Terrapinbasketball
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
This is TERRAPINBASKETBALL 2007-08 SEASON PREVIEW 2007-08 MARYLAND Men’s BasketBALL 2002 NCAA CHAMPIONS 2004 ACC CHAMPIONS SEASON OUTLOOK TERPS RETURN TALENTED CORE FOR 2007-08 After enjoying a successful 2006-07 season in which win those games. It’s a very subtle thing, but I think these they posted an overall record of 25-9 and a 10-6 mark in guys learned how to do that last year.” league play, the Maryland Terrapins are poised for another Maryland returns seven lettermen who have combined successful year under the direction of head coach Gary for 263 career games and 90 starts. More importantly, they Williams. The Terps advanced to the second round of stepped up with huge contributions in Maryland’s biggest the NCAA tournament last season, stretching their steak games last season. Senior forward James Gist led the team of consecutive postseason appearances to 14. Williams, in scoring during league play with 13.9 points per game. As a who guided the Terps to the fifth-highest win total in school freshman, Greivis Vasquez silenced the raucous Cameron history a season ago, believes they are primed for another crowd at Duke, nearly collecting a triple-double with 13 tournament run this year despite the departure of six seniors points, 12 assists, and 9 rebounds, and transfer Bambale from last season’s team. Osby was huge in Maryland’s NCAA tournament win over Gone are key contributors from the past few seasons, Davidson, with 11 points and six rebounds. including Mike Jones, Ekene Ibekwe, and D.J. Strawberry, In addition to the experience they picked up on the court who has taken his game to the NBA. Still, there is a feeling last season, it’s also the way they blended into the program of optimism in College Park, as the Terps return a strong that excites Williams, as the Terps will again welcome a large core of dynamic performers who played well and contributed freshman class of six student-athletes. throughout last season. “Our returning players are confident and mature enough That stability has been a hallmark of the Terrapins under to understand that we have to get some of our new players Williams who enters his 19th season as head coach of his playing time,” noted Williams. “The new players need to Alma matter. Maryland’s all-time winningest coach knows feel they are a part of things from day one and feel they’re he has veterans with experience who can fill the void left by respected by the older players and that they respect the last year’s senior class. veterans. We’re going to put the best team on the floor, “We have four guys that started at times last year which regardless of what year you are in school, but our veteran is a good nucleus nowadays in college basketball,” said players understand that.” Williams. “Learning how to win is the biggest thing you worry Just how quickly the six newcomers become comfortable about each year. You can have a really good team and play will go a long way in determining how successful the Terps really well and then it comes down to the last two or three are this year. minutes. Some teams win those games, some teams don’t “We’re GOING TO HAVE TO FIND WAYS TO PUT THE BALL IN THE BASKET, BUT IT DOESN’t HAVE TO COME FROM JUST HAVING GREAT OUTSIDE SHOOTING. OUR DE- FENSE CAN GENERATE A LOT OF TURNOVERS WHICH WE CAN CONVERT IN TRANSI- TION. In OUR HALFCOURT OFFENSE, OUR UNSELFISHNESS WILL HELP US GET EASIER shots.” - GARY WILLIAMS 28 • 2007-08 Season Preview 2007-08 MARYLAND Men’s BasketBALL 2002 NCAA CHAMPIONS 2004 ACC CHAMPIONS Maryland, and the most of any player on last year’s squad. Vasquez played with the Venezuelan national team this summer at the FIBA Americas Championships and went up against some of the top competition in the world, including Team USA. Matched up against Kobe Bryant for much of the night Vasquez still managed a team-high 12 points against the Americans. Hayes proved to be a steady influence in the backcourt as a freshman, starting 11 games and playing in all 34. He averaged 4.8 points and dished out 132 assists. He displayed a consistent shooting touch as he connected on 39 percent of his three-point shots and led the team from the foul line, making 91 percent of his attempts from the charity stripe. Freshman Adrian Bowie should factor into the rotation at guard. Bowie, who grew up a few miles off campus in Greenbelt, Md., enjoyed a decorated prep career at nearby Montrose Christian. He is a guard with a quick first step who should be able to get to the rim and break down the defense. Bowie teamed with Vasquez at Montrose Christian for two seasons. Williams will have plenty of options to chose from on the wing. Sophomore Landon Milboure should see an increase in playing time for the Terps. He appeared in 16 games as a freshman, but spent the summer in College Park and the results seem to have paid off. Milbourne also joined the East Coast All-Stars, a collection of collegiate players, for an eight-day tour through Belgium and Holland this summer GREIVIS VASQUEZ where he gained valuable experience against international JAMES GIST competition. “With so many new players you have to depend on Cliff Tucker should also compete for minutes on the wing the early practices,” said Williams. “The early games and this season. A versatile athlete who can play a number of FRONTCOURT practices will give us a clear indication of what we can do positions, Tucker comes to College Park after enjoying a Maryland’s frontcourt is loaded with talented players who and where our depth will come from.” standout two-sport career as a football and basketball star each possess a different skill set, giving Williams plenty of The departure of last year’s senior class will force the at Chapin High School in El Paso, Texas. Senior Jason viable options. The group is led by Gist, who was named Terps to fill the scoring void left by three starters who ac- McAlpin and freshman David Pearman will also provide All-ACC honorable mention last year. Gist was Maryland’s counted for just under 40 points per game. To maintain the depth on the wing for the Terps. third-leading scorer last year with 12.8 points per game, but offensive proficiency from a year ago, Williams knows the the Silver Spring, Md., native led the team in scoring during team can ill afford to become one dimensional. league play with 13.9 points per contest. His 72 blocks and “We’re going to have to find ways to put the ball in the 7.2 rebounds per game were both second on the team a year basket, but it doesn’t have to come from just having great ago. Always an athletic high-flying player, Gist improved his outside shooting,” said Williams. “Our defense can gener- shooting touch and added a reliable outside jumper to his ate a lot of turnovers which we can convert in transition. repertoire last season. He has improved his scoring dramati- In our halfcourt offense, our unselfishness will help us get cally in each of his three seasons, and the Terps will look for easier shots.” him to do it again as a senior. The combination of an experienced group of returnees Gist gained valuable experience this summer participating that demonstrated the ability to win tough games in difficult with USA Basketball’s Pan Am Games squad which earned situations, along with an influx of talented freshmen should fifth place in Rio De Janeiro. give Williams all the tools to build another successful season “It was a great experience for James to play with Team of Maryland basketball. USA this summer,” noted Williams. “You get a chance to com- pete against players that have different styles than maybe what you play against during the season. You learn things BACKCOURT about the game of basketball that are really valuable.” Vasquez and fellow sophomore Eric Hayes will anchor Gist enters his senior season eighth on Maryland’s the Terrapins backcourt after both enjoyed stellar freshman all-time blocked shots list (154). He needs just 111 points seasons a year ago. Both players are versatile and can to become the 46th player in school history to reach the either run the offense from the point guard position or play 1,000-point plateau, and would become just the 22nd player equally as well off the ball. at Maryland to join the 1,000 points - 500 rebounds club. “It’s nice to have both Eric and Greivis back for us at Senior Bambale Osby gave the Terps an immediate 2007-08 Season Preview • 29 guard. They certainly have experience now and worked hard boost in his first season with the team last year. Osby played in the offseason to come back even better as sophomores,” in all 34 games and averaged 5.8 points and 3.9 rebounds. said Williams. He led the team in field goal percentage (.563) and gave the Vasquez started in 22 of 34 games last season and was Terps a spark off the bench throughout the season. named ACC All-Freshman honorable mention. He scored Dave Neal has seen his role expand in each of the past 9.8 points per game as a freshman and recorded 157 as- two seasons and the trend should continue through his sists, the third-highest single-season total among rookies at ERIC HAYES junior year.