MD at Illinois
2006 ACC/Big Ten
Challenge
By Chris B.
Wow, what a difference a year makes. It also helps to have some fearless freshman join the team. You look at a game like this from years in the recent past, and there is just no way they pull this out. You knew they were not going to earn points "Crazy Fast" the whole night, but you had to like the way they started, and ended. Not sure I can say the same about the middle of the game, but I am getting ahead of myself. I missed some games over the thanksgiving holiday, but our beloved Terpies are 7-0 and ranked #19/23 coming into the ACC/Big Ten challenge. They were without Ibekwe, after an ankle injury suffered against High Point.
Well like John's text message the Terps were able to earn points crazy fast
thanks to Mike Jones (Who), and some sloppy play by the Illini. Things
couldn't have started better to quiet the hostile crowd (home of a 51 game home
non-conference winning streak). There was solid play early from Gist, and
a nice contribution by Osby, and of course Mike Jones. Then the wheels
started falling off the bus. Vasquez checked in and looked a little
rattled. Wilbo checked, and well, was himself. Illinois started
inching back, and eventually got the once 15 point lead to 9, then 5. MD
went into the half with a five point lead even though they were really
struggling on the offensive end. DJ was forcing a little too much, and
Vazquez took some questionable shots. Enter the second half. Here is
one thing I like about this team. They forced Illinois to call a TO at the
start of the half because they couldn't get the ball in bounded.
Brilliant. Illinois managed to get the game tied in about 3 minutes.
Had this been last years team I may have turned away right there in disgust.
However, I wanted to see what this team is made of. They have played with
more heart and emotion to this point this year. But that is easy to do
when you have only trailed a grand total of 2 minutes through 7 games and
haven't played a real road game. Well these guys eventually went down by 4
around the ten minute mark. Things were looking good in my mind. But
they hung in there, and then started answering as Illinois heated up a bit more.
Then enter Greivis Vasquez. Or as Cory likes to refer to him as "The Man".
Greive hits a big three coming out of a TO. Then pile on 5 more points,
and a brilliant assist to Osby. So Vasquez scored 8 straight, and had a
key assist. After Osby's bucket, DJ made a big steal and lay-up and all of
the sudden, MD was up three before Illinois answered with a 3 of their own.
Mike Jones answered quickly though (another Vasquez assist) with another 3 of
his own. This would give the Terps the lead for good and they would manage
to hang on, despite some trying times at the charity stripe. This team may
go on and really surprise us all season long, but win or lose, the effort they
play with is night and day from the last few years. I for one am looking
forward to seeing how this drama plays out!
Report Card
James Gist - B Played well early, and managed to keep himself out of serious, serious foul trouble while playing with out Ibekwe. 11 points 6 boards
Boom Osby - B+ Played very well filling in for Ibekwe, but foul trouble and foul shooting (4-7)kept his grade down a bit. 10 points 9 boards
DJ Strawberry - C+ Tried to force a little early, but made a huge steal and lay-up as the Terps were coming back. 7 points 3 boards, and 1 HUGE steal
Mike Jones - A 4-5 from 3 19 points total. The one he made to put them ahead for good was a back breaker to answer an Illini 3.
Eric Hayes - C+ 4 points 3 assists. Made a nice lay-up on a drive. Vasquez's hot hand kept him out at crunch time. Played steady.
Greives Vasquez - A Only some shaky play early stopped this from being an A+. 15 of 17 points in second half, 4 assist. Single handedly pulled this one out.
Will Bowers C- Really clogged the lane. . . on the offensive end. Did have a nice block, and altered another, and made a nice hook
Parish Brown - D Turnover, missed an ill advised shot. Not the way you want to play when trying to earn some burn.
Dave Neal- C nothing good nor bad in short stint at the end of the half.