Vasquez rallies Terps for a return into ACC elite

The Maryland Terrapins were the only team to beat both national championship finalists last season and are returning eight of its top nine scorers. Fear the Turtle.

After beating three top-10 teams last season, the Terps are primed for a successful regular season and another NCAA Tournament berth.

With the third-winningest coach in ACC history in Gary Williams, this talented squad could be as dangerous as any team in the country.

The Terps’ hopes hinge on the play of ACC Player of the Year candidate Greivis Vasquez. Vasquez is the ACC’s seventh-leading returning scorer and is third in assists.

North Carolina fans may remember Vasquez’s career-best 35 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in last year’s victory against the Tar Heels.

The 6-foot-6 point guard became only the sixth player in ACC history to lead his team in scoring, rebounding and assists for a season.

The Terps addressed their biggest weakness from a year ago: frontcourt depth. At times last season, 6-foot-4 Sean Mosley had to play in the paint due to the lack of size and skill at the two forward positions.

Freshman Jordan Williams, ranked as the 85th best player in his class by Rivals.com, will provide the low-post scoring and rebounding the Terrapins desperately need. 

The 6-foot-9, 245-pound center will be joined in the frontcourt by returning starter Landon Milbourne. Milbourne played out of position at center last year but still managed to average 11.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per contest.

With the senior back at his natural power forward position, his production should improve. Incoming freshman James Padgett should also provide size and quality minutes for Terrapins.

If Maryland’s other key role players such as Mosley, Eric Hayes, Cliff Tucker and Adrian Bowie improve upon what they did last season, a top-five finish in the ACC seems likely for the Terps.

After proving how dangerous they can be at times last season, consistency must be the focus of Vasquez and Co. this year. This Maryland team has the talent to compete with any team in the ACC. No one will want to play these Terps in March.