Maryland has lost 19 games since Greivis Vasquez arrived in College Park as a freshman last season, but none of the defeats hurt the sophomore guard more than a 69-65 setback to Virginia Tech on Wednesday.
“This is the toughest for me since I came here,” he said. “It?s hard to take it, like this. I cannot take it. I cannot admit that we just lost.”
Whether Vasquez wants to admit it or not, his team lost to Virginia Tech in a game in which the Terrapins scored just three points in the final 9:18 of the first half.
“That game shouldn?t have been that close,” Maryland coach Gary Williams said. “But that?s where it was at the end and Virginia Tech did a good job. We had our chances to score and we didn?t.”
Maryland (17-10 overall, 7-5) has a quick turnaround for Saturday?s game at 2 p.m. at Miami (18-7, 5-6), which defeated fourth-ranked Duke for the first time in 45 years on Wednesday.
“It doesn?t really make any difference,” sophomore forward Landon Milbourne said. “We have to go in ready to get the win, regardless of who they beat.”
Maryland?s bench failed to score against the Hokies after posting just five points in a victory over Florida State this past Saturday.
“Our bench has got to step up,” Vasquez said. “Everybody has to be a man, step up and do their part. This is a team.”
After using the end of January and much of this month to distance itself from the pack in the ACC standings, Maryland?s second loss to Virginia Tech this season has brought the race much tighter. Maryland and Clemson are tied for third place with 7-5 records, with Wake Forest (16-8, 6-5), Virginia Tech (15-11, 6-6) and Miami are within striking distance of surpassing the Terrapins for an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament.
The key for Maryland is to get back to its fundamental, inside-out offense and forget about Wednesday.
“This is hurtful,” Vasquez said. “You can go to sleep, but all you think about is this game. They outplayed me, and my team, in the last two minutes and that?s what bothers me. I?m a winner. I?m a fighter. I?ll always fight for what I want. We?ve got to win on Saturday. That?s all I have to say.”
