So according to the half-time stats, Vasqquez isn't doing as badly as I thought. Do I have too much invested him? Am I too rough on him? The man thought he was going to go the NBA, so no, I don't think I am too rough on him. If he thought he was good enough to leave early, he needs to be doing a lot more than he is, and he needs to lead the Terps to victories.
Hopefully the Badgers' three-point luck will run out and they will cut us some slack. Maryland has come out aggressively, but they still need to watch the Wisconsin's three-point shots. They have scored 8 on us, and that's only in 25 minutes of playtime. That's basically a point a minute, and that doesn't include their two-point shots or foul shots, which they have 20 points off of. I guess asking for a better second half is like asking for a million dollars. Ain't gonna happen, no matter how much I want it.
Choi is actually laughable at the moment. His tenacity is goofy to watch, and he just committed two fouls in less than two minutes. And now Mosley has three fouls and will be sitting out for a while. We've now only got four people on the floor to score for us. AND WE CAN'T SCORE A JUMP SHOT TO SAVE OUR LIVES! The Terps are actually doing well offensively. Well, not badly, anyway, but their defense is just under par and they can't get a rhythm going.
Christ on a crutch, we have committed 7 team fouls, versus their 3. These ticky-tack foul calls are getting real old real quick. Apparently there is no physical touch allowed in basketball. finally, a foul in our favor! Hayes steals the ball and gets bulldozed... all for Jordan Williams to shoot and miss a jump shot. Gary can give me a scholarship to miss those jump shots, if he wants.
We get it within three, and Williams let's a Badger bump into him ever so slightly for an and-1. My motto? If you are going to foul, make it worth it. Don't give them an extra point. That, followed by Vasquez turning the ball over. (By the way, it is worth mentioning that the whole time the Terps fought to get within three, Vasquez was on the bench. Hmmm....) So with turnover after disasterous turnover, Wisconsin is back up by 7 and shooting free-throws, putting us down by 9.
This is embarrassing. A month ago, I was so psyched for the beginning of basketball season. It's like five months of Christmas. But this "Christmas" season, all I have gotten is coal. The Terps are getting worked by a bunch of skinny white boys from the farmland who can shoot nothing but three-pointers because that's all they practiced in their drafty barns in below-freezing temperatures. Disgusting. And our boys look like a bunch of wusses out there, giving sissy bumps to offer them free points. Good thing I am not a player, because at this point I would start hurting people. If I am going to lose and have fouls called against me, I am going to make them count. I am secretly hoping I will see that from the Terps in the last five minutes of delayed agony. Score is 68-55, very obviously Wisconsin up.
Cool guy Vasquez shoots a three and actually makes it. Deja vu warning: a day late and a dollar short. He's not there when we need him the most, period. That puts us down by 11 with under 5 minutes left. I know crazier things have happened, but dare I hope for some sort of magical run that gives us third place? Or are we going to go all the way to Maui to beat no one except a Division II school with about a thousand undergrad students?
No, I won't even bother hoping for a miracle victory. It's funny... now that the Terps are blatantly fouling, the refs won't call it, giving Wisconsin even more time. If I were a conspiracy theorist, I would smell a rat. But it's too early in the season. Wisconsin needed their 30 points from three-pointers to beat us. Let's see what those 30 points do for them against Duke. Ha. I can be a spiteful bitch when I want to be.
Final disgusting score: 78-69. Let's beat Indiana next week and put this crap behind us! At least we can maybe blame this one on jetlag...
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Wisconsin Wants a Piece of Maryland?
Okay, I have calmed down from yesterday's Cincy debacle, and I have faith that Gary and the Terrapins have done the same thing. Hopefully they will bring the energy and confidence (along with the heart) that was lacking yesterday to get third place in the Maui Invitational. For God's sake, PLEASE win today!
The regrouping did some good for the Terps... they open the game with a 7-0 run. Of course, it won't last, but Maryland is showing a lot of energy early. Too bad it's raining threes for Wisconsin. It looks like I put my foot in my mouth, because after the first four baskets dropped for Maryland, nothing else has, and the score is 11-9, Wisconsin. One good thing about the Badgers is that they are looking to put the Terps in the bonus real quick with all their fouls. Maybe the Terps learned something from yesterday and will get those 1-and-1's?
A 16-2 run from the Badgers... tisk, tisk. Vasquez is making an ass of himself, and his team, and his costing points left and right. He can't make anything and isn't staying on his man defensively. Steve Blake, Jr., I mean Eric Hayes, is the man to lead to this team. He was on the bench a little too long to my liking yesterday, and I hope he gets more playtime today. Not only is Vasquez bad news for the moment, but Choi is in early AGAIN. I can't wait for December 12th, when Dino Gregory comes back from his mysterious violation of team rules/academic dishonesty.
Wow, the Terps really need to learn to defend the three-point line better. It's like they keep forgetting it's there. I want to say here that I support the NBA three-point line, and think the college three-point line is a load of crap. Anyway... Jimmy Dykes has commented that it's a slow start for Vasquez, and I think we've been hearing that too much for someone who had such preseason hype. Perhaps he feels the same way, because he just scored 6 straight points for Maryland to bring them within 1 point. Now we have free-throws to tie and maybe, fingers crossed, take the lead. And my wish is their command! The Terps have the lead once again, 22-21.
Okay, the and-1 call for Rob Wilson was the biggest load of crap I have ever seen. He seriously went barrelling into Williams and got the extra point to take their lead to 7 points, again. Williams is a big boy, if you haven't noticed, and if he goes flying backwards onto his ass, it's because he was nearly run over. Not a good turn for the Terps right now. But have faith, fans. We won't have a repeat of last night. Right? RIGHT?!
The second the Badgers take their largest lead of the game so far, 9 points, Milbourne answers with a three. A three! For every one of our threes, though, Wisconsin has like 10. Ugh. I'd like to keep the Badger lead to ten before the half. At least they can manage to do that. The score at the half is 37-27.
Coach K's huddle at the half? I think I will watch the Home Shopping Network, thank you.
The regrouping did some good for the Terps... they open the game with a 7-0 run. Of course, it won't last, but Maryland is showing a lot of energy early. Too bad it's raining threes for Wisconsin. It looks like I put my foot in my mouth, because after the first four baskets dropped for Maryland, nothing else has, and the score is 11-9, Wisconsin. One good thing about the Badgers is that they are looking to put the Terps in the bonus real quick with all their fouls. Maybe the Terps learned something from yesterday and will get those 1-and-1's?
A 16-2 run from the Badgers... tisk, tisk. Vasquez is making an ass of himself, and his team, and his costing points left and right. He can't make anything and isn't staying on his man defensively. Steve Blake, Jr., I mean Eric Hayes, is the man to lead to this team. He was on the bench a little too long to my liking yesterday, and I hope he gets more playtime today. Not only is Vasquez bad news for the moment, but Choi is in early AGAIN. I can't wait for December 12th, when Dino Gregory comes back from his mysterious violation of team rules/academic dishonesty.
Wow, the Terps really need to learn to defend the three-point line better. It's like they keep forgetting it's there. I want to say here that I support the NBA three-point line, and think the college three-point line is a load of crap. Anyway... Jimmy Dykes has commented that it's a slow start for Vasquez, and I think we've been hearing that too much for someone who had such preseason hype. Perhaps he feels the same way, because he just scored 6 straight points for Maryland to bring them within 1 point. Now we have free-throws to tie and maybe, fingers crossed, take the lead. And my wish is their command! The Terps have the lead once again, 22-21.
Okay, the and-1 call for Rob Wilson was the biggest load of crap I have ever seen. He seriously went barrelling into Williams and got the extra point to take their lead to 7 points, again. Williams is a big boy, if you haven't noticed, and if he goes flying backwards onto his ass, it's because he was nearly run over. Not a good turn for the Terps right now. But have faith, fans. We won't have a repeat of last night. Right? RIGHT?!
The second the Badgers take their largest lead of the game so far, 9 points, Milbourne answers with a three. A three! For every one of our threes, though, Wisconsin has like 10. Ugh. I'd like to keep the Badger lead to ten before the half. At least they can manage to do that. The score at the half is 37-27.
Coach K's huddle at the half? I think I will watch the Home Shopping Network, thank you.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Hopefully Gary Williams said something to light a fire under the guys' butts to get a better half going...
Aha... Choi was in because Milbourne had 3 fouls; now he's up to 4, so hopefully Choi can do a little something to help the team, seeing as how he will be getting quite a bit of playtime. Someone or something lit a spark, and the Terps are now within 7 points. They are actually scoring and playing good defense once again. Vasquez ends the good vibe; even Bilas commented he is just not doing well tonight at all. It seems as if Maryland's short-lived spark has gone out. The Bearcats are back up with a nice lead, 39-26.
So Maryland has brough the game back to a negotiable lead, but then Cincy scores a three-pointer that puts a kink into things. I was in the process of writing that the lead was under ten, but... well, you get the picture, I am sure.
Padgett and Stephenson played together, and right now I am wishing we had gotten the other Licoln player, because Padgett just can't seem to do much, except give Stephenson an elbow to the face that gets him all in a tizzy. We are back within single digits, and what's a Terp to do? Give up an and-one.
I hate to say it, and I have been delaying it, but it looks like Maryland is facing its first loss of the season. I knew the Bearcats were going to give us trouble, but I can least find some solace in the fact that the Terps were not the only ranked team in the tournament to lose to Cincy. We are losing now by 15 points (55-40). Ugh.
There's really nothing to report. Vasquez has decided to show up, a day late and a dollar short, and will think he's hot stuff because of his 20 meaningless points. The rest of the big scorers have done nothing sensational, with not a single other player scoring at least 10 points. The Terps lucked out with 30 free-throws to Cincy's 10, but missed 14 of them. If these guys could have made their free-throws, the game could have had a totally different outcome, seeing as how the final score to the game was 69-57. I know no team can make 100% of their free-throws during a game, but maybe it could have given them the extra boost of confidence they needed to outscore the Bearcats.
On a funnier note... Stephenson tried a Duke-esque flop to the ground, as if Cliff Tucker's elbow had the insane strength of 20 men, and the ref actually laughed at him. I say penalties for flopping and not acting like a grown man.
Hopefully either Gonzago or Wisconsin will fear the honu, because Cincy didn't.
Aha... Choi was in because Milbourne had 3 fouls; now he's up to 4, so hopefully Choi can do a little something to help the team, seeing as how he will be getting quite a bit of playtime. Someone or something lit a spark, and the Terps are now within 7 points. They are actually scoring and playing good defense once again. Vasquez ends the good vibe; even Bilas commented he is just not doing well tonight at all. It seems as if Maryland's short-lived spark has gone out. The Bearcats are back up with a nice lead, 39-26.
So Maryland has brough the game back to a negotiable lead, but then Cincy scores a three-pointer that puts a kink into things. I was in the process of writing that the lead was under ten, but... well, you get the picture, I am sure.
Padgett and Stephenson played together, and right now I am wishing we had gotten the other Licoln player, because Padgett just can't seem to do much, except give Stephenson an elbow to the face that gets him all in a tizzy. We are back within single digits, and what's a Terp to do? Give up an and-one.
I hate to say it, and I have been delaying it, but it looks like Maryland is facing its first loss of the season. I knew the Bearcats were going to give us trouble, but I can least find some solace in the fact that the Terps were not the only ranked team in the tournament to lose to Cincy. We are losing now by 15 points (55-40). Ugh.
There's really nothing to report. Vasquez has decided to show up, a day late and a dollar short, and will think he's hot stuff because of his 20 meaningless points. The rest of the big scorers have done nothing sensational, with not a single other player scoring at least 10 points. The Terps lucked out with 30 free-throws to Cincy's 10, but missed 14 of them. If these guys could have made their free-throws, the game could have had a totally different outcome, seeing as how the final score to the game was 69-57. I know no team can make 100% of their free-throws during a game, but maybe it could have given them the extra boost of confidence they needed to outscore the Bearcats.
On a funnier note... Stephenson tried a Duke-esque flop to the ground, as if Cliff Tucker's elbow had the insane strength of 20 men, and the ref actually laughed at him. I say penalties for flopping and not acting like a grown man.
Hopefully either Gonzago or Wisconsin will fear the honu, because Cincy didn't.
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.
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.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Aloha, Chaminade! (That Means Goodbye and Good Riddance)
Jimmy Dykes can shut his trap now ("This is Chaminade's Super Bowl!"), because Maryland is increasing its lead nicely and a lot more quickly than they did in the first half... they pull the lead to 17 in just under 4 minutes of playtime.
Great... some of our key players are sitting the bench in foul trouble. Chaminade had THREE straight possessions that ended in Maryland fouls, and they are clawing their way into the Terps' lead. Gary looks like he's about to flip his stuff on the refs: foul calls up the wazoo against the Terps then a bad call that hands the ball right over to the Silverswords. I guess that study wasn't so much of a shock: refs do tend to make calls for the home team. Look at that, they just got their fourth foul in a row, and Maryland fans are screaming. Chaminade is in the bonus with more than half of the second half left. Thank God for make-up calls.
I think Chaminade is starting to run out of gas. The lead is now to 19 points, and hasn't waned at all since the beginning of the half. Not only that, but the commentators are actually talking about Maryland now, rather than kissing Chaminade's butt. Steven Bennett, aka Little Foot, is on the ground with a broken leg. Oh wait, it's just a cramp that is taking up too much time and delaying the inevitable loss they are about to suffer. Seriously, why can't this little guy just hop over to the bench? He's only 5'6"; why can't the two trainers sweep him off his feet and get him off the floor? Instead, he's getting a nearly full service massage there on the court. They finally get him off the floor, and he still being serviced. Jesus, get the kid some Gatorade!
Choi is a pleasant surprise in the last 5 minutes. He's had a nice assist, a good play to the basket (although he missed), and a steal. And on a more serious note... Bennett is now drinking Gatorade and seems to have regained his walking skills. Back to the game now. Pearman is in; the Silverswords should know they are getting worked now, in case the 30-point lead didn't tell them that already. Not only that, but Pearman scores! Silly Chaminade, thinking they had a chance with their two-point lead back when the score was 16-14. Maryland wins despite the appearance of the Chaminade little person (smaller than Bennett, if you can believe it) 79-51.
Fear the Honu.
Great... some of our key players are sitting the bench in foul trouble. Chaminade had THREE straight possessions that ended in Maryland fouls, and they are clawing their way into the Terps' lead. Gary looks like he's about to flip his stuff on the refs: foul calls up the wazoo against the Terps then a bad call that hands the ball right over to the Silverswords. I guess that study wasn't so much of a shock: refs do tend to make calls for the home team. Look at that, they just got their fourth foul in a row, and Maryland fans are screaming. Chaminade is in the bonus with more than half of the second half left. Thank God for make-up calls.
I think Chaminade is starting to run out of gas. The lead is now to 19 points, and hasn't waned at all since the beginning of the half. Not only that, but the commentators are actually talking about Maryland now, rather than kissing Chaminade's butt. Steven Bennett, aka Little Foot, is on the ground with a broken leg. Oh wait, it's just a cramp that is taking up too much time and delaying the inevitable loss they are about to suffer. Seriously, why can't this little guy just hop over to the bench? He's only 5'6"; why can't the two trainers sweep him off his feet and get him off the floor? Instead, he's getting a nearly full service massage there on the court. They finally get him off the floor, and he still being serviced. Jesus, get the kid some Gatorade!
Choi is a pleasant surprise in the last 5 minutes. He's had a nice assist, a good play to the basket (although he missed), and a steal. And on a more serious note... Bennett is now drinking Gatorade and seems to have regained his walking skills. Back to the game now. Pearman is in; the Silverswords should know they are getting worked now, in case the 30-point lead didn't tell them that already. Not only that, but Pearman scores! Silly Chaminade, thinking they had a chance with their two-point lead back when the score was 16-14. Maryland wins despite the appearance of the Chaminade little person (smaller than Bennett, if you can believe it) 79-51.
Fear the Honu.
Aloha, Chaminade! (That Means Hello)
I say that with utmost sarcasm... I am not saying "hello" as in "nice to see you, how ya been?" Although it is always nice to see a team that I know we can beat. Lucky Maryland getting the Chaminade Silverswords in the first round, rather than Gonzaga (who always gives us trouble--I still hate Adam Morrison) or Cincy (with Lance Stevenson, who bolted on Maryland). Let's hope I don't say that with sarcasm.
I overheard some commentators today talking about how if Maryland wants to win, Vasquez needs to step up. Um... so he's been good with the assists, but am I missing something else? Because so far, he's been flying really low under the radar. Too low to be acknowledged. Will tonight be the night he decides to step up? The first two and a half minutes tell me NO because he's gotten two turn-overs and two offensive fouls already. And Chaminade is winning. Hmmm...
Bling it! Eric Hayes gets a three-pointer to, ahem, tie Chaminade. That's embarrassing just to write, but if you aren't watching, the fact that we are shooting bricks left and right is even worse. The ball just will not fall into the basket for Maryland. Thankfully it's not falling for Chaminade as well, or we'd be screwed right about now.
In ten minutes of playtime, the game is still tied and it is still like watching a bunch of high-schoolers play. Vasquez is getting ready to come back into the game; he's been out since he had two quick fouls. Looking for a change in the game? Oh no, my friends. Maryland is still hanging tight with Chaminade. For heaven's sake, they have a player who is 5'6" and another named Dominique! I am still waiting for the Terps to take over the game and run with it; I didn't think it'd be this hard to play against a runt.
Milbourne got a sweet dunk, then Chaminade got trapped in the corner. Some good energy coming out of the timeout; did Vasquez actually listen to Gary in the huddle? Unfortunately, that little zip was it. No more baskets, except for the three by the stitch-lipped white guy on their team (not be confused with the white who looks like he's 40). Cliff Tucker got a fancy basket, then Chaminade pulls off a quick shot that fails, and the ball is back in the hands of Maryland. The Terps had their biggest lead (5 points) for a split second, and Mosley got a Juan Dixon shot off that worked. They tried it again a few seconds later, and the ball went soaring out of bounds. With a quick burst of confidence, Chaminade takes the ball straight to the basket, hoping for a Jordan-esque slam dunk, but ends up with an offensive foul instead.
Look out, the Terps have their biggest lead of the game... a whopping 7 points AND an and-1 (that Hayes makes). Vasquez has gotten a lot of airtime in the preseason, but Hayes and Mosley have been busting their butts every game and have come out big. Those two look to be the Terp stars of this game as well. Tucker is really showing his nerve tonight, too, bringing the lead even higher.
Jimmy Dykes is an idiot and I hate listening to him. I may need to watch the rest of the game muted.
Vasquez has shown up--only 19 minutes and 32 seconds into the game! He then takes it straight to the basket with a blind pass to Milbourne, who takes the lead to ten. The half ends 36-26.
I overheard some commentators today talking about how if Maryland wants to win, Vasquez needs to step up. Um... so he's been good with the assists, but am I missing something else? Because so far, he's been flying really low under the radar. Too low to be acknowledged. Will tonight be the night he decides to step up? The first two and a half minutes tell me NO because he's gotten two turn-overs and two offensive fouls already. And Chaminade is winning. Hmmm...
Bling it! Eric Hayes gets a three-pointer to, ahem, tie Chaminade. That's embarrassing just to write, but if you aren't watching, the fact that we are shooting bricks left and right is even worse. The ball just will not fall into the basket for Maryland. Thankfully it's not falling for Chaminade as well, or we'd be screwed right about now.
In ten minutes of playtime, the game is still tied and it is still like watching a bunch of high-schoolers play. Vasquez is getting ready to come back into the game; he's been out since he had two quick fouls. Looking for a change in the game? Oh no, my friends. Maryland is still hanging tight with Chaminade. For heaven's sake, they have a player who is 5'6" and another named Dominique! I am still waiting for the Terps to take over the game and run with it; I didn't think it'd be this hard to play against a runt.
Milbourne got a sweet dunk, then Chaminade got trapped in the corner. Some good energy coming out of the timeout; did Vasquez actually listen to Gary in the huddle? Unfortunately, that little zip was it. No more baskets, except for the three by the stitch-lipped white guy on their team (not be confused with the white who looks like he's 40). Cliff Tucker got a fancy basket, then Chaminade pulls off a quick shot that fails, and the ball is back in the hands of Maryland. The Terps had their biggest lead (5 points) for a split second, and Mosley got a Juan Dixon shot off that worked. They tried it again a few seconds later, and the ball went soaring out of bounds. With a quick burst of confidence, Chaminade takes the ball straight to the basket, hoping for a Jordan-esque slam dunk, but ends up with an offensive foul instead.
Look out, the Terps have their biggest lead of the game... a whopping 7 points AND an and-1 (that Hayes makes). Vasquez has gotten a lot of airtime in the preseason, but Hayes and Mosley have been busting their butts every game and have come out big. Those two look to be the Terp stars of this game as well. Tucker is really showing his nerve tonight, too, bringing the lead even higher.
Jimmy Dykes is an idiot and I hate listening to him. I may need to watch the rest of the game muted.
Vasquez has shown up--only 19 minutes and 32 seconds into the game! He then takes it straight to the basket with a blind pass to Milbourne, who takes the lead to ten. The half ends 36-26.
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