The fourth-seeded Maryland Terrapins used a furious comeback to go ahead of Michigan State 83-82 with just six seconds to go. Then Spartans’ guard Korie Luscious hit a three as time expired, ending Maryland’s season abruptly.
This game wasn’t Maryland’s best, as they struggled to rebound the ball and stop Michigan State from making three point baskets. Michigan State was 10-18 from behind the arc, incuding 6-8 from Durrell Summers, and shot a total of 55.2% from the field.
Greivis Vasquez, once again, didn’t play a good game, but did make big shots down the stretch. He had a very good career at Maryland, however, his class, which includes Eric Hayes and Landon Milbourne, never made the Sweet 16. It’s a disappointing end for the three seniors, though all three scored in double digits in Sunday’s loss. The biggest problems that Maryland has had all season came to a head Sunday and cost the Terps.
Going forward, Maryland has a bright future with talented players like Jordan Williams, Adrian Bowie and Cliff Tucker returning to the team next season. Also, James Padgett should see the court more next season. Maryland is also bringing in two guards and two big men for another run next season.
The 2009-2010 season was a success that ended in a very sudden fashion, but was a good one nonetheless, considering the expectations were so low for this team.
That's the perspective I've taken and I know I'll catch grief from Bruz about my differing standards among the teams I follow. Having kids the same age as the ones these guys coach, I can tell you, you never know from day to day, moment to moment, what you're going to get. Look, I thought going into this tournament that MD could go to the Sweet 16. They came within 4 tenths of a second from that accomplishment. They had an up and down year that was a reflection of their star player, Greivis. This game today seemed to be a microcosm of the entire season.
Myself, I'll miss Greivis' antics, his bravado, his sloppiness at times and brilliance at other times.
Special…No grief from me, not so long as you don't label Grievous a "Top 5 All Time Terp"!!! His "lows" are beyond absurd. The whole "you have to take the good with the bad" argument is a cop-out. You just can't do the "Bad Grievous" crap he did over and over — especially as a twenty-three year old (and yeah, 23 is young, but not as young as 18, 19, 20, 21, or even 22)! From what I hear, this is as good as we can expect from Maryland, what with its rigorous admission standards (that somehow still don't get their male basketball players to graduate), nearly eight year old gym, and highly-compensated head coach. We should be happy with one National Championship and one ACC Tournament Championship every twenty years, right? I mean, Hell, ticket prices are "only" $45 a pop — about what a lower box seat costs for a Professional baseball game at Camden Yards. Can't imagine why anyone would have a problem paying those prices to see Amateur basketball!!!
If you are talking about the grad rate story that USA Today ran. The stats are 10 years old. Maryland has graduated 10 of their last 12 men's bball players. The USA Today story refers to the teams that Dison, Blake, Baxter et al. were on. Most all of those guys secured high paying jobs despite not earning a diploma. NCAA grad rates are a sham and this was just another way for the Bruz to complain about Gary.
I'm at odds with the results. On one end, I'm sorry the seniors had to go out like they did. Sorry to see a good team not make to the sweet sixteen. On the other hand, i could care less they lost. Gary has been getting burned the past two seasons on the same two issues, rebounds and three pointers. He improved this year with the rebounding, but he still hasn't been able to teach these kids to cover the outside. After summers hit his second and third threes of the game, there should have been someone in his face every time he stepped on the floor. That kid was wide open a few times in the second half.
Not sure about next year. Gary has some solid kids coming in, but by no means is Tucker, Bowie and Gregory substitutes for Vasquez, Hayes and Milbourne. Hayes in particular, hit threes when they needed them most and he'll be a big loss.
I'll always remember Greivis for how he rallied the Terps back in the last few minutes of this game. He definitely made me feel uncomfortable at times, but when he squared up to hit the three and then gave went up to give Maryland an 83-82 lead I knew he was the only guy on the floor to get the job done.
One shot, one freaking shot if the difference. 0.4 seconds. I'm still heart broken. That's why we love to tournament though. Or for Maryland fans tonight, why we hate it.
Congrats to the Terps on an outstanding season.
Of all the teams to lose to… I live in Michigan and I can't tell you how many phone calls I got after that game went final. Classy fans, those Spartans. This was a team in a suddenly lackluster bracket after Kansas and Georgetown went down that could have really made some noise. Yet in the end they still needed more inside presence, and State was just more poised… Man, I can't talk about it… you're a stong man, Wolfson.
Yeah I can't imagine being where you are Ex. The first thing I did after this stunning defeat was look at the BSR schedule to see who had to break this one down. It's tough to stomach.
I will never understand the hate that GV gets around here and from other MD fans. He is by far the best player in College Park since Juan Dixon and statistically he is a top 5 Terp. Is he as talented as gusy like McMillen, Elmore, B. Williams, Bias, J. Smith and Dixon were, no. But he did as much with a lot less individual and supporting talent than his predecessors.
And he had a good game yesterday. Was it his best performance? No, but he scored 26 had 4 boards, 8 assists and 3 steals. He scored 10 points in the last 2 minutes, made 3 of the clutchestt shots in recent Terps history and gave his team the lead twice in the final minute when everyone knew he was going to be taking the shot. He would take risks, but it was the willingness to take those risks that made him a great Terp.
I can't be upset with how Greivis played yesterday. He came up big when it mattered, twice. The Terps fell on a shot with 0.4 seconds left.
You can't blame Vasquez for that.