Testudo Times: FanShots

No! Never [went to anger management classes]. That’s not even close. Who would ever say that, b...

2010-03-18T20:01:45Z

No! Never [went to anger management classes]. That’s not even close. Who would ever say that, besides Jim Calhoun?

He said that one time, when we were recruiting Donyell Marshall. It was in Reading, Pa., which is pretty close to Maryland. Jim Calhoun told people I was in anger management. Him, of all people, who has to leave not just this time, but many times during his career he’s had to come out for the second half of games, or miss games, where other coaches don’t do that. Anger management? Jim Calhoun? Who’s a bigger candidate, me or him?

Gary Williams, via ACC Sports Journal. h/t Patrick Stevens.

Gary doesn't like Calhoun, apparently.

Well, I’m going to announce sometime in April. Probably during the spring signing period. The crazy ...

2010-03-17T20:10:56Z

Well, I’m going to announce sometime in April. Probably during the spring signing period. The crazy thing is I have the same list, but I read stuff that says I’ve cut my list of schools. It’s still UCLA, Oregon, Connecticut, Florida, Kentucky and N.C. State. I haven’t cut anyone, and at this point I don’t think I will. I’ll just pick from what I’ve got.

C.J. Leslie

Look, Maryland might still be recruiting him and making an effort, but the last two times he's had a list, Maryland wasn't on it. I think we can move on.

For some reason the embed code isn't working. Link is here Barack-etology. Pres likes Michigan...

2010-03-17T17:31:23Z

For some reason the embed code isn't working. Link is here
Barack-etology. Pres likes Michigan State over MD in the 2nd round. He's going to feel embarrassed when he has to host the National Champions in a few months and explain to them why he had them going out in the 2nd round.
He also disses Gary saying "Maryland has a great player, but Michigan State has a great coach."

Time Waster: How Well Do You Know the NCAA 2010 Tournament?

2010-03-16T22:52:49Z

Time Waster: How Well Do You Know the NCAA 2010 Tournament?

I like not doing things. Thus, I liked spending ten minutes on this quiz. My bet is that you would, too.

I got 20 out of 25. Not great, but considering I didn't use any outside sources I'll take it.

Greivis Vasquez NPR Interview

2010-03-16T21:03:10Z

Greivis Vasquez NPR Interview

It's impossible not to love Greivis Vasquez. In this interview with NPR, he gives a ton of background on himself. He was planning on going to Gonzaga before Maryland offered, so the trip to Spokane will be interesting.

It's pretty cool to learn how he got his start, too, playing baseball for his dad until he realized he was too energetic for such a slow sport.

Great, great listen.

Via Turtle Waxing.

WhatIfSports Previews the NCAA Tournament, Likes Maryland's Chances

2010-03-16T19:14:27Z

WhatIfSports Previews the NCAA Tournament, Likes Maryland's Chances

At least someone is giving Maryland credit. WIS predicts the NCAA tournament through their statistical model, and determined that Maryland actually has the second best odds (behind Kansas) to advance out of the region. They're predicted to get to the Sweet 16 and face off with Kansas.

Topping them will be nigh-impossible, but you never know - WIS gives them a 20% shot at it.

Ken Pomeroy Ratings for 2010 Tourney

2010-03-15T03:46:55Z

Ken Pomeroy Ratings for 2010 Tourney

Our colleague Peter Bean over at Burnt Orange Nation has done a great break down of the Ken Pomeroy ratings for this year's tourney. He breaks down the whole tournament as well as each region. Why should you care? Midwest region has the highest mean rating for the top 4 seeds, which is 6.8. The other three regions are all in double digits, with the West sitting at a pretty 19.8! The Midwest overall though has the lowest mean, 56.1. So basically the selection committee loaded up the top 4 teams and countered that by putting worse teams in the bottom half of the bracket. That still doesn't help the Terps escape the death gauntlet that is the midwest. But in Gary I Trust.

Well regarded as a personable recruiter, [Rob] Ehsan quickly developed a bond with [Moses]...

2010-03-14T03:16:52Z

Well regarded as a personable recruiter, [Rob] Ehsan quickly developed a bond with [Moses] Abraham.....Ehsan remained in close touch with Boncore and Abraham over the following weeks, making it clear from his standpoint that the Terrapins wanted Abraham to sign with them. But Boncore expressed frustration at times when Maryland assistants said they would bring Coach Gary Williams to Progressive Christian games and then not come.

"I'm waiting for Williams to sit down and really say something," Boncore said Feb. 16. "We'll see what happens. Rob is saying one thing, too. So I'm trying to figure out exactly where he's coming from. I mean, I'm a huge Maryland fan. But man, I cannot figure them out. I just don't understand their modes of operation."
....
This past week, Boncore said Abraham asked Ehsan if he would be a head coach anywhere next season. In a text message, Boncore wrote, "The kid is sad cause he wants to play 4 rob."

Washington Post article on Moses Abraham

Sigh. I'm going to ignore the Gary thing, because we've kind of come to expect that from him from time to time and that's just his personality, but we need to lock Ehsan up.

Also, sounds like Abraham's done to Georgetown, as expected. At least, that's what PCA AD Renard Phillips seems to believe. And the fact that he's sad that he won't be playing for Ehsan indicates that...he won't be playing for Ehsan.

Quick note: pretty good example of the tilt in coverage here. It's not huge, but the MD flaw - that is, Gary's lack of recruiting - got blown up. The fact that JTII approached Boncore and straight up asked,"Are you going to give him to my son?" is mentioned and otherwise ignored.

Rule 2-12.1: Correctable errors are as follows: ..... e. Erroneously counting or canceling a...

2010-03-13T13:54:25Z

Rule 2-12.1: Correctable errors are as follows:
.....
e. Erroneously counting or canceling a score.
....
Rule 2-12.2: When the officials’ error as in Rule 2-12.1.e is made while the game clock is running and the ball becomes dead after a successful goal, it must be recognized and corrected by an official before the second live ball.

Official NCAA Rulebook.

Translation: the "erroneously counted" shot clock violation points were certainly correctable, but according to the language in 2-12.2, it had to happen at the first dead ball, which was technically directly after Favors made the basket.

That seems inconsistent with some officials' tendency to go back and change twos into threes and vice versa well after the basket at the subsequent dead ball. Because of that, I'm wondering if maybe the "first dead ball" refers to the one after the play, not the one the play caused. Can't find the official language on that, though I'll keep looking.

And after this, I'm finished.

From The Bog, by way of homercles10. Pretty clear.

2010-03-13T02:43:29Z

From The Bog, by way of homercles10.

Pretty clear.

Really cool shot of the Greatest game in Comcast history.

2010-03-12T20:58:28Z

Really cool shot of the Greatest game in Comcast history.

GT F Zach Peacock: "I feel like if we don't turn the ball over as much and execute and just pound...

2010-03-12T19:57:05Z

GT F Zach Peacock: "I feel like if we don't turn the ball over as much and execute and just pound it inside -- I mean, pound it inside -- it'll be another 'W' on our schedule."

GT F Gani Lawal: "We want to flex our muscle everytime, and that's what we're going to do tomorrow: Inside-out; inside-out. Pound it inside. We feel they can't stop us. Not to be cocky or anything, but that's just a fact -- they can't stop us down low."

Terrapins Insider

Bulletin board material.

It's Official: Maryland Will Play GT in the Second Round

2010-03-12T02:05:38Z

It's Official: Maryland Will Play GT in the Second Round

UNC played a great game and almost pulled it off, but GT ended up winning in an unconvincing fashion, 62-58.

2011 Basketball Recruiting Target Michael Gbinije to Duke

2010-03-12T01:09:09Z

2011 Basketball Recruiting Target Michael Gbinije to Duke

Blast.

Gbinije was one of Maryland's big targets for 2011, especially after Trevor Cooney committed to Syracuse. Not only did Maryland not land him, but they'll have to go against him for a few years, too.

Guess that means Jabari Brown, Devin Langford, and Dai-Jon Parker are the major remaining wing targets, among some other local and non-local guys not in the database yet. Still early and still plenty of time to get involved with others, but this isn't exactly the start I was looking for.

While the Seth Greenberg shot is impressive, check out the shot Greivis makes after while sitting...

2010-03-11T16:03:05Z

While the Seth Greenberg shot is impressive, check out the shot Greivis makes after while sitting on the bench. Awesome.

He told an enraptured class to study hard and to go to college and to get a degree. Vasquez told...

2010-03-10T19:57:53Z

He told an enraptured class to study hard and to go to college and to get a degree. Vasquez told them that if he goes to the NBA and an injury ends his career after two years, he'll need his degree because basketball won't be an option for him anymore.
...
"I couldn’t believe how good he was with the kids and how much of an impact he really had," Pascucci said. "They all seemed so motivated. Because a lot of the kids in my class – all the boys especially – are big into sports. And to hear him say that, you know, he was telling them: ‘I still go to class. You think I’m some big athlete, but I still have to go to class. I still do homework.’ They were in awe that he actually had to go to class and he actually had to do homework. They couldn’t believe that he was actually a real person aside from being an athlete."

Terrapins Insider

Surprisingly good puff piece on Greivis Vasquez's trip to an elementary school. I like my athletes to be people, too.

UMD Double. Gv is POY and GW is COY

2010-03-09T17:39:42Z

UMD Double. Gv is POY and GW is COY

Now some more good news!

Vasquez Named Sporting News First Team All-American

2010-03-09T15:54:14Z

Vasquez Named Sporting News First Team All-American

Awesome. Glad to see Greivis getting love outside of the ACC. Guess who wasn't first team, btw - Scheyer (FWIW, he was 2nd team).
A source of mine tells me Vasquez will be the ACC POY. He's a pretty good source, so I have no reason to doubt him. You heard it here first.

NFL Network May Be Part of the ACC TV Deal

2010-03-09T00:07:11Z

NFL Network May Be Part of the ACC TV Deal

Posting this for a few reasons, but mostly because this is a topic I've followed and featured for a long time.

This goes against the whole "package deal" of all football and basketball together for bargaining reasons, but it's certainly an interesting concept that would get the ACC a lot of football coverage. Just not major network football coverage, which is what we actually want. (hear that, Fox?)

ALL ACC TEAMS ANNOUNCED

2010-03-08T20:15:06Z

ALL ACC TEAMS ANNOUNCED

First-team All-ACC
Greivis Vasquez, Maryland (159)
Jon Scheyer, Duke (159)
Malcolm Delaney, Virginia Tech (159)
Trevor Booker, Clemson (137)
Kyle Singler, Duke (134)

Second-team All-ACC
Al-Farouq Aminu, Wake Forest (126)
Nolan Smith, Duke (104)
Sylven Landesberg, Virginia (95)
Tracy Smith, N.C. State (82)
Ishmael Smith, Wake Forest (76)

Third-team All-ACC
Gani Lawal, Georgia Tech (73)
Dorenzo Hudson, Virginia Tech (51)
Chris Singleton, Florida State (50)
Joe Trapani, Boston College (38)
Solomon Alabi, Florida State (30)

ACC All-Rookie Team
Derrick Favors, Georgia Tech (52)
Jordan Williams, Maryland (51)
Durand Scott, Miami (44)
C.J. Harris, Wake Forest (41)
Michael Snaer, Florida State (35)

ACC All-Defensive Team
Chris Singleton, Florida State (48)
Solomon Alabi, Florida State (39)
Trevor Booker, Clemson (21)
Lance Thomas, Duke (17)
L.D. Williams, Wake Forest (16)