When guard doesn’t score, Maryland doesn’t win
Here’s the Terrapins’ magic number: 10.
That’s how many points Eric Hayes needs to score, as two of the Terrapins’ three losses have been in games when the junior guard fails to reach double figures.
Maryland (12-3, 1-0 ACC) certainly needs Hayes at his best tonight at 9 against Miami, as the Hurricanes (12-3, 1-1) feature one of the country’s best shooters — former Calvert Hall standout Jack McClinton, who averages 16.9 points per game.
So far, Hayes’ inability to improve his shooting from last year is a reason why the Terrapins have been inconsistent on offense. Last year, Hayes shot 42.7 percent (102-of-239) from the field, but just 40.3 percent (54-of-104) this season.
The result: The Terrapins are shooting 41.7 percent compared to 46.2 percent a year ago.
“These are kids and confidence comes and goes,” Maryland coach Gary Williams said. “We had to play through getting back our confidence [against Georgia Tech]. I felt once some good things happened to us, I thought we played really well down the stretch when we had to win the game.”
Against Georgia Tech, Hayes shot 1-of-7 and scored just two points in the first half. But in the final 20 minutes, he went 5-of-9 from the floor and 4-of-6 from the free-throw line to finish with a season-high 17 points in a 68-61 win.
“Everyone kept telling me to keep shooting,” said Hayes, who averages 10.2 points per game. “I wanted to step up since I didn’t really do anything in the first half, scoring-wise. The team needs me to make shots, and I was just happy I could come out with confidence and make those shots in the second half.”
Hayes can’t afford to start slow against the Hurricanes. Miami has won its past five games and is powered by McClinton, who is shooting 46.8 percent from three-point range to pace an attack that also features forward Dwayne Collins (12.1 ppg, 7.8 rpg) and guard James Dews (9.2 ppg). The Terrapins counter with guard Greivis Vasquez (17.9 ppg) and forward Landon Milbourne (12.3 ppg).
“Jack’s going to have those games where he goes for 25 or 20 or whatever,” Miami coach Frank Haith said. “But we have to get our other guys playing up to their potential. We have other guys who can score the basketball.”
