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Bryant College (Exhibition) Comcast Center, College Park, MD 11/3/04 By Bob W. Bryant Game Recap
Overall:
Since getting into Comcast Center is a heck of a lot harder than getting into Byrd, I took up an offer to see OUR University of Maryland Terrapins take on the mighty, something or other of Bryant University. I can’t say I know much about Ole BU, but based on their roster, it looks like they were from somewhere up North. A lot of kids from New England and New Jersey and New York. Upon further examination I found out with Kristin’s help that Bryant is actually in Rhode Island. But I am still not sure what their mascot is. Though I must admit I know very little about BU, I do know this, they are not easily intimidated and they LOVE to pull from behind the arc.
First Half:
As I sat there watching the game open up, Bryant came down the court after a Maryland miss and drained a three, I actually thought to myself “Wow they are winning. Good for them, they will be able to tell their grandchildren how they once lead the 2001-02 National Champs”. However, as the game continued I thought more and more like I was watching Olympic basketball. We were the US and Bryant was some third world country where there is no dunking allowed, and no boy gets his dinner until he has made 20 3 pointers in a row. Bryant dominated the first half and really had Maryland playing not to lose. Bryant went into the locker room with a 2 point lead.
Second Half:
I have no idea what Gary Williams said to the team at half time. Being that it was an exhibition game, I don’t know if he was more concerned with the embarrassment of being down to a Div II school, or if he just wanted to work on some more stuff. Whatever was said, it must have worked. Though Maryland didn’t really come out on a mission they did have a little more intensity, an extra bounce in their step if you will. Bryant still played great and continued to shoot the 3 (finished 15 of 40). But Maryland was never far from the lead and with about 9:30 left on the clock, relief started to fill the air, as some of the students began to trickle down to Route 1.
Report Card: This is a new feature and we will see how long it lasts. It would be cool if we did this all year and added up everyone’s GPA to establish a Vala Victorian (I know that isn’t how you spell it, but you know what I mean). But it would also be cool if I was named the official Gyro Taste Tester of Marathon Deli. I guess we will see how it pans out. So with out Freddy Adu, here is the Report Card:
Travis Garrison: A The Good: Went 8-9 from the line, played 29 minutes, scored 20 points and grabbed 7 boards. Shot 6-11 from the field. The Bad: 0-2 from 3 land. Nik Caner Medley: B The Good: Went 4-4 from the foul line. Also grabbed 6 boards, played 29 minutes with 1 foul, and scored 12 points. Played well inside and looked like the freshman NCM. The Bad: 4-10 from the field and 0-1 from 3 land.
Ekene Ibekwe: B The Good: Shot 5-8 from the field, grabbed 9 boards, had 19 points, and get this 5 assists! The Bad: Went 9-17 from the foul line and had 4 fouls.
John Gilchrest: B+ The Good: 5-8 from the field, 3-3 from behind the Arc! And to top that 5-6 from the foul line. 18 points in 30 minutes with one block as well. The Bad: 3 assists 4 turnovers.
Chris McCray: B+ The Good: 2 of 3 from 3 point land. 4-4 from the foul line. 4-7 from everywhere else. 14 points and 2 steals. The Bad: Again 3 assists 4 turnovers.
DJ Strawberry: C The Good: 2 steals The Bad: 2-4 from the field. 5 points in 24 minutes.
Sterling Ledbetter: C The Bad: No shots, no rebounds, no assists, in fact NO ANYTHING (other than minutes played).
James Gist: B The Good: 2-3 from the field. 5 points in 8 minutes. The Bad: 1 of 2 from the line.
Mike Jones: A The Good: 3-4 from the foul line. 2 steals. 5 rebound and 5 points in 5 minutes (they should play him for all 40!) The Bad: 1 for 3 from the floor.
Will Bowers: INCOMPLETE The Good: Only played one minute The Bad: See “The Good”
Hassan Fofana: D The Good: 4 rebounds in 8 minutes of play The Bad: 1 of 3 from the floor and 3 fouls in 8 minutes.
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