet to tie the game and force overtime. Before hitting those two three balls, Hazell was 2-14 from deep. All told, the Pirates went on a 12-2 run in 50 seconds.
Unfortunately, Seton Hall lost their momentum in the extra, again falling behind the Mountaineers. This time, however, WVU would hit their free throws, avoiding their first loss of the season. Hazell finished with 41 points, but was just 4-19 from deep. Da'Sean Butler had 21 points, 6 boards, and 6 assists while Ebanks added 20 points, 17 boards, and 7 assists.
They were good too:
Arizona 83, Lipscomb 82 OT; Arizona 76, NC State 74: In back-to-back games this week, Nic Wise hit a buzzer beater to lift the Wildcats to a win at home. One was legit, the other may not have been.
Arkansas 66, Missouri State 62: Rotnei Clarke hit a jumper with 4.7 seconds left on the clock, but at the other end the Razorbacks lost Caleb Patterson under the basket who tied the game on a layup at the buzzer. In the extra frame, Clarke hit a go-ahead three with 18 seconds left for the win. It was the Bears first loss of the season.
South Alabama 67, Florida 66: Tim Williams scored on a putback with just 1.8 seconds left as the Jaguars scored an upset in Gainesville.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Greivis Vasquez, Maryland
Many people predicted that Vasquez would be an all-american this season, and possibly the player of the year in the ACC. But Greivis, who is the focal point of every defensive scheme when the Terps take the floor, struggled early in the season. He was turning the ball over, he was missing shots, and he wasn't finding assists like he normally does. In took until the fifth game of the season before Vasquez reached double figures in points.
Greivis Vasquez finally looked like an all-american this season. (photo credit: Seattle PI)
Since those first four games, Vasquez has found his scoring touch, but it wasn't until this week that he looked like the dominating player that had a triple-double against UNC last season. In a 2-0 week for the Terps, Vasquez averaged 26.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg, and 8.0 apg while forcing more turnovers than he committed (4 steals to 3 turnovers) and shooting 58% from the floor and 6-10 from three. Granted, these were blowout wins against Florida Atlantic and Winston-Salem, but playing these are the types of performances you expect from a star against inferior competition. With Vasquez seemingly on track, Maryland fans hope that the Terps are now primed for a successful run through the ACC.
They were good too:
Devin Ebanks, West Virginia: Ebanks struggled initially in his return from suspension, but in two games this week, games where West Virginia beat Ole Miss and Seton Hall and asserted their status as Final Four contender, Ebanks averaged 18.0 ppg, 15.0 rpg, and 5.5 apg.
Mike Gerrity, USC: Gerrity has gotten plenty of love since he debuted in USC's demolition of Tennessee last week, but he was just as good this week, averaging 15.7 ppg as USC knocked off St. Mary's, Western Michigan, and UNLV to win the Diamond Head Classic.
Jimmer Fredette, BYU: BYU knocked off both Nebraska and Nevada in the Las Vegas Classic, and Fredette was the biggest reason why, averaging 28.5 ppg and 5.0 apg in the two games.
Trey Thompkins, Georgia: Coming off of a win against Illinois, Thompkins went for 35 points and 15 boards in a win over FAU in the Bulldogs only games this week.
Chris Wright, Georgetown: Wright has been struggling a big with his scoring this season, but he broke out of that slump in a big way in Georgetown's win over Harvard, going for 34 points.
Samardo Samuels, Louisville: Granted, it was in games against Radford and Lousiana Lafayette, but Samuels was a monster this week, averaging 23.5 ppg and 14.5 rpg. More impressive, he held Radford's Artsiom Parakhouski to just 14 points and 8 boards.
David Lighty, Ohio State: Most people believed that David Lighty was going to be the most important piece for the Buckeyes with Evan Turner out, and he's doing his best to live up to the expectations. He had 30 points, 7 boards, and 5 assists in a win over Cleveland State.
Jeremy Hazell, Seton Hall: Hazell had 41 points in the loss to West Virginia.
TEAM OF THE WEEK: USC Trojans
USC has firmly thrust themselves into the national picture as they have now won six straight games. This week, they won the Diamond Head Classic out in Hawaii, solidly beating St. Mary's and UNLV in the process. We've already gushed enough about the Trojans this week, so we will leave it at that.
They were good too:
West Virginia Mountaineers: You hear all the talk about Kentucky and Kansas and Texas, and even the chatter about Syracuse in the Big East. No one seems to be talking about West Virginia, but maybe they should be. The Mountaineers continue to pile up wins, adding Ole Miss and Seton Hall to their list of victims. You may not find a more versatile front line than Da'Sean Butler, Devin Ebanks, Kevin Jones, and Wellington Smith. Want proof? There have been times this season where Bobby Huggins runs Butler at the point, Ebanks at the two, and Jones and Smith at the forward spots.
Oral Roberts Golden Eagles: ORU has beaten both Missouri and New Mexico this seaosn, the latter coming last week, despite having just seven scholarship players available after having their depth decimated by injuries.
UAB Blazers: After knocking off South Alabama and Cincinati two weeks ago, UAB came out against Butler this week and ran the Bulldogs off the court. UAB, led by Elijah Millsaps, has now won 10 straight games and looks to be a contender in C-USA.
Cincinnati 69, Maryland 57: The Terps just had no answer for the inside play of Cincinnati. Yancy Gates had 17 points and 13 rebounds, while Deonta Vaughn added 16 points and 5 assists, but it was a 14-0 run, turning a 14-11 deficit into a 25-14 Bearcat lead, that was the difference in this game. The Terps never recovered. Cincinnati is back to the Bearcat teams we all remember - big and physical, they have a roster full of guys that are going to defend all over the court (Maryland shot 31.7% from the floor, Vasquez was just 5-17) and crash the boards hard (won the rebounding battle 47-32, had 15 offensive). Once Deonta Vaughn and Lance Stephenson really get going offensively, this is going to be a tough Cinci team to beat.
Gonzaga 74, Wisconsin 61: The Zags had a much easier go of it offensively against the Badgers than Arizona did the night before. Wisconsin out-physicaled the Wildcats, forcing them out of the comfort zone offensively. But Gonzaga, in stark contrast to last year's group, is not going to be pushed around this season. The experienced Zags were able to run their sets and routinely get good looks at the rim. Matt Bouldin led four players in double figures with 18 points and 5 assists. One player to keep an eye on this season is Elias Harris. He is strong, athletic, and a tough rebounder, but the 20 year old freshman has also showed some ability to play on the perimeter. He could end up being a pro.
Arizona 91, Colorado 87 OT: Nic Wise scored 30 points for the Wildcats, including eight straight at the end of regulation to put Zona up 80-72 with 52 seconds left. But Cory Higgins assisted on a three, and after getting a stop he buried his own three. The Buffaloes then forced a quick turnover, and Solomon Hill fouled Higgins, who hit both free throws to tie the game. But Wise was too much in OT, as he scored on back-to-back possessions to erase an 85-82 lead and give Zona a lead they would never relinquish. Higgins has really lived up to the hype he had coming into the season, as he went for 28 points. Jamelle Horne added 17 points, 8 boards, and 7 blocks while Brendan Lavender and Derrick Williams added 16 and 11, respectively.
Vanderbilt 68, Chaminade 41: Vandy used a 24-0 run to break open a close game against DII Chaminade. John Jenkins led the Commodores with 14 points.
CBE Classic
Texas 78, Pitt 62: Texas looked like they were in trouble for a while, as Pitt used an 11-0 run to take a 34-32 lead at the half. After playing back and forth basketball for the first 10 minutes of the second half, Texas finally pulled away with a 14-3 run late in the second half. In the end, Texas was just too talented offensively for the Panthers, who had not given up more than 60 points this season. The big spark during the run was freshman Jordan Hamilton, who can clearly score from the perimeter, but may need to be a bit more judicious in his shot selection. Damion James had 20 points and 9 boards to lead the Horns. The win was costly for Texas, however, as starting guard Varez Ward landed in a heap during warm-ups and was carted off the floor.
Wichita State 74, Iowa 57: How bad are the Hawkeyes? They are now 1-4 on the season after getting run off the court by Wichita State. Garrett Stutz and Toure Murry both had 18 to lead the Shockers.
Cancun Challenge
Kentucky 73, Cleveland State 49: The Wildcats got 15 points and 6 assists from John Wall, but like Texas, this could be a costly win for the Wildcats a Patrick Patterson went out early in the second half with an ankle injury. No word yet on its severity.
Stanford 57, Virginia 52: Landry Fields had 25 points and 13 boards as the Cardinal knocked off the Cavs for the right to play UK in the finals.
Ohio State 84, Lipscomb 64: Evan Turner got off to a slow start, at one point having no points, four turnovers, and just two assists in the first half. But as the Buckeyes heated up, so did Turner, who finished the game with 16 points, 10 boards, and 11 assists for his second triple-double of the season (he also had a game in NYC where he had a triple-double with 10 turnovers). David Lighty also added a career-high 22 points for OSU, who are now 4-1 on the season. Up just 28-27 near the end of the first half, the Buckeyes used a 12-0 run spanning both halves to break the game open.
Syracuse 88, Cornell 73: Cornell used some hot three-point shooting in the first half to hang around (9-19, Chris Wroblewski was 5-6), but a 17-5 spurt to open the second half, combined with an improved focus on the defensive end (Cornell was just 4-18 from deep in the second half), helped Syracuse run away with this one. Brandon Triche scored a career-high 21 points, including six in the decisive run, while Rautins added 18 points and Wes Johnson chipped in with 15 and 10. While this wasn't as impressive a win as the Orange had against Cal or UNC in NYC, Cornell is an experienced team that has played in back-to-back NCAA Tournaments.
West Virginia 69, Citadel 50: The Mountaineers got up double digits early in the first seven minutes, but some hot shooting by the Citadel combined with smart use of the shot clock offensively kept this from becoming a blow out. John Flowers, who missed most of the Mountaineer's first game with a foot injury, came off the bench to score 13 points while Joe Mazzulla, who sat out the first game while still dealing with a shoulder issue, played 15 minutes off the bench, notching six assists. Devin Ebanks did not play, however, and WVU struggled a bit offensively as a result. He will be traveling with WVU to Anaheim for the 76 Classic, but there is no word yet on whether he will actually play. Da'Sean Butler was held to just nine points on the night.
Morgan State 97, Arkansas 94: Morgan State is not a bad team, that said, Arkansas is an SEC that had visions of making the NCAA tournament this season. They absolutely should not be losing a game like this, especially when they have Rotnei Clarke and Michael Washington in uniform. Yes, I know this team is dealing with suspensions and off the court issues, but can that really ban excuse? Don't you think that's a sign that there is something fundamentally flawed with John Pelphrey's program? Reggie Holmes had 34 points in the win.
Seattle 77, Utah 74: Cameron Dollar has something pretty impressive going in Seattle. After beating Weber State and Fresno State, he took the Redhawks into Utah and came out with a win. Charles Garcia had 24 and 8 in the win. Oh yeah, this is Seattle's first season in DI.
Other notable scores:
Illinois 78, Wofford 64: After beating Georgia and barely losing to Pitt, Wofford gave the Illini all they could handle in the Las Vegas Invitational (isn't that an AAU tournament?). Demetri McCamey's 21 and 4 dimes combined with an 8-0 run to break a 50-50 tie was the difference.
Cal 79, Jacksonville 47: Patrick Christopher broke out of his shooting slump to go for 23 points, including 4-6 from deep, as the Bears rebounded from a poor performance in NYC.
Florida 68, Florida State 52: The Gators jumped out to a 20 point first half lead, and while the Noles were able to get it all the way back down to five midway through the second half, they just ran out of gas. Florida responded with a 12-0 run to put the game away.
Providence 106, Vermont 64: Sometimes there are scores you simply cannot explain. After beating Rutgers, UVM loses by 42 to a Providence team picked at the bottom of the Big East? The Friars had 15 threes, which might have aided in the blowout.
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