Box Score

The maryland terrapins jumped on the Hokies early and never looked back in an 83-73 home win over Virginia Tech. Only two Hokies scored in double figures; A.D. Vassallo led the way with 20 points and Malcolm Delaney added 16. Jeff Allen was held under double digits for just the fifth game this season – he had 8 points.

Tech did get some solid play from its bench, led by junior forward Lewis Witcher who had 8 points. The bench as a whole gave the Hokies 25 points and 12 rebounds. J.T. Thompson and Terrell Bell each added 7 points.

The terps are normally a poor three-point shooting team, but this afternoon they caught fire in the first half shooting 50 percent (4/8). At one point early in the second half, they were 6/10 from behind the arc. Their hot shooting, combined with hitting 24/26 free throws (92 percent), didn’t really give the Hokies much of a shot, especially considering Tech looked flat and was an abysmal 13/21 at the free throw line (61 percent).

It was clear the Hokies lacked focus and intensity and during Seth Greenberg’s post game comments, the coach was openly disappointed and critical of his team’s poor preparation saying that “we reap what we sow” and added that the team had two bad practices leading up to the maryland game. Greenberg also said that the team needs better on-court leadership.

As has been the theme throughout the past couple of seasons, a role player for the opposing team came out looking like a first-team All ACC candidate. This time it was Landon Milbourne, who usually averages about 12 points a game. He had 14 in the first half alone and finished with 23.

The Hokies got it to within three in the second half, but every time they got close, they would either get called for a travel, a foul or maryland would hit a ridiculous shot to steal the momentum. This was a must-win for the terps and their embattled coach, Gary Williams, who has been on the hot-seat most of the season. It would appear that his job is safe … for at least another week.

As for the Hokies, they return home for a couple of days of practice before heading up to Charlottesville on Wednesday to take on the cavaliers – the second worst team in the ACC. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. and as of right now, Wick, Niemo, BallaRob, Davey and Cope-acabana will all be in attendance at the game. We will be available for arm curls and autographs and will gladly accept free drinks.

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THE SETUP

Spread: maryland by 4

Note: DC area Hokies — the game is on FOX.  Ignore your on-screen guides if they say something else, Fox5 is carrying the game.

Some games mean more than others.  To me, this game means as much as any.  Being a NOVA guy my whole life, I just plain hate maryland (posted two years ago), especially the crab-dribblin’ terps.  I may hate uva, but at least they are Virginians.  Any time we get the chance to stick it to the “crab cakes and football” state, despite the fact maryland is about as big a football powerhouse as Rhode Island, I enjoy it. 

Niemo arm-curling Greivis Vasquez like a little baby (that badly needs some Proactive).  Note that maryland has not beaten VT since this happened in April of 2006.

This is a very big game for both teams.  With a loss, maryland is staring the NIT right in the face again and the rumblings about Gary Williams and “what have you done for me lately” will grow even louder.  The Hokies, meanwhile, have two road games this week before finishing the season with five games against teams currently ranked.  Plain and simple, Tech must win one of these next two road games to have a good shot of making the NCAA Tournament, considering their very difficult stretch to the finish line.  A ‘W’ on Saturday would put VT in great shape heading to hooville and the eight-losses-in-a-row wahoos.

Expect a fairly dead crowd on Saturday in the communist center in college park, because its Valentine’s Day, and because the terps are having a down season.  If VT can get off to a good start and build a lead, the crowd will turn on the home team.

THE SERIES

Half of Virginia Tech’s all-time wins against maryland have come since joining the ACC.  After starting 4-24 against the crab-dribblin’ terps, the Hokies have been on fire!  Add a 3-0 record in football against maryland since joining the ACC, and I think we all know who needs to fear whom.

The last three meetings between VT and the twerps have been defensive battles, with each team scoring in the 60s, and with VT wins in all three games by a total of just eight combined points.

• All-Time: 8-25
• At maryland: 3-15
• In the ACC: 4-2
• Streak: VT 3 in a row and 4 of 5
• Last Year’s Meetings: The Hokies swept both games in dramatic fashion by a total of five points.  The win at maryland really turned VT’s season around.  After starting 5-3 in ACC play, the Hokies had lost three in a row and were behind by double-digits early in this game.  But with a spirited second half, the resulting victory launched Tech on a four-game winning streak that almost got them into the NCAA Tournament.
• @md: VT 69, md 65  |  Game Film
• @VT: VT 67, md 66  |  Game Film

LINEUPS

Virginia Tech

maryland

Hayes, a three-year starter from Woodbridge, VA, had been benched recently in favor of Adrian Bowie.  But Hayes got the nod in maryland’s last game, a one-point win at georgia tech.

THE OPPONENT AND KEYS TO THE GAME

• ACC Tournament Titles: 3
• Last Title: 2004 (only school other than duke or unc to win the ACC since 1996)

maryland’s Strengths:

• We Can’t Shoot, But We Can Pass: (see below about their shooting)  The maryland guards do a good job of distributing the ball and finding open men.  They are second in the ACC in assists, despite being 10th in points per game.  You would expect that with a veteran backcourt — Hayes and Vasquez are junior three-year starters, and Bowie is a sophomore.
• Little Turnover in the Back Court Equals Fewer Turnovers:  Similar to the above point, the maryland guards do a good job of protecting the ball.  They average just 13 turnovers per game, and are third in the ACC in Turnover Margin.

maryland’s Weaknesses:

• Lack of Identity: The terps seem to play at the pace of their opponent.  Against unc and duke, they got into track meets and the results were not good.  maryland lost those two games by a combined 58 points, giving up 193 points total.  In other games, they get sucked into a half court game and struggle to find points. 
• Can We Move the 3-Point Line Back?: maryland is 11th in ACC games in Field Goal Percentage (40%) and last in 3-Point Percentage (27%).  Sharp shooters Eric Hayes and Greivis “Proactiv” Vasquez have lost their stroke, especially GV.  He’s made just 30% on threes this year, and has gotten into arguments with his own fans, at one point talking about how much better VT fans were in terms of supporting their team.  The terps have been held to 60 or fewer points five times this season.  maryland is 10th in the ACC play in scoring as a result, and that includes 91 points in a 108-91 loss at unc.
• Lack of Size: Last year the terps had Bambale Osby (similar body type to Jeff Allen but even more intense) and the long and athletic James Gist inside dominating the glass and blocking shots.  Both those guys are gone, and no one has come in to replace them.   Dave Neal looks like a beer league softball player inside, and he likes to play on the perimeter on offense.  Landon Milbourne is very talented, but lacks bulk.  He plays the four for maryland, but is very undersized there similar to when Deron Washington had to play the four for VT.  With this, maryland is dead last in ACC games in Rebounding Margin at -3.9.  In fact, Vasquez — a guard — is tied for the team lead in rebounds per game.
• Lack of Athletes: Milbourne is a solid athlete and is becoming a Gist-like player, though not as much of a shot blocking force on defense.  Bowie is a good defender, too.  But Vasquez, Hayes, and Neal are average athletes at best.  That exposes a lot of weaknesses on the defensive end.  As a result, maryland allows ACC opponents to shoot 44% from the field (tied with VT for third worst in the ACC) and shoot 40% on threes, by far the worst in the ACC. 

#1 Key to the Game: Attack the maryland guards on offense.  As I mention just above this, Hayes and Vasquez are not good defenders.  Delaney can beat them off the dribble at will.  The terp guards will have to back off him, which will leave Malcolm or A.D. open for three-pointers, and maryland is the worst team in the ACC at defending the three.  The terps have to pack in the defense to help on the glass since they are thin inside.  If Delaney or Vassallo can hit some early threes, maryland will have to come out and defend them.  This will keep maryland from double-teaming Allen inside, and he should be able to beat Neal, or even the skinny Milbourne, inside.  Let’s just hope the threes are falling for Malcolm, who has been struggling from the floor over the last two games.

Expect Delaney to have a big game.  He’s from Baltimore and was not heavily recruited by the terps.  You know there is resentment there, and you know he will have lots of fans on hand.  I predict he will get out of his shooting slump and light it up.  Hopefully he will let the game come to him and not force things.  Since maryland is weak on defense, he needs to drive also, not just settle for the outside shot.

Jeff Allen should also have a big game.  None of the terp low post starters can defend him.  The Hokies need to get him the ball early.  If he gets doubled, the perimeter players need to slide to the open area and have Jeff kick it out for an open three.

On defense, Tech needs to get a hand in the face of Vasquez and Hayes.  Despite their struggles adjusting to the three-point line being a foot back, they can get hot.  If VT plays tight on Vasquez, he will start forcing bad shots.  Neal is a face-up player.  He likes to shoot threes, so the Hokie big-men must guard him on the perimeter, more so than inside.  Milbourne is maryland’s most versatile inside player, and Tech must keep him off the offensive glass.  He also has a good midrange game.

A concern for the Hokies could be the maryland pressure.  The terps like to use a full-court press.  It is similar to clemson’s, which VT shredded, but not as aggressive.  maryland is more worried about slowing you down and using clock to get you out of your offensive set.  Tech must not be content just making it over the timeline.  They have to attack the defense by throwing over the press like the Hokies did against clemson.  Against georgia tech’s press Wednesday, the Hokie guards were catching the ball with their backs to the front court, allowing the jackets to trap them, and they were picking up their dribble just over the timeline, allowing another trap to happen.  Tech needs to get the ball in quickly after made maryland buckets and get up court by pass or dribble.

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