Hot shooting Memphis knocks Terps out of NCAA tourney
For the Memphis Tigers it was twenty minutes to remember. For the Maryland Terrapins it was a first half that knocked them out of the NCAA tourney.
Memphis shot 70 percent in the first half, which included making a blistering 8 of 11 three-point shots and led by 53-33 at intermission. Maryland never could make a run after that and Memphis reached its third straight Sweet 16 with an 89-70 win over the Terps.
Maryland ends its season with a record of 21-14.
Memphis is now 33-3 and extends the nation's longest win streak to 27 games. The Tigers last loss was December 20th.
For the game Memphis shot a season-high 58.5 percent and made 10 of 19 three-point shots. Memphis is 13-3 in the NCAA's since 2006.
Freshman Tyreke Evans led the Tigers with 19 points while Robert Dozier added 17 and 8 rebounds. Five Tigers scored 13 or more points.
After Maryland moved out to an early 4-2 lead, Memphis went on a 15-0 run over three and a half minutes to open a 17-4 lead. Guard Doneal Mack hit four three-pointers in a span of two minutes late in the half as the lead grew to 20 at the break.
Maryland never got closer than 17 points down in the second half.
Greivis Vasquez led the Terps with 18 points while Adrian Bowie added 11 and Eric Hayes scored 10. Maryland shot 43.5 percent with just seven turnovers.
The Terps had just one senior on the team and will lose departing Dave Neal. Vasquez has indicated he will look into entering the NBA draft, but has also said he could return to Maryland next season.
Game Notes - The Terps trailed by as many as 29 points in the second half......Maryland is now 37-22 all-time in NCAA games.......The Terps ended the season with a mark of 3-9 vs. ranked opponents........Memphis is 137-13 since the 2006-07 season began.......Evans had 15 points in the first half and Mack added 14.
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Categories (click for archive)NCAA News | Steve Melewski Terps |
Steve, The Memphis game was worst case scenario to the 10th power! I agree with Eric Hayes about how the Terps were in trouble as soon as the Tigers jumped out fast.
I think, too, after the game started to get out of hand, Maryland continued to drive to the basket way too much, when it was clear that every shot was going to be severely contested. At some point the team needed to say, Okay, this isn't working, let's see if we can drain some jumpers (a lot of jumpers, actually!--LOL).
Also really disappointing was the poor defense against the three (especially after the Cal game). Again, it was clear pretty early that Memphis was getting easy put backs, and that the Terps needed place most of its focus on contesting the threes, as the Tigers ended up with 30 points off the trey.
Still, the Terps have a lot to be happy about this season; making it to the second round of the NCAA tourney is a real accomplishment for a team that wasn't figured to do much. It could be a real springboard for the 2009-2010 season, but much will depend on what Grevis decides and whether they get ***** recruit Lance Stephenson (I think their chances are excellent).
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It was much fun covering the Terps this year, Ken. I much prefer working NCAA games over the NIT. Maryland fans will probably get mad if Memphis comes out and makes only, say 5 of 18 three pointers in the next round. They sure shot the lights out in that first half. Very solid year for Terps. - Steve
Steve, I imagine the Terps are rooting for UNC or Michigan State to win it all, so they can at least say they beat the eventual National Champions. Kinda hollow, but it's something. (By the way, Ty Lawson's on fire for the Tarheels in their game against Gonzaga: 15 points in the first 13 minutes of the first half.)
Wow, you almost hit it on the nose about Memphis having a cold day shooting threes against Missouri. They only hit 3-15, which, when you consider the final score was 102-91, was a real contributing factor in their loss. Had they shot that poorly from behind the arc in their previous game, the Terps would have had a real chance. Oh well.
Do you have any hunches about where Lance Stephenson is going to wind up? So-called "sources" have been saying it's Kansas. Maybe it will be, but I'm a little skeptical. I'm still trying to figure out why he added Maryland back to his list if he hadn't had a change of heart. Plus he said he'd fit in with the Maryland's flex offense and likes the idea of being able to play again with his high school teammate and soon-to-be Terp, James Padgett.
Do you know who gave him his tour of campus and Comcast? Greivis! I bet that was interesting. I think I'd be most surprised if he announced St. John's, but you never know.
If the Terps lose out to the Jayhawks, they'll have a nice consolation prize in Terrell Vinson, but that's all he's going to be, because Stephenson is an elite athlete, while Vinson is the type of middling-good player Maryland usually gets. Lance would be huge for the program, though, coming in as one of the very best freshmen in the country.
As for their two big commits. I don't know much about Padgett, but Jordan Williams really intrigues me. He looks like he could easily be an All-ACC player and will be a real inside presence for the Terps. If he can elevate his game to the next level, I think he is a real threat to average 20+ points a game. He has serious game. (Even if the Terps strike out on Stephenson, Williams has to be the best recruit they've had in a very long time. Getting Lance on top of that would be gold!)
Even though Stephenson's declaring for Maryland possibly will be a clincher for Greivis returning for his senior year, I think the other new Terps, especially Williams, may be enough to do the trick. You can bet all of this is looming very large on Gary's mind right now!
Predictions:
FIRST CASE SCENARIO--Lance comes, Greivis stays, the team is back in the Top 25 and advances to the Sweet 16 or better. Long range the team is going to very good for a number of years (how many depends on how long before Lance goes pro) and could contend for the National Championship more than once. Recruiting will be much easier for Gary after next season's great play really puts the team back on the national map again. (This time I think the Terps will have a far better pool of high-end players who want to play at College Hill, more than ever before.)
2ND CASE SCENARIO--Lance doesn't come, Grevis stays, and the team improves and is able to make it back to the NCAA Tournament's Second Round again and maybe to the Sweet 16. Long range the team is going to be better; how much better will depend on subsequent years' recruiting.
3RD CASE SCENARIO--Lance comes, but Greivis goes pro, and the team is able to eke out an NCAA invitation, but loses in the first round. They'll definitely be a team to watch in Stephenson/Williams' second season, though.
WORST CASE SCENARIO--Neither Lance nor Greivis is on the roster, and the team struggles to find an identity until late in the season. They only make it to the NIT. Long range the future should be bright and the Terps will make it back to the Big Dance in Jordan's sophomore year. So in this case, even worst isn't too bad.
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I actually think that last scenario may be the one, but I'm hoping the plethora of guards coming out will convince Greivis to return.
I am not sure if Lance coming for one year is worth it. He is supposed to be a one and done player. The Terps did not make the Final Four with Steve Francis.
I am in favor of freshman who will stay four years and you can grow with. If it is the "worst case" Bowie will be the point, Hayes will have to increase his scoring, Milbourne will get to move to the three and the two new players will have to help right away. The Terps would probably be picked to finish 8th in the league and Gary wouldn't have it any other way. - Steve
Where do you think Lance Stephenson is going to wind up?
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I have heard that Kansas is the leader with Maryland second and St. John's third. That was as of a few days ago. I don't follow recruiting that closely thought and don't have any inside info on this one. - Steve
Steve, If you don't want to answer the question, fine. Just don't post it, please. Thanks.
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Ken, what question are you asking about, Lance???
I did finally get around to answering that, sorry for the delay. Was there another one??? - Steve
Steve, Sorry about that. I must not have scrolled down far enough to see your response. My bad.
Don't know if you follow the Lady Terps, but Marissa Coleman had a performance against Vandy yesterday that rivals Greivis' triple double for individual performance of the year. She took an outplayed Maryland team on he shoulders and carried it to victory.
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Thanks for clarifying Ken. I must admit, I have not seen many Terps' women's games, but surely admire what Coach Freese and the players have done. Coleman's performance was remarkable. Hope they go all the way. - Steve