There is a lot to do and only a little time to do it for the Maryland men?s basketball team.
The Terps are trying to get as much game action as possible in during the two weeks leading up to their first game on Nov. 7 against Hampton in the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic.
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“This time of year, you are trying to build your defense,” coach Gary Williams said.
The Terps held their first public scrimmage Saturday morning. Overall, Williams was pleased with how his team played in their first game with referees.
“There is not a lot of time,” Williams said. “We have got to really push the defense, and hopefully, we are getting better.”
Not all teams scrimmage this early, but the Terps are hoping to get ahead of the curve in evaluating their talent and improving on different aspects of the game.
“It gives us a chance to play 40 minutes and get into good basketball shape,” junior forward James Gist said.
Williams interchanged his players in the scrimmage, which consisted of four 10-minute periods. Maryland?s offense scored 171 points and shot 46 percent from the floor over the course of the game. Senior D.J. Strawberry led the scoring with 23 points and freshman guard Eric Hayes tallied 20 points while going 4-for-4 from three-point range. His roommate and fellow guard, Greivis Vasquez, added 17 points.
“When you are playing a ball-handling position, it is a rush course,” Williams said. “It is not like we are trying to get them better. We are trying to get them comfortable.”
Hayes impressed Williams by getting his teammates involved offensively before taking his own shots.
“That is how I like to play ? really getting other people involved first, and then if it gets me open, I make my shots,” Hayes said.
Hayes, who played effectively at the one- and two-guard positions, said his chemistry with Vasquez adds to the energy level on the court.
“Being roommates and playing AAU the past couple years together, we know each other really well,” Hayes said. “He is fun to play with.”
“I love to play with him,” Vasquez said. “My intention is to make my teammates better. He can play the two-guard, so I can kickit out to him so he can shoot the ball. That gives me energy.”
LINE OF SCRIMMAGE
» Greivis Vasquez closed the third of four 10-minute sessions nailing a half-court shot to give his team the win.
» Maryland shot 15 of 36 from beyond the three-point arc. Senior guard Mike Jones suffered a disappointing 1-for-8 three-point performance.
» The Terps? big men, Ekene Ibekwe and Bombale Osby, combined for four blocked shots in the first period of the scrimmage. Ibekwe ended the day with nine rebounds.
