Seed: #4
Big Wins: 2/20 Georgia Tech (76-74), 2/24 Clemson (88-79), 3/3 Duke (79-72)
Bad Losses: 11/24 vs
Last NCAA Appearance: 2009, Second Round loss to
Coach: Gary Williams (28-15 in 16 NCAA appearances)
Why They Can Surprise:
It was not long ago when Greivis Vasquez and Eric Hayes were committing way too many turnovers and taking bad shots. That has certainly changed as the talented backcourt duo has matured. Vasquez has emerged as the team’s leader over the last two seasons and has had a great senior campaign. Not only is he averaging 19.5 points, 6.3 assists and 4.6 rebounds, but he is playing smart basketball. Vasquez has connected on 37.0 percent of his shots from beyond the arc and is one of the best all around players in all of college basketball.
As much as Vasquez has grown, Hayes may be the more inspirational story. The 6-4 senior is shooting 45.0 percent from beyond the arc because he is finally letting the game come to him and is taking smart shots and not forcing anything. He is not scoring as much as he could be, but his unselfishness is just what this team needed to compete for an Atlantic Coast Conference title.
Why They Can Disappoint:
Rebounding is where this team can run into some trouble. Freshman Jordan Williams has done an absolutely amazing job on both ends of the floor and keeps getting better every game. In just 24.4 minutes per game, Williams is averaging 8.3 rebounds. Without Williams, the Terps would have very few options due to injuries and defections and, as it is, Dino Gregory and freshman James Padgett are often forced into action and can easily be outmatched by bigger and stronger centers. Landon Milbourne is the starter at the power forward spot, but he is more of a wing than a power forward. That makes him difficult to guard on the offensive end of the floor since he is a great athlete who can keep the opposition honest with his outside shooting ability.
Who To Watch:
Sophomore Sean Mosley is the guy who has turned what could have been an awful rebounding team into an average rebounding team. He is only 6-4, but Mosley ranks second on the team with 5.2 rebounds per contest. Mosley has also turned into a good scorer who will attack the basket. Once he starts taking more three-pointers, he will be the next superstar on the Terps. And the lack of outside shooting off the bench is a small problem. Cliff Tucker is a good athlete who can slash to the basket and Adrian Bowie is another ballhandler, but neither are prolific outside shooters.
Probable Starters:
Greivis Vasquez, Senior, Guard, 19.5 ppg, 6.3 apg, 4.6 rpg
Eric Hayes, Senior, Guard, 11.1 ppg, 3.8 apg
Sean Mosley, Sophomore, Guard, 10.5 ppg, 2.7 apg, 5.2 rpg
Landon Milbourne, Senior, Forward, 12.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.3 bpg
Jordan Williams, Freshman, Forward, 9.2 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 1.0 bpg
Key Roleplayers:
Adrian Bowie, Junior, Guard, 4.5 ppg, 1.5 apg
Dino Gregory, Junior, Forward, 4.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.0 bpg
James Padgett, Freshman, Forward, 3.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg
Cliff Tucker, Junior, Guard, 5.8 ppg, 1.5 rpg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 79.8 (14th in nation, 1st in conference)
Scoring Defense: 67.4 (161, 10)
Field-Goal Percentage: 47.5 (24, 1)
Field-Goal Defense: 38.4 (12, 4)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 5.9 (195, 5)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 39.3 (18, 1)
Free-Throw Percentage: 72.1 (68, 4)
Rebound Margin: 0.8 (168, 11)
Assists Per Game: 16.6 (11, 1)
Turnovers Per Game: 11.8 (42, 3)
Joel’s Bracket Says: Sweet Sixteen loss to Kansas
