Maryland sophomore guard Greivis Vasquez has been haunted for more than a month by the image of his ill-advised last-second three-point attempt that hit the back of the iron in the Terrapins? 67-66 loss at Virginia Tech.
Vasquez had some regret in his voice when he reflected upon the loss Tuesday.
“Oh, man. That was a horrible game for me,” Vasquez said. “I was a little selfish. I didn?t give my team everything, not by scoring. I watched the tape and I just didn?t dive for the ball. I didn?t do little things. They were out-hustling us that game.”
The loss dropped the Terrapins to 0-2 in Atlantic Coast Conference play. Since then, Maryland (17-9 overall, 7-4 ACC) has gone 7-2 to move into a tie for third in the conference entering tonight?s 9 p.m. rematch with Virginia Tech (14-11, 5-6) at Comcast Center.
Maryland head coach Gary Williams has seen a boost in confidence in his team during that stretch.
“I think that game helped us in terms of learning that we could play in this league this year,” Williams said. “Even though that made us 0-2 in the league, I think we learned some positive things that day.”
Williams has seen improvement in all his players, particularly Vasquez – last week?s co-ACC Player of the Week – who leads the team and is fourth in the conference in scoring at 17.3 points per game.
The team?s bench – which scored in single-digits 10 times this season, and in five of the past seven games -should get a boost tonight with the expected return of freshman swingman Cliff Tucker, who missed Saturday?s 82-72 win over Florida State with the flu.
“We?re best when we have five guys in double-figures,” Williams said. “It doesn?t matter what the other team has. If we can go get five guys in double-figures, or close to double figures, that makes us a good basketball team, and tough to guard. That?s been our way to play in January and February this year.”
Last month?s loss was one of three games sophomore guard Eric Hayes missed with a left ankle sprain. Hayes, who is averaging 10.4 points per game, is eager to try and slow down the Hokies transition offense, which produced a 4-for-8 second-half three-point performance in Blacksburg.
“It was kind of frustrating to watch from the sidelines down there,” Hayes said. “I?m definitely trying to come out [tonight] and be a difference-maker.”
