Oh, how the mighty have fallen. The Maryland Terps, 2002 national champions have fallen off big time. The basketball tide has since shifted to the hilltop where the Hoyas now reign as the golden boys of basketball in the DC area but it doesn't have to be that way. The Big Dance? I don't think so this year.
I watched the game against Boston College and I was amazed at the lack of leadership on the Maryland team. There was no fire on the floor at any position. The Eagles came in as an 11th seed but showed fire and passion even after the Terps opened up a 15 point lead in the first half.
Boston College guard Tyrese Rice is beast on the floor, displaying scoring ability and most importantly, leadership. You can tell the team feeds off him. He brought that team up to his level of play. BC seized the lead in the second half by just outhustling the Terps on the boards and on defense. On paper the Terps are a way better team than they are displaying.
Not only did Maryland lose the battle of the boards, but shot terrible for a Division I basketball team and didn't take care of the ball. At the 6:42 minute mark, the Terpshad a pathetic 18 turnovers. Greveis Vasquez, whose mother was in attendance to see him play for the first time, is a quality player but definitely didn't play his best game. He showed no leadership out on the floor unlike the Carolina game in which he played brilliantly.At the 3:48 mark, Vasquez had only 5 points.
Gary Williams has to find a leader for Maryland basketball to regain its prominence. They say the best about freshmen and sophomores is one day they become junior and seniors. We'll see.
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