2008-09_Maryland_Terrapins_men's_basketball_team

2008–09 Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team

2008–09 Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team

American college basketball season

The 2008–2009 Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team represented the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I competition as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The Terrapins qualified for the NCAA tournament for just the second time since the 2003–04 season. Maryland advanced to the second round before being eliminated by second-seeded Memphis. This exceeded expectations for the team, which had been described as a team that was small in stature without any highly touted athletes.[1][2]

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Season recap

During the season, head coach Gary Williams came under fire for his alleged failure to find consistent success since Maryland won the national championship in 2002. At one point, he and an athletics department official argued publicly over the failure to secure recruit Tyree Evans and the transfer of Gus Gilchrist, two highly touted local players.[3] Athletic director Deborah Yow responded to the situation by vowing support for Williams and ensured her intent to honor his current contract.[4] Soon after, The Washington Post published a three-part feature on Maryland basketball that was critical of Gary Williams.[5][6][7]

Early in the season, a lightly regarded Maryland team convincingly upset over fifth-ranked (and eventual national championship runners-up) Michigan State, 80–62, in the Old Spice Classic.[8] Shortly thereafter, they defeated Michigan in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge.[9] They then extended their winning streak to seven and appeared destined to win out in their non-conference schedule, which would have weighed heavily in their favor for an NCAA tournament bid. However, in their final out-of-conference game, they suffered an upset against Morgan State, 66–65.[10]

After a 2–2 start to their conference schedule, which included an overtime loss to Florida State, second-ranked Duke routed the Terrapins, 85–44, in what was Maryland's worst-ever ACC loss.[11] Late in the season, Maryland recovered to "stun" third-ranked North Carolina in overtime, and point guard Greivis Vasquez recorded the first triple-double by a Terrapin since 1987.[12] Maryland then lost closely contested games against seventh-ranked Duke and tenth-ranked Wake Forest.[13][14]

Maryland entered the ACC tournament needing a significant run to salvage hopes for a bid to the NCAA tournament. The Terrapins won in the first round against NC State and advanced to the quarterfinals, where they won a convincing victory over Wake Forest, 75–64.[15] In the semifinals, they lost a hard-fought game against eventual conference champions, Duke, who had enjoyed a bye in the first game.[16]

Having exceeded expectations in the ACC tournament, Maryland was awarded a bid to the NCAA tournament with a seed ranking of ten. In the first round, they played seventh-seeded California, where, after a near stalemate in the first half, Maryland pulled away in the second to win, 84–71.[17] They then faced second-seeded Memphis, which held a 26-game winning streak.[18]

Before the game, Memphis reserve forward Pierre Henderson-Niles said about Maryland, "We really ain't talked too much about Maryland. We watched a little film on 'em one time, and I know they got a good player—I don't know his name—but he good or whatever, so we just going to try to do what we do and stop him. I ain't never seen them; I know they got one good player, Sanchez or something like that, whatever his name is."[19] Greivis Vasquez, the outspoken Maryland point guard to whom Henderson-Niles referred, said in response, "[Memphis would] have a losing record in the [Atlantic Coast Conference]—probably win all of their games outside the league, losing record in the league. The ACC is too tough. You can't just win games night in and night out because you’re so athletic."[20]

Memphis accumulated a 14–0 run in the first half. Maryland, unable to ever significantly close the gap, eventually lost, 89–70. After the game, Vasquez rescinded his earlier remarks and conceded that Memphis might have finished .500 in the ACC. He said, "They'll never play in the ACC, so we'll never know. But they proved me wrong. They're such a good team. I give them credit."[21]

Roster

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.

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Results

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References

  1. [1]
    Terps' NCAA bid is vindication for Williams, WTOP News, Associated Press, March 16, 2009. Accessed 2009-03-21. Archived 2009-06-02.
  2. [2]
    "Two Sides To One Program", The Washington Post, p. E7, March 21, 2009.
  3. [3]
    Prisbell, Eric; Yanda, Steve (January 28, 2009). "Maryland Officials Rebut Williams". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 18, 2009.
  4. [4]
    Yanda, Steve (February 3, 2009). "Terps' Yow Gives Williams A Public Show of Support". The Washington Post.
  5. [5]
    Yanda, Steve; Prisbell, Eric (February 12, 2009). "A Shell of Its Former Self". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 21, 2009.
  6. [6]
    Prisbell, Eric; Yanda, Steve (February 13, 2009). "A Whole New Ballgame That Williams Won't Play". The Washington Post.
  7. [7]
    Yanda, Steve; Prisbell, Eric (February 14, 2009). "Raised Expectations, Lowered Standards?". The Washington Post.
  8. [8]
    Maryland hammers No. 5 Michigan State, NBC Sports, November 27, 2008. Accessed 2009-07-18. Archived 2009-07-23.
  9. [9]
    Michigan 70, Maryland 75, ESPN, December 3, 2008.
  10. [10]
    "Morgan State, Huh?". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 18, 2009.
  11. [11]
    "Duke Sprints Toward No. 1; Washington Topples U.C.L.A". The New York Times. January 25, 2009.
  12. [12]
    "Vasquez's triple-double helps Maryland stun No. 3 UNC in OT". USA Today. February 22, 2009.
  13. [13]
    No. 7 Duke beats Maryland 78–67, Rocky Mountain News, February 25, 2009.
  14. [14]
    "No. 10 Wake Forest edges Maryland on the road". USA Today. March 4, 2009.
  15. [15]
    Maryland knocks off struggling Wake behind Vasquez's 22, ESPN, March 13, 2009.
  16. [16]
    Scheyer scores 22 and Blue Devils' 12–2 run opens up 13-point lead in second half, ESPN, March 14, 2009.
  17. [17]
    Maryland stymies Cal shooters Archived 2009-06-22 at the Wayback Machine, NBC Sports, March 19, 2009.
  18. [18]
    Evans leads Memphis to easy win over Terps Archived 2009-06-25 at the Wayback Machine, NBC Sports, March 21, 2009.
  19. [19]
    "Terps Aim for Name Recognition", The Washington Post, p. E1, March 21, 2009.
  20. [20]
    Vasquez: Memphis would lose in ACC, Baltimore Sun, March 20, 2009. Accessed 2009-03-21. Archived 2009-06-02.
  21. [21]
    "Overachievers Overmatched", The Washington Post, p. D1, March 22, 2009.
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