Terps guard in slump, but team still winning
Immediately after Maryland disposed of overmatched Fairfield Tuesday night, Greivis Vasquez escaped to the Comcast Center weight room, but not to work out the frustration of a shooting slump.
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“I’m trying to be a pro. I’m trying to work hard,” said Vasquez. “Me and Landon (Milbourne) are trying to lift weights after every home game, see if we can get better. It helps your body recover.”
It also helps a troubled mind when you’ve hit just 6 of 25 shots (24 percent) in two games. The good news for the Terps (2-0) is that Vasquez has been his active, disruptive, catalytic self, leading the team in assists (19) and steals (6).
“He’s a marked man,” said Maryland coach Gary Williams. “He’s had enough publicity over the summer and where he has been picked in the preseason on All-America teams that players get up for him. I would if I were playing against him.”
If Vasquez becomes the center of attention for opposing defenses, that’s fine with Williams. He knows his 6-foot-6 senior guard can be as effective as a playmaker.
Even with Vasquez misfiring, the Terps have been balanced and efficient on offense. Guard Sean Mosley (14.0 points per game) has hit 11 of 16 shots from the floor. Senior forward Milbourne (13.0 ppg) has hit 12 of 20. Senior guard Eric Hayes (12.0 ppg) has made 5 of 10 shots from 3-point range. Freshman forward Jordan Williams (9.0 ppg) is 8 of 16 from the floor.
Friday night at Comcast Center, Vasquez will try to shake his shooting slump against New Hampshire (1-0).
“I’m not going to rush anything. It’s the second game,” said Vasquez. “We can play 36 and be national champion and everything will be different. So I just got to be patient and just let it come to me. I know I’m gonna get mine.”
Notes
Maryland has received mixed news during the early signing period this week. Committing Monday was 6-8 F Ashton Pankey (St. Anthony’s/Jersey City), who is a three-star recruit (rivals.com). But 6-5 G Terrence Ross (Montrose Christian), rated No. 43 in the nation, did not sign despite making a verbal commitment to Maryland last spring.
