Mike Krzyzewski might not be having the happiest 60th birthday today. The reason being that the Maryland men?s basketball team just tacked a fourth straight Atlantic Coast Conference loss onto Krzyzewski?s Duke Blue Devils.
Maryland?s 72-60 win Sunday was the most lopsided for the Blue Devils this season and was the first time since the 2004-05 campaign that the Terps (18-7, 4-6 ACC) have gotten the best of Duke. Most importantly for the Terps, the win buoyed their NCAA tournament hopes, which would have been all but extinguished with a loss.
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The two Terps most responsible for the huge win, forward James Gist and point guard Greivis Vasquez, are coming from different ends of the spectrum this season. Gist, a junior, is truly starting to emerge as a force in the low post this season after struggling a bit his first two years, while Vasquez, a freshman, proved once again how good he can be in a high-pressure game. Both players share a corner in the team?s locker room.
“He is a freshman, so he is not going to be consistent all year,” Maryland coach Gary Williams said Sunday of Vasquez. “But you want those guys to compete at the highest level, and you don?t get a more pressurized college basketball situation than today.”
Vasquez, who is averaging 9.7 points per game this season, led the team with a career-high 18 points, including three assists 5-of-5 shooting from the free-throw line. His ball movement and drives to the basket also helped the Terps counter a second-half comeback attempt from the Blue Devils. He seemed to thrive on the electricity of the crowd at Comcast Center.
“The crowd was here, and they were loud,” Vasquez said. “They were playing in my house, and nobody could stop me. I was going to do whatever I needed to help my team.”
Gist, who registered his sixth double-double of the season Sunday with 16 points and 10 rebounds, said he and Vasquez did the same thing they have done all season.
Always the optimist, Gist, who is averaging 12.8 points and 7.2 rebounds a game this season, saw a lot of hope in the Duke victory, but he recognizes continued success will not come easy. Another big test looms Wednesday, when Maryland travels to North Carolina State (13-10, 3-7), which upset then-No. 3 North Carolina on Feb. 3.
“This can shift us from losing a few games in a row to coming outnd going on a win streak ? as long as we can come outand be consistent and stay focused,” Gist said.
EXERCISING THE BLUE DEVILS
» Six of Maryland forward James Gist?s eight career double-doubles have come this season. Sunday?s win over Duke also marked the fifth straight game in which he scored in double digits.
» Point guard Greivis Vasquez is averaging 12.3 points over his last four games and has scored in double digits in eight of the past 11.
» The victory was Gary Williams? 151st in ACC play. Mike Krzyzewski, Dean Smith and Williams are the only three coaches to have 150 or more wins in the ACC.
