Who else isn't excited by a win over Cal? We so own them this year. First Kevin Barnes and now our own Greivis just ethering those hippies from Berkeley.
Who would have thought a 13-point upset was coming from this team? Sure, they were the popular pick for an upset by most prognosticators. I myself even had this as a win in my bracket. We all "thought" that the Terps could be the Bears because we've seen how good we can be. We've also seen how awful this team can be (see: Morgan State, @Virginia). It wasn't until after the game that I realized just how amazing this win was. It wasn't that it was so startling that it happened. After all, we thought it would. It's just that this is a team that before the season I thought was going to be just awful. We had no big men, at one point we had no recruits, and I thought Greivis couldn't put Brooklyn on his back or Marcy on the map. For crying out loud, DAVE NEAL. I love that guy and I am so happy that he is in my Class of 2009 at Maryland. I'm so glad that Greivis is even better than we all thought he was. The man will have his number hanging in the rafters of Comcast some day. Believe me, he will. And during his speech he will thank "Scott" and Gary Williams. If you can find a bigger Gary homer than Greivis I'd be utterly surprised. I just love this team. I am in sheer amazement of it. And unlike Ritchie, I'm not drunk while posting this. Right now I'm counting my blessings that I get to experience this, not only as a student but also as a fan.
Thanks Maryland. Thanks Gary. Thanks Greivis. Thanks Dave. Thanks everyone.
Well, not everyone. Kathy Worthington has never won 9 straight first round games in the Lig.
Bring on Memphis.
Showing posts with label Greivis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Greivis. Show all posts
Friday, March 20, 2009
Monday, March 2, 2009
Gary and Greivis
There's been a lot of criticism lately about Gary Williams. I have agreed with a lot of it. At one point, I was even going to write a long post about why this team will never be an elite team until Gary retires.
I may have been right or wrong about that, but one thing is for sure: there is nothing more satisfying than seeing Gary lead the Maryland Terrapins to victory. He's a tough sonofabitch. The criticism is flying from every direction, yet Gary is taking a team with limited talent to the cusp of an NCAA tournament berth. This team could have quit any number of times already, but instead they are playing their best ball of the year as the calendar turns to March.
If this team makes it to the lig, it's a "Fuck You" to the haters signed by Gary Motherfucking Williams. Nothing would make me happier. It's going to happen.
----
Greivis Vasquez.
Greivis Vasquez is an amazing player. Like his coach, he's passionate and takes a lot of criticism in the darker times.
A little over a week ago, I was able to see - live and in person - one of the greatest performances in recent college basketball history when Greivis willed the Terps over #3 UNC at the Comcast Center with a 35/11/10 performance in 44 minutes of an OT win. This was a game where he led all players in minutes, points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks.
Then last night Greivis had 33 of the Terps' 71 points in an 11 point win over NC State, taking over the game in the second half. He capped that performance by taking and hitting an entirely unneccesary unguarded three as time expired and the game was clearly already in the bag.
Greivis was also on his way to a third spectacular game (10/6/5 in 22 minutes against Duke) before the refs nixed that idea and ensured that Duke would come into our house and beat us.
The man is GREAT, and these past few games have cemented his place in Terps' history. I have no idea what to say here except that Greivis' jersey should be in the rafters should he decide to stay for his senior season.
I may have been right or wrong about that, but one thing is for sure: there is nothing more satisfying than seeing Gary lead the Maryland Terrapins to victory. He's a tough sonofabitch. The criticism is flying from every direction, yet Gary is taking a team with limited talent to the cusp of an NCAA tournament berth. This team could have quit any number of times already, but instead they are playing their best ball of the year as the calendar turns to March.
If this team makes it to the lig, it's a "Fuck You" to the haters signed by Gary Motherfucking Williams. Nothing would make me happier. It's going to happen.
----
Greivis Vasquez.
Greivis Vasquez is an amazing player. Like his coach, he's passionate and takes a lot of criticism in the darker times.
A little over a week ago, I was able to see - live and in person - one of the greatest performances in recent college basketball history when Greivis willed the Terps over #3 UNC at the Comcast Center with a 35/11/10 performance in 44 minutes of an OT win. This was a game where he led all players in minutes, points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks.
Then last night Greivis had 33 of the Terps' 71 points in an 11 point win over NC State, taking over the game in the second half. He capped that performance by taking and hitting an entirely unneccesary unguarded three as time expired and the game was clearly already in the bag.
Greivis was also on his way to a third spectacular game (10/6/5 in 22 minutes against Duke) before the refs nixed that idea and ensured that Duke would come into our house and beat us.
The man is GREAT, and these past few games have cemented his place in Terps' history. I have no idea what to say here except that Greivis' jersey should be in the rafters should he decide to stay for his senior season.
Monday, February 2, 2009
The Milbourne Supremacy
Steve: "Bob, is there any difference between Landon Milbourne and James Gist?"
Me: "Uhh 2 inches, cornrows, and some arc on the jumpshot."
I was expecting somewhat minimal progress out of Landon this past offseason after seeing little change between his first two seasons. I thought the success of the Terps' 2008-09 season would rely on Gary's ability to adapt to a 4-guard offense and the inability of opponents to take advantage of our lack of depth inside.
That's why I'm not a real analyst. I thought wrong. Simply put, Landon has become a beast. He is the solid second scoring option we have been waiting for. He has developed a killer mid-range jumper which has become an automatic 2 points on the scoreboard. He hustles after every rebound and always fights for position on both sides of the floor. The most encouraging part about his recent performance has been his consistent production in conference play, against some of the best big men in the ACC:
vs GT: 6PTS on 6FGA 9REB (4OREB) 2STL 1BLK
at Miami: 8PTS on 8FGA 7REB (3OREB) 4BLK 1STL
at FSU: 17PTS on 13FGA 9REB (6OREB) 2BLK 1AST 1 STL
vs UVA: 17PTS on 9FGA 5REB (1OREB) 1STL
at Duke: 19PTS on 16FGA 5REB (2OREB) 2AST 2STL 1BLK
vs BC: 14PTS on 13FGA 7REB (6OREB) 1STL
vs Miami: 17PTS on 13FGA 6REB (3OREB) 2AST
Other than the active string of 5 consecutive double-digit scoring games, take note of Landon's efficient shot selection (averaging at least 1PT per FGA in every game), defensive hustle stats (blocks and steals), and attacking the offensive glass (averaging 3.57 OREB per game).
Lately Terps basketball has been very inconsistent to say the least. 41 point losses, disappearing double-digit second half leads, and squabbles between our head coach and the AD make me wonder what I'm going to be treated to everytime I go to Comcast or turn on the TV for a road game. I DO know, however, that everytime out, I'll be treated to Bowie and his sick finishes at the basket, Mosely out-rebounding forwards, Dino swatting balls into the fifth row, Greivis trying for a triple-double. and Landon putting on for his city. #1 has arrived.
Me: "Uhh 2 inches, cornrows, and some arc on the jumpshot."
I was expecting somewhat minimal progress out of Landon this past offseason after seeing little change between his first two seasons. I thought the success of the Terps' 2008-09 season would rely on Gary's ability to adapt to a 4-guard offense and the inability of opponents to take advantage of our lack of depth inside.
That's why I'm not a real analyst. I thought wrong. Simply put, Landon has become a beast. He is the solid second scoring option we have been waiting for. He has developed a killer mid-range jumper which has become an automatic 2 points on the scoreboard. He hustles after every rebound and always fights for position on both sides of the floor. The most encouraging part about his recent performance has been his consistent production in conference play, against some of the best big men in the ACC:
vs GT: 6PTS on 6FGA 9REB (4OREB) 2STL 1BLK
at Miami: 8PTS on 8FGA 7REB (3OREB) 4BLK 1STL
at FSU: 17PTS on 13FGA 9REB (6OREB) 2BLK 1AST 1 STL
vs UVA: 17PTS on 9FGA 5REB (1OREB) 1STL
at Duke: 19PTS on 16FGA 5REB (2OREB) 2AST 2STL 1BLK
vs BC: 14PTS on 13FGA 7REB (6OREB) 1STL
vs Miami: 17PTS on 13FGA 6REB (3OREB) 2AST
Other than the active string of 5 consecutive double-digit scoring games, take note of Landon's efficient shot selection (averaging at least 1PT per FGA in every game), defensive hustle stats (blocks and steals), and attacking the offensive glass (averaging 3.57 OREB per game).
Lately Terps basketball has been very inconsistent to say the least. 41 point losses, disappearing double-digit second half leads, and squabbles between our head coach and the AD make me wonder what I'm going to be treated to everytime I go to Comcast or turn on the TV for a road game. I DO know, however, that everytime out, I'll be treated to Bowie and his sick finishes at the basket, Mosely out-rebounding forwards, Dino swatting balls into the fifth row, Greivis trying for a triple-double. and Landon putting on for his city. #1 has arrived.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Terps Preseason Wrap-Up
Saturday in College Park the Terps put it on the glass against D-III opponent Northwood, beating them 104-60. It was the first time since the 06-07 season that the Terps scored 50 or more in a half and also the first time since 06-07 that they scored more than 100 in a game. Of course, this was expected considering the opponent. Except, of course, that this is Maryland sports and we're always good to play down to competition. It was good to see the Terps actually play well and roll an opponent that they should roll. It's hard to truly tell how the Terps will do this year as they played clearly inferior competition. But hopefully they can continue to build from this game and continue to improve into ACC play.
A few thoughts and notes on the game:
I'm probably taking the over.
A few thoughts and notes on the game:
- For a Saturday game at 2:00 PM the student attendance was fairly good. The court sections were mostly full and the wall was about 1/3 full for most of the game. Considering the opponent, the score, and the time, I'd day things weren't too bad. Hopefully this bodes well for fan support this year and a decline in the scan and leavers. (It won't, but a boy can dream, can't he?) Paid attendance, however, was atrocious. It was probably easier to count the fans there than the fans not there. Can I blame them? Yes. This is Maryland Basketball.
- Speaking of Maryland Basketball, here's my favorite quote of a certain G. Williams, said after the Oct. 29th scrimmage: This is [expletive] Maryland. This is your [expletive] school. This is my [expletive] school. This is where we won a [expletive] national championship.
- Robert Ehsan, Maryand's new full time coach looks like a sharp cat. Also, I use terms from the 50s. He's pretty much had all his coaching experience under Gary. He graduated from UC Davis in 2005 and has been on the Terps staff since then. He's learn to emulate the master insofar as he even has the Gary Williams crouch. I could see big things from him.
- The announcer needs to announce Keith Booth last on the list of assitance coaches. Currently, he's named right before Rob Ehsan, and I feel like i'm not given enough time to shout "BOOOOOOOOOOOTH." I will now go back in my hole.
- Greivis Vasquez, who did not play Saturday due to violating some rule, looks good in a suit. Let's hope not to see it again until Draft Day 2009.
- Landom Milbourne is good. He looks like he may finally be living up to his potential. He showed hot flashes at times last year but was anything but consistent with it. His ability to slash and drive to the basket is enhanced by his much improved ability to finish. Add to that his nice outside shot and the Terps have a good upperclassman to take some of the offensive workload off of Greivis.
- Thank you, NCAA for not screwing us over on Jin Soo Kim. Kim looks like the real deal as a recruit. He has a nice shot and has the muscle and size to get to the basket and finish. Although he missed all but one of his threes, I'll give him a pass because he's probably still getting used to the longer distance. All of his shots were at least on target and hit the back of the rim. He looked a tad slow playing the two, but that also could be chalked up to him only beginning practice last week. He often looked confused on defense in the first half, but by the time the second half rolled around, he had found his rhythm on both sides of the court.
- Adrian Bowie has a jumper. ACC, you have been warned.
- Maybe it's because we don't have the talented big men any more, but it almost seems like we're getting more rebounds. My theory: Because we don't have Gist and Boom to rely on anymore to get the ball, our guards and "big" men are trying harder for to get the ball. This could be a good thing.
- Braxton Dupree, who lost a lot of weight over the summer and really shaped up, showed a lot of hustle. He needs to go up stronger around the basket, but he grabbed a lot of tough rebounds and showed signs as to why he was a four star recruit.
- That being said, our front court will not be pretty. Outside of Landon, the Terps don't have any solid inside man. We all knew this coming into the season, but it's even more evident when it's seen in person. Burney really has no offensive presence. Gregory will get more play, and although he has a mid-range jumper, he doesn't show much of the inside game. Steve Goins actually looked decent, but he's in Braxton Dupree condition Circa 2007. And of course, Dave Neal is Dave Neal. Let's hope Gary employs the four guard offense.
I'm probably taking the over.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Terps Terps Terps
Have you seen the preseason college basketball publications? They all seem to agree that the Terps are going to finish in the bottom half of the lig this season. The Sporting News even went so far as to pick Maryland dead last in the ACC. That's nearly unfathomable for a program that finished tied for 5th in the conference last season, even while having its worst team in about 15 years.
It's easy to be pessimistic about the coming season, but I'm not having any of that. And neither is Gary Williams, who will be saying Hi Hater to all the naysayers when March rolls around. Don't believe me? Here are five reasons why this team will dance in March.
5. Adrian Bowie is a year older and a year better.
I'm a big fan of Adrian Bowie to say the least. He can handle the ball, he can score, and he can defend. He's already one of the best finishers in the league, to the point that it's often amazing to see how he contorts his body to score in traffic. The one thing that held him back from a breakout season last year was his complete inability to shoot, but if early indications from scrimmages are correct, Bowie has worked hard to correct that flaw in his game. The threes fell for him in three intersquad scrimmages, and if that continues, he will be an All-ACC player by his Junior season.
4. The ACC sucks
Sure, there's UNC, the prohibitive favorites to win the National Championship, but then what? Duke should be very good, but they're far from a team that imposes fear in the hearts of opponents now that Ratface has stopped recruiting post players. Wake Forest is being picked by many to finish third, but they failed to even make the NIT last season. Miami should be good, but that's a one man show with Jack McClinton and no one else of note. Virginia Tech? Good one. The top two spots should be reserved for UNC and Duke, but the Terps can be better than any of the other teams in the conference this season.
3. Sugar Sean Mosley and Korean Durant
Sean Mosley is good at basketball. I hate to talk about intangibles (except when mocking Cap'n Jetes!), but Mosley has them. What I mean is that I couldn't really explain to you why he's good, at least not properly. Sure, he has certain skills, but more than that, he will be one of those guys that has a knack for making plays and doing what the team needs to win. He's an excellent scorer (second all-time among Maryland HS players) who will also hustle for 40 minutes. He's a "Gary Williams player". Think Juan Dixon. Think Greivis Vasquez.
Korean Durant (a/k/a Jin Soo Kim a/k/a Jin Soo Choi) is the greatest person ever to hail from South Korea, and the first to play DI basketball. He led all scorers (along with Landon Milbourne) with 20 points in the Terps exhibition rout of Northwood. Kim's shot was not falling (1-6 from three), but he poured in 18 points in the second half by taking the ball to the hoop. That's impressive for a guy that was supposed to be a three point specialist. Kim also showed great smarts and passing ability. Combine those attributes with a 6-8 frame and you have a potential breakout star.
2. Matchups
This team does not have good big men. Braxton Dupree shed a ton of weight, and should be much improved, but he won't be Lonny Baxter just yet. After that, things are thin at best. Dave Neal will play, but shouldn't. Jerome Burney is an athletic shot blocker, but he'll need to be more than that to play major minutes. Dino Gregory could be improved and ready to play, but he's small. Steve Goins can't crack the lineup in scrimmages.
Gary Williams has said that this team may play a "four guard" lineup with Landon Milbourne sliding to the four to get more of the team's guard depth on the floor. Now some will wonder if Milbourne can keep up with ACC power forwards, but let's turn it around - can they stay with him? Milbourne didn't have a breakout season last year, but he is a very athletic player at 6'6" or so who can hit the three very well. Going small might have its disadvantages, but ask Duke if it dooms you.
1. Greivis Vasquez
Greivis Vasquez will probably go down in Maryland history as the most under-appreciated star in program history. Coming off a 2nd team All-ACC selection (which should have been a first team selection), Vasquez might be gone after this season. But boy can he play. He hasn't yet got a triple-double, but he will. He drops dimes, grabs boards, and scores in many different ways. People who focus on the turnovers or the missed shots are missing the point like a free throw. Vasquez is skilled floor leader who gives 100% every time out. If this is his last year in the Red & White, I'm going to enjoy it.
Still not convinced?
Maryland Basketball is going to be back on the map (Your boy back in the building, Brooklyn we back on the map / Me and my beautiful beeeeeeeitch in the back of that 'Bach).
It's easy to be pessimistic about the coming season, but I'm not having any of that. And neither is Gary Williams, who will be saying Hi Hater to all the naysayers when March rolls around. Don't believe me? Here are five reasons why this team will dance in March.
5. Adrian Bowie is a year older and a year better.
I'm a big fan of Adrian Bowie to say the least. He can handle the ball, he can score, and he can defend. He's already one of the best finishers in the league, to the point that it's often amazing to see how he contorts his body to score in traffic. The one thing that held him back from a breakout season last year was his complete inability to shoot, but if early indications from scrimmages are correct, Bowie has worked hard to correct that flaw in his game. The threes fell for him in three intersquad scrimmages, and if that continues, he will be an All-ACC player by his Junior season.
4. The ACC sucks
Sure, there's UNC, the prohibitive favorites to win the National Championship, but then what? Duke should be very good, but they're far from a team that imposes fear in the hearts of opponents now that Ratface has stopped recruiting post players. Wake Forest is being picked by many to finish third, but they failed to even make the NIT last season. Miami should be good, but that's a one man show with Jack McClinton and no one else of note. Virginia Tech? Good one. The top two spots should be reserved for UNC and Duke, but the Terps can be better than any of the other teams in the conference this season.
3. Sugar Sean Mosley and Korean Durant
Sean Mosley is good at basketball. I hate to talk about intangibles (except when mocking Cap'n Jetes!), but Mosley has them. What I mean is that I couldn't really explain to you why he's good, at least not properly. Sure, he has certain skills, but more than that, he will be one of those guys that has a knack for making plays and doing what the team needs to win. He's an excellent scorer (second all-time among Maryland HS players) who will also hustle for 40 minutes. He's a "Gary Williams player". Think Juan Dixon. Think Greivis Vasquez.
Korean Durant (a/k/a Jin Soo Kim a/k/a Jin Soo Choi) is the greatest person ever to hail from South Korea, and the first to play DI basketball. He led all scorers (along with Landon Milbourne) with 20 points in the Terps exhibition rout of Northwood. Kim's shot was not falling (1-6 from three), but he poured in 18 points in the second half by taking the ball to the hoop. That's impressive for a guy that was supposed to be a three point specialist. Kim also showed great smarts and passing ability. Combine those attributes with a 6-8 frame and you have a potential breakout star.
2. Matchups
This team does not have good big men. Braxton Dupree shed a ton of weight, and should be much improved, but he won't be Lonny Baxter just yet. After that, things are thin at best. Dave Neal will play, but shouldn't. Jerome Burney is an athletic shot blocker, but he'll need to be more than that to play major minutes. Dino Gregory could be improved and ready to play, but he's small. Steve Goins can't crack the lineup in scrimmages.
Gary Williams has said that this team may play a "four guard" lineup with Landon Milbourne sliding to the four to get more of the team's guard depth on the floor. Now some will wonder if Milbourne can keep up with ACC power forwards, but let's turn it around - can they stay with him? Milbourne didn't have a breakout season last year, but he is a very athletic player at 6'6" or so who can hit the three very well. Going small might have its disadvantages, but ask Duke if it dooms you.
1. Greivis Vasquez
Greivis Vasquez will probably go down in Maryland history as the most under-appreciated star in program history. Coming off a 2nd team All-ACC selection (which should have been a first team selection), Vasquez might be gone after this season. But boy can he play. He hasn't yet got a triple-double, but he will. He drops dimes, grabs boards, and scores in many different ways. People who focus on the turnovers or the missed shots are missing the point like a free throw. Vasquez is skilled floor leader who gives 100% every time out. If this is his last year in the Red & White, I'm going to enjoy it.
Still not convinced?
Maryland Basketball is going to be back on the map (Your boy back in the building, Brooklyn we back on the map / Me and my beautiful beeeeeeeitch in the back of that 'Bach).
Friday, February 8, 2008
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