Jay Bilas: The Only Cool Dookie

by The Fin on Feb 27, 2010 12:05 AM EST

When asked about UMD's tournament status and GV's place in UMD history...

"Lock, and a lock before the win against Clemson. Gary WIlliams has done a magnificent job with this team, and Jordan Williams has been a major key to the Terps recent success. Is this a perfect team that has Final Four written all over it? No. But, it is a team that will win a first round game, and with a good draw, can play on the second weekend. And Vasquez has been brilliant. Slow start to the season, but a really strong finish. And, if I have a vote, his number 21 is hanging from the rafters. He has been as important a player as Maryland has had in a while, and he is more than accomplished enough to warrant his jersey retirement."

Just saying, having been at Maryland during GV's freshman and sopmore years, I'm going to get goose bumps seeing his jersey hanging next to Blake and Dixon. We don't just put anyone's number up there. Special four years

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Bilas has always been very complimentary of Maryland

He’s very professional all-around. I still don’t love him just because he went to Duke, but he’s tolerable.

Anyway, the Vasquez issue is controversial. I’m in favor of it, but loosely. Hopefully he gets us to the Sweet 16 and it becomes a non-issue.

by Ben Broman on Feb 27, 2010 12:11 AM EST reply actions

Ben, I am not sure it is “controversial.” Gary said that folks who don’t consider him one of the best 5-7 players in Maryland history don’t know much about basketball. Now, I don’t know enough about MD basketball to say who the best 5-7 players in the team’s history are (I have only followed closely since about 1993), but, other than Juan, I have never seen a better player mean more to his team than GV.

I think the controversy comes not from the actual decisionmakers, but from a few “fans” that have always hated GV (for whatever reason) and are now too stubborn to admit they were wrong.

by nmprisons on Feb 27, 2010 6:13 AM EST up reply actions

I dont think that getting up in the rafters should be a reward for being a great player, but more of a combination of being a great player and doing great things for the program. Im not so sure that grevis has accomplished that level as of yet. If he wins the acc tourney/makes a sweet 16, his legacy is cemented. But im skeptical that, as of now, even with his numbers, he has had the type of effect on MD basketball that deserves that high of recognition. I dont think that his name should be instantly up there…in 5 or so years we will be able to judge the impact he had on the program.

by nroop1 on Feb 27, 2010 1:23 PM EST up reply actions

nroop: Think about it this way. Imagine the team over the last four years without GV. How many wins do we have? How many tournaments do we go to? The answer to the first question is “not a lot” and the answer to the second it “probably none.” You are right to say we haven’t won the ACC or even gotten to the sweet 16 and that is beyond frustrating, but to say that reflects negatively on GV is not right. Without him, we are NC State this year. The effect that has on recruiting and the fan base can not be overstated.

by nmprisons on Mar 1, 2010 6:42 AM EST up reply actions

I Come In Peace

Jay is really Azeck:

http://gmrmedia.com/dolph/dolph-in/cinefantastique3.jpg

by Hey Yo! on Feb 27, 2010 7:34 AM EST reply actions

Greivis' jersey SHOULD BE RETIRED...

He’s done more for us that Steve Francis did, who was a one-and-done player.

by jodaby on Feb 27, 2010 2:49 PM EST reply actions

Francis took MD to a sweet 16

GV has yet to do that.

GV should definitely be honored, but don’t discredit Francis. Also, I believe Stevie Franchise did a lot for the program after he left, which added to the jersey being honored.

"When my time on earth is gone, and my activities here are passed, I want them to bury me upside down, so that my critics can kiss my a**!"
-Bobby Knight

by John Stephens on Feb 27, 2010 7:07 PM EST up reply actions

distinction between retired and honored

juan’s #3 and blake’s #25 are RETIRED, meaning that no future player can ever wear it

im pretty sure mike jones wore stevie franchise’s 23

i think gv will at least get his jersey honored. the question is should it be retired. i personally think it should —→ if youre top 5 in more than 2 categories, that merits retirment status imo

by aMo on Feb 27, 2010 7:15 PM EST up reply actions

Hmm

I thought they were all honored and none of them were “off-limits”.

"When my time on earth is gone, and my activities here are passed, I want them to bury me upside down, so that my critics can kiss my a**!"
-Bobby Knight

by John Stephens on Feb 27, 2010 8:12 PM EST up reply actions