Hoping for a Better Second Half

Let me start off by saying that Cincy makes me really nervous, especially after pulling out the upset yesterday over #24 Vanderbilt. It may also be because Lance Stevenson is on the team, who was supposed to come to Maryland but bolted at the last minute. (In case you forgot, Vasquez said he would stay at Maryland as long as Stevenson came...)

At least it's not taking over a half of playtime for Vasquez to score. He puts up a nice basket, followed by a three from Hayes. One thing is sure, Cincy is going to give the Terps a run for their money. They've simply been trading baskets, and the score is only 9-9 (Cincy) after nearly 9 minutes of play. One positive: we are playing some good defense! Cincy actually isn't, though the score seems to say otherwise. Baskets are not falling for the Terps at all.

As Jay Bilas said, the Terps are good at scoring when passing inbound. Vasquez, possibly showing up tonight, scores and gets the and-one. Continuing with their good defense, Maryland gets even more rebounds on the Bearcats' end. Padgett finally capitalizes on the good defense, scoring after a steal.

I said yesterday you know you are losing pretty badly to the Terps when Choi shows up... but he's in the game already. We are winning, but not stomping. Where is Eric Hayes? Bring him back in; Cliff Tucker isn't performing very well, and our only scorer on the floor is Mosley. Whatever Gary Williams was thinking with this combo on the floor was not well-thought out. The game has gone to crap, and Williams kept them in so long that Cincy has gotten (and kept) a 7-point lead, with the Terps scoreless in over 4 minutes. Gary pulled most of them out, but why is Choi still in the game? And Vasquez needs to be thanking his lucky stars he didn't go the NBA, because he would have been out a job really quickly.

Who would have thought Vasquez would have ended the Terps' 6-minute scoring drought? His one free throw isn't enough to get the Terps down by less than 10. Looks like we are pouting right now; the guys won't hustle to go down court after a missed shot and passes are sloppy and careless. The Bearcats continue to score and up their lead, although a meager shot by Hayes was finally made. The score at the half is a pathetic, pathetic, pathetic 31-18, Cincy.