Other than a totally inexplicable loss to William & Mary early in the season, the Terps have played consistently good ball. In his 21st season at Maryland, Coach Gary Williams has assembled a team of amazing shooters, with most of the starters hovering at about 50% from the field.Led by senior guard Grievis Vasquez, the Terps are poised for a 23 or 24-win season. Vasquez averages 18.8 points per game, including 40% from three-point range and 81% from the foul line. He is the unquestionable leader of the team, and a candidate for ACC Player of the Year.
Joining Vasquez is 6’7” senior forward Landon Milbourne. He averages 13.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. Rounding out this strong senior class is Eric Hayes, a 6’4” guard who averages 47% field goal percentage and an amazing 90% from the foul line.
The remainder of the team leaders are the youngsters – sophomore guard Sean Mosley (10.4 points and 5.5 rebounds per game) and freshman forward Jordan Williams (leading the team with 8.1 rebounds per game).
In spite of the senior leadership on this team, it will be difficult for the Terrapins to make it past the Sweet Sixteen. If there is such a thing as a quality loss, they have those (at Duke, at Clemson, at Wake Forest, and versus Villanova), but even playing this high-quality competition cannot prepare them for a Final Four run.
Two reasons the Maryland Terrapins will make the Elite Eight:
1. Grievis Vasquez. This guy can play, and as a 6’6” guard, is a strong NBA prospect. He shooting percentage is crazy, and he is liable to throw the ball up from 25 feet at any time. That has to drive Coach Williams nuts, but the outcome so far has been positive.
2. This team is senior-heavy. The 3 seniors that start are all excellent players, and provide leadership that few teams can match. After a run into the 2nd round of the tournament last year, they won’t be big-eyed going into any arena against any team.
Two reasons the Maryland Terrapins will not make the Elite Eight:
1. Streaky is as streaky does. You always worry when you have players with a high shooting percentage. What happens if one or two of them have an off night (tight rims, different background, fill in the excuse here)? The Terps have to stay hot to be successful.
2. No really strong center presence. The Terps play a nearly exclusive guard-forward combination when they put 5 on the floor. Jordan Williams, at 6’10” is as close to a center as they have, but he is listed as a forward. Either way, you’d like to see your big man have more points per game; he currently averages 8.8.
