Saluting General Greivis

Vaquez can be maddening, but he has hushed many of Maryland's critics this season.

If it wasn’t for a certain hockey game on Sunday afternoon, the game of the weekend would have been the one that took place at Cassell Coliseum on Saturday night between the visiting Maryland Terrapins and Virginia Tech Hokies. After both teams battled through two overtimes, Maryland ultimately prevailed and solidified their status as one of the hottest teams in the country. But it was more than just a great game; it was a microcosm of Maryland’s basketball program of the past four years, all of which have primarily focused on a certain fiery guard from Venezuela.

I know that 95% of the country didn’t watch the game because unless you live in College Park or Blacksburg, the only way you could have seen it was on your computer on ESPN360 and unless you happen to be a huge ACC fan or went to Maryland (as I did) or Virginia Tech, you probably didn’t give a damn enough to sit in front of your computer in your office crushing beers to calm you nerves. Well, I’m pretty sure its obvious that’s exactly what I did and what this game did is what every Maryland game has done to me over these past four years and that’s give me more highs and lows than the trajectory of Robert Downey Jr.’s career. The reason for this is simple and circles right back to the aforementioned Venezuelan guard, Greivis Vasquez.

Vasquez was spectacular in this critical ACC matchup. He dropped 41 points, was 10-10 from the line, grabbed seven boards and dished six assists. But he was also frustratingly inconsistent and maddening at times. He might have scored 41 points, but he did it on 13-33 shooting and was 5-15 from three-point range. Those aren’t percentages that will have NBA scouts drooling come June. But for this Maryland team, he is exactly what they need to navigate what is often one of the most treacherous conference schedules in the nation.

Vasquez is a polarizing player for many reasons. I love him most of the time but there are times when I simply want to throw my beer at the TV and wonder what the eff he is doing out there. He can make the spectacular play, but often he believes that he is the only guy on the team that can make a play and he throws up one of the most ridiculous shots that you’ll ever see. Basically what I’m saying is that his shot selection could use a little more discretion. But then again I can understand where he is coming from. For the majority of his time in the Maryland program, Vasquez was unquestionably the team’s best player and it wasn’t even close. Yes, he played with some good basketball players, but none possessed the talent that Vasquez does, so maybe he was right in assuming he was the only guy that could get it done when it mattered. But part of being great is not only taking over games in crunch time, its also trusting the guys around you to make plays when they are in a better position to do so than you are (as Cliff Tucker did in one of the most thrilling finishes of the season against Georgia Tech a few days prior).

Vasquez was simply too much for the Hokies and might have put some distance between himself and fellow ACC POY candidate Delaney. (Matthew Creger/The Diamondback)

His polarizing nature also comes from his extremely fiery personality. I have yet to see a player in college basketball possess the desire that he does; if there is they sure don’t show it like he does. Vasquez wears his passion on his sleeve and I can clearly see how that could rub some people the wrong way. But it is also the kind of thing that Coach Gary Williams loves because he is the same kind of guy. If you’ve ever watched a Terp game you know what I’m talking about. Williams furiously paces the sideline vacillates between crouching like a tiger and animatedly flailing his arms as if he was drowning; the whole time sweat pouring down his face and exposing some of the most disturbing pit stains more fitting of a fat kid in a spelling bee. I don’t know if there is a more perfect fit in the country right now than that between Williams and his star pupil.

So while at times Vasquez drives me crazy, and I’m pretty sure I can speak for the rest of the Maryland fans out there, there is no one in the country right now that I’d rather see leading these Terps (minus John Wall of course but one-and-done players aren’t Gary’s style). He has a knack for having his best performances in the biggest games and this VT game Saturday night was no different. The perfect example was last year against the eventual champion North Carolina where he dropped a triple double against the top-ranked Tar Heels in leading Maryland to an improbable upset victory and propelling them into the NCAA tournament. Last year he led the team in scoring and assists and without the presence of a legit big man he was also the team’s top rebounder. This year, with a little bit of a bigger lineup, he has dropped to third in rebounding, but he still leads the team in points (19.5) and assists (6.4). He also happens to be second in the ACC in scoring, right behind VT guard Malcolm Delaney who he convincingly outplayed on Saturday, tops in assists and regardless of his sometimes horrendous shot selection, 10th in FG%; not to mention third in FT%, eight in steals, fifth in 3PT% and fourth in assist-turnover ratio, as well as the historic feat of being the only player in ACC history with 2,000 points, 700 assists and 600 rebounds. In all honesty, and I’m not being a homer here, there may not be a more complete player in the country.

So basically after almost 1,000 words what I’m trying to say is that, yes, Vasquez pisses me off to no end at times, but more often than not, like he did on Saturday night, he comes through when it counts and makes the journey worthwhile. He’s one of the best leaders in the nation and if you hate Duke, like I’m pretty sure most of the country does, than you should definitely tune in to ESPN on Wednesday night to watch Vasquez, a leading ACC player of the year candidate, put on a show against one of his most hated rivals, and yes, Vasquez always comes to play when it’s against the ACC’s blue bloods from Durham. He’s a triple-double waiting to explode and with a chance at the ACC-crown on the line (which is another testament to him as nobody before the season thought Maryland had a shot), I have no doubt in my mind that Vasquez will be at his usual best, barely taking a breather and screaming at whoever will listen or nobody in particular (it doesn’t matter as long as he’s screaming apparently). It has become readily apparent that Vasquez will always without a doubt show up and give everything he’s got; the only real question is, will anyone else?