FINALLY! Eric Hayes got the first three-pointer for the Terps. And it only took 22 minutes of play time to get it. That, followed by a nice behind-the-back pass to Mosely, is the way to start the half. Is it too early to say that Eric Hayes is on fire with the three-point shots? He's now got TWO to his name!
Okay, litte guy with the pony-tail has run out of any love from me. He traveled past about three players, then got cleanly denied at the basket... and he gets the foul. Yet Vasquez has twice looked at the ref, raising his arms in question. Maybe they need new glasses. Or for someone from Duke to put money in their pockets. Either way, I call for more fouls on Charleston Southern.
Oops, he did it again! Hayes just scored another three-pointer. My God, it's like some kind of miracle; it's raining threes--and alley-oops. And pony-tail boy is floundering, missing shots and dribbling the ball like a four-year-old. Hee hee. 24-8 run in the Terps' favor, with the score 61-35.
Yikes. Choi came down funky on his ankle and had to get helped off the court. At least he's still on the bench and not back in the locker room already. Maybe its his South Korean stoicism, but he didn't seem too hurt, like he was going to be out for the season.
With the Terps' very cushiony lead, there's a lot of fancy footwork and passing going on. If there was ever a time to practice and show off, it's when you can afford to miss.
San Antonio Tucker is getting quite a bit of playtime here in the second half and isn't disappointing. He went 4-5. And Padgett seems to have found a good home under the basket, taking hot passes and sinking them in the basket like it's his job. He's got 10 points and 7 rebounds. Williams needs to be noted here as well; he's got 12 points and 8 rebounds. Even Pearman scores tonight!
The final score ends up 89-51. I not-so-secretly hoped that Charleston Southern would stay under 50 points, but I don't really have a right to complain at the moment. We were up by 12 at the half, but ended up winning by 38 in the end. Not too shabby.
Key Players Tonight:
Mosley...15 points
Tucker...9 points
Vasquez...9 points (but had 13 assists)
Milbourne...16 points
Williams...12 points
Best news of all: 27 bench points and 22 points off of turn-overs. And Gary, although not smiling, was not scowling during the post-game interview.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Charleston Southern--First Half
First and foremost, Dino Gregory is officially suspended, but for what exactly and for how long are still questionable. Williams pretended like it was news to him, but how would he not be aware? Nice try, Gary, but I ain't buying it. If you ask me, Dino's done for the season. I think he pulled a Florida State on us and cheated.
Now for news on the first half... bit of a slow start to the game. It took nearly five minutes to get five baskets between the two teams. UMD turned the ball over three times in four possessions, but managed to stay in control; thank God for airballs, right? Milbourne got a good, clean rejection that could have started something good, but then he went downcourt to miss a three-point shot. I have to note here that I like Gary's use of the young 'uns early. Jordan Williams was pretty impressive as far as I was concerned, scoring half of the Terps' points by the first TV timeout (3-3). He got a good offensive rebound and basket that started a domino effect of good shots from the Terps. (By the end of the half, his points run in the double figures, and had a few good rebounds.) At the first TV timeout, the score is 12-5, with just over 13 minutes left.
Geez... 0 for 5 on three-pointers! Why do the Terps always seem to have problems with three-point shots? At least Mosely made up for it with a nice alley-oop that got the fans pumped. The Terps kept up with their game solidly, never letting their lead wane too much. The Bucs went on a 6-0 run, but actually had some problems capitalizing on Terp turn-overs for the most part.
You know, that little guy with the pony-tail for the Bucs (his name is Warren, but I think my description rolls off the tongue better) is pretty feisty. He goes after the ball like he's protecting a newborn baby. And he's not too shabby with his points. Hey, I have to give credit where credit is due. If it wasn't for pony-tail wonder boy, Charleston wouldn't have been able to hang around the only-ten-points-under mark.
I love Gary. No matter how many points the Terps have on their opponent, he's as serious and furious as ever with this team. But that's good; treat every team like it's Duke, and you'll beat every team... like Duke.
I'm happy with the first half. And I'm like Gary, I'm never happy. Things are a little shakey, but not bad at all, and if this is what they play like the first game of the season against feisty guys with pony-tails, then I think we'll definitely be getting an NCAA berth this year. Score is 37-25.
Now for news on the first half... bit of a slow start to the game. It took nearly five minutes to get five baskets between the two teams. UMD turned the ball over three times in four possessions, but managed to stay in control; thank God for airballs, right? Milbourne got a good, clean rejection that could have started something good, but then he went downcourt to miss a three-point shot. I have to note here that I like Gary's use of the young 'uns early. Jordan Williams was pretty impressive as far as I was concerned, scoring half of the Terps' points by the first TV timeout (3-3). He got a good offensive rebound and basket that started a domino effect of good shots from the Terps. (By the end of the half, his points run in the double figures, and had a few good rebounds.) At the first TV timeout, the score is 12-5, with just over 13 minutes left.
Geez... 0 for 5 on three-pointers! Why do the Terps always seem to have problems with three-point shots? At least Mosely made up for it with a nice alley-oop that got the fans pumped. The Terps kept up with their game solidly, never letting their lead wane too much. The Bucs went on a 6-0 run, but actually had some problems capitalizing on Terp turn-overs for the most part.
You know, that little guy with the pony-tail for the Bucs (his name is Warren, but I think my description rolls off the tongue better) is pretty feisty. He goes after the ball like he's protecting a newborn baby. And he's not too shabby with his points. Hey, I have to give credit where credit is due. If it wasn't for pony-tail wonder boy, Charleston wouldn't have been able to hang around the only-ten-points-under mark.
I love Gary. No matter how many points the Terps have on their opponent, he's as serious and furious as ever with this team. But that's good; treat every team like it's Duke, and you'll beat every team... like Duke.
I'm happy with the first half. And I'm like Gary, I'm never happy. Things are a little shakey, but not bad at all, and if this is what they play like the first game of the season against feisty guys with pony-tails, then I think we'll definitely be getting an NCAA berth this year. Score is 37-25.
Monday, November 9, 2009
It's Go Time!
I hope you are as excited as I am that this Friday the regular basketball season for the Terps begins! My preparedness ritual is underway and the living room is all black, red, and yellow. Retired jerseys (at least retired for me) have been strung strategically around the living room, along with any and every Maryland Terrapin piece of paraphenalia I have gathered: a large soft-drink cup from the arena; a plush Testudo who, when prompted, sings the Maryland fight song; a UMD garden flag; UMD bumper stickers; bottle-openers that sing the fight song; a plush cow from Chik-Fil-A wearing a UMD sandwich board; a UMD door mat; and a t-shirt signed by Gary and several players from the 2004-2005 season. Hey, when I get more money, I'll get more crap to put up in my area.
Gary Williams (or his entourage) may not want me saying this, but that t-shirt is one of the coolest things I own. My wife, before we were married, bought a UMD basketall t-shirt on the sly and sent it to Gary Williams with a letter stating it was my birthday, and I was the biggest fan ever, and could he sign it and send it back in the prepaid envelope. Not only did he and the rest of the coaching staff sign it, but so did members of the team. How many coaches do you think would do that? I wouldn't think many big-namers would, unless it was for a terminally-ill child. So my affinity for Gary and company has multiple dimensions.
With the UMD football team sucking, and the Redskins sucking even worse, I am SO ready for the start of basketball season! I need a win, darn it! I need a team I can feel good about, one that doesn't make me drown my sorrows every Thursday, Saturday, or Sunday. With Vasquez getting a shout-out from Dickie V, I have high hopes for the team. Of course, I always have high hopes, even in transition years. And I haven't let go of that fact that only six years (not even a decade!) ago, we had a National Championship under our collective belt. But this year is actually very promising. I don't think I've been able to say that with as much gusto in years.
Go Terps!
Gary Williams (or his entourage) may not want me saying this, but that t-shirt is one of the coolest things I own. My wife, before we were married, bought a UMD basketall t-shirt on the sly and sent it to Gary Williams with a letter stating it was my birthday, and I was the biggest fan ever, and could he sign it and send it back in the prepaid envelope. Not only did he and the rest of the coaching staff sign it, but so did members of the team. How many coaches do you think would do that? I wouldn't think many big-namers would, unless it was for a terminally-ill child. So my affinity for Gary and company has multiple dimensions.
With the UMD football team sucking, and the Redskins sucking even worse, I am SO ready for the start of basketball season! I need a win, darn it! I need a team I can feel good about, one that doesn't make me drown my sorrows every Thursday, Saturday, or Sunday. With Vasquez getting a shout-out from Dickie V, I have high hopes for the team. Of course, I always have high hopes, even in transition years. And I haven't let go of that fact that only six years (not even a decade!) ago, we had a National Championship under our collective belt. But this year is actually very promising. I don't think I've been able to say that with as much gusto in years.
Go Terps!
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