Greivis Vasquez is excited to be go dancing.
He’s just not as excited to do it tonight, when the Terrapins (19-15 overall last season) kick off the 2008-09 season with Maryland Madness. The junior guard would rather wait until March in the NCAA Tournament.
“I’d rather celebrate something when you make it to the tournament,” Vasquez said. “It’s not a priority to come out here and dance. I’d rather show fans how tough and good I am on the court.”
After tonight’s pep-rally atmosphere, Vasquez will get an opportunity to impress often this season, as the focal point of the Terrapins offense, which will try to return to the NCAA Tournament after settling for the National Invitational Tournament three of the last four seasons. After graduating forwards James Gist and Bambale Osby, Maryland is likely to go to a three- and sometimes even a four-guard offense.
Sophomores Jerome Burney and Braxton Dupree will play in the post. Vasquez will see more time as the off-guard as a junior, with classmate Eric Hayes handling the point guard position more often. Sophomores Adrian Bowie and Cliff Tucker will see time in the backcourt, but freshman Sean Mosley — the 2007-08 Examiner Player of the Year from St. Frances Academy — is expected to make a big splash.
“I think he’ll play a strong role for us,” Maryland coach Gary Williams said. “Whether he starts or not, time will tell, but he’s got a shot to start.”
Williams, 63, enters his 20th season in College Park three wins shy of 400 in his tenure with the Terrapins. In some cases, this summer was his toughest since coming back to his alma mater before the 1989-90 season.
The Terrapins lost transfer Tyree Evans and recruit Bobby Maze. Mosley’s inclusion on the roster was up in the air as the program awaited approval from the National Clearinghouse. Forward prospect Jin Soo Kim is still awaiting clearance.
Mosley was the lone high-profile recruit to join the program, and the only freshman alongside 6-foot-10 center Steve Goins.
Williams’ recruiting was heavily criticized over the summer.
“The media looked at it as chaotic, I didn’t look at it as chaotic,” Williams said. “There’s a lot going on a lot worse than what happened this summer. Here we are. I think our players, it just makes you tougher.”
Maryland’s schedule, which begins Nov. 14 against Bucknell, should prove fairly difficult, as well. Maryland has non-conference games with Michigan State, Michigan, a potential tournament match-up with Oklahoma State or Gonzaga, and the possibility of facing national powers Georgetown and Tennessee in the Old Spice Classic.
Then there’s the Atlantic Coast Conference, where Maryland finished sixth with an 8-8 record despite upsetting then-No. 1 North Carolina in Chapel Hill.
“Last year we won some big games and lost some games we shouldn’t have lost,” Hayes said. “We have to have the mindset every game like we’re playing the No. 1 team in the nation. It will do wonders for us.”
HOOPS MADNESS
Here is a look at how local men’s basketball team’s are kicking off the season:
Coppin State » Madness begins at 10 p.m.; season opens at Wilmington, Nov. 15
Loyola » opens vs. Mount St. Mary’s, Nov. 14
Maryland » Madness begins at 7 p.m.; opens vs. Bucknell, Nov. 14
Morgan State » Madness begins at 9 p.m.; opens at LaSalle, Nov. 15
Navy » opens at Towson, Nov. 14
Towson » opens vs. Navy, Nov. 14
UMBC » “Tip-Off” Reception Nov. 8; opens vs. Stevenson, Nov. 15
All practices open today
