America College Basketball Corner:
Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2004 10:54 pm
Well let me make history here:
Ofili, Robby: Does any of you sabi this Naija boy:
NO. PLAYER POS HT WT YRS HOMETOWN
== ====== === == == === ========
1 Jamar Smith F 6-9 239 Sr Sicklerville, NJ
(Allegany CC)
2 Andre Collins G 5-10 167 Jr Crisfield, MD
(Hargrave Military)
4 Travis Garrison F 6-9 236 So Hyattsville, MD
(De Matha)
5 D.J. Strawberry G 6-5 185 Fr Corona, CA (Mater Dei)
11 John Gilchrist G 6-3 190 So Virginia Beach, VA
(Salem)
13 Chris McCray G 6-5 183 So Capitol Heights, MD
(Fairmont Heights)
20 Darien Henry F 6-6 200 Jr West Orange, NJ
(Seton Hall Prep)
21 Mike Grinnon F 6-6 216 Jr Oyster Bay, NY
(St. Dominic's)
22 Nik Caner-Medley F 6-8 220 So Portland, ME (Deering)
23 Mike Jones G 6-5 200 Fr Dorchester, MA
(Thayer Academy)
25 Ekene Ibekwe F 6-9 210 Fr Carson, CA (Carson)
31 Will Bowers C 6-11 230 Fr Hanover, MD
(Archbishop Spalding)
54 Hassan Fofana F 6-10 290 Fr Weston, MA (Holy Name)
Head Coach: Gary Williams
From Washington Post
Terps Win 1 Against No. 9
Smith Has 22 Points And Nine Rebounds Against Tar Heels: Maryland 90, North Carolina 84
By Barry Svrluga
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, January 15, 2004; Page D01
They tried refusing to talk about it. They tried talking about it ad nauseum. When you're shooting 58 percent from the free throw line -- as Maryland was -- you're willing to do just about anything.
Those varied approaches just might have paid off last night for the Terrapins, who made 10 of 14 free throws in the final three minutes, enough to squeeze out a 90-84 victory over ninth-ranked North Carolina before 17,950 excited and exhausted fans at Comcast Center.
Center Jamar Smith, the Terps' greatest culprit from the line, even managed to hit 4 of 8 during those crucial moments, en route to a game-high 22 points and nine rebounds. In a game marked by punches and counterpunches, Smith's stellar effort -- which included 14 points in the second half -- reduced his UNC counterpart Sean May into referring to himself as a "little baby."
Maryland point guard John Gilchrist added 20 points and held his own with UNC counterpart Raymond Felton, who scored 16 and had seven assists, but also matched Gilchrist with five turnovers. The Terrapins (10-3, 1-1 ACC) dealt with it all: a ridiculous pace, their previous inadequacies at the line, 22 turnovers forced by UNC's defense, and a group of resilient Tar Heels (10-3, 1-2).
"It's one of those things when two teams are playing well, there's going to be swings in momentum," said Maryland forward Nik Caner-Medley, who scored 17. "Our crowd was great tonight, and really helped us. This was extremely big for us to get. You need to defend your home court, and any time you can get a win against a great team -- and North Carolina is a great team that's extremely hard to stop -- you have to be happy."
Though few wins in January can be considered essential, the Terps badly needed this one, considering what's ahead. Maryland will travel Saturday to No. 12 Georgia Tech, will host second-ranked Duke on Wednesday, and will play at Clemson and at fourth-ranked Wake Forest the following week.
"Our league's that way this year," Coach Gary Williams said. "I don't think anybody's got an easy way to go."
From the opening tip, the pace was nothing short of frantic. This wasn't some sort of guarantee game against the Maryland-Eastern Shores or North Carolina Greensboros of the world. Those pushover opponents were quickly and soundly pushed to Maryland's past.
"I had goose bumps out there," Gilchrist said.
Carolina shot out to a 29-20 lead, Maryland closed to 31-28. The Tar Heels went up 40-30, Maryland clawed back to 45-44. By halftime -- by which time it was hard to catch your breath -- a classic seemed to be developing. UNC led, 49-47.
"We took a punch," Williams said. "Actually, we took a few punches."
Smith, though, showed that his early-season performance -- in which he posted eight double-doubles and led the ACC in rebounding -- wasn't a fluke. May, who outweighs Smith by more than 20 pounds, grew frustrated. He finished with 18 points and nine rebounds, but missed 12 of 19 shots.
"I knew Jamar Smith was good," May said. "He's a great player. He did what he had to do. I didn't. I played like a little baby out there."
Smith anchored a 12-0 Maryland run that featured a dunk by guard Chris McCray for Maryland's first lead since 4-3. With 14 minutes 37 seconds remaining, Smith finished the burst by scoring from the block, and the Terps were up 60-54.
When UNC battled back to 62-61, the Terps ran off seven straight. The game took on a certain Sean Connery, "Untouchables" feel: When they pull a knife, you pull a gun.
Because the Terps couldn't put the game away easily, it came down to those free throws.
"I could say a lot of things -- we had two weeks to get ready," Williams said. "I just told them we were going to make our free throws. Sometimes, that's what it takes. You've just got to stay positive."
With 3:10 left, UNC swingman Rashad McCants nailed a three-pointer, and appropriately, the score was tied at 78. That's when the Terps' parade to the line began. Smith made the second of two, then hit the first of a one-and-one. Travis Garrison hit two, McCray two. The closest the Tar Heels could get was with 3.5 seconds left, when McCants's three-pointer pulled them to 86-84. But McCants then reached over the end line defending the inbounds pass -- a technical foul -- and McCray sank both foul shots.
"It's so big for our confidence," Smith said. "Not just the free throws, but the whole game. We needed this."
Ofili, Robby: Does any of you sabi this Naija boy:
NO. PLAYER POS HT WT YRS HOMETOWN
== ====== === == == === ========
1 Jamar Smith F 6-9 239 Sr Sicklerville, NJ
(Allegany CC)
2 Andre Collins G 5-10 167 Jr Crisfield, MD
(Hargrave Military)
4 Travis Garrison F 6-9 236 So Hyattsville, MD
(De Matha)
5 D.J. Strawberry G 6-5 185 Fr Corona, CA (Mater Dei)
11 John Gilchrist G 6-3 190 So Virginia Beach, VA
(Salem)
13 Chris McCray G 6-5 183 So Capitol Heights, MD
(Fairmont Heights)
20 Darien Henry F 6-6 200 Jr West Orange, NJ
(Seton Hall Prep)
21 Mike Grinnon F 6-6 216 Jr Oyster Bay, NY
(St. Dominic's)
22 Nik Caner-Medley F 6-8 220 So Portland, ME (Deering)
23 Mike Jones G 6-5 200 Fr Dorchester, MA
(Thayer Academy)
25 Ekene Ibekwe F 6-9 210 Fr Carson, CA (Carson)
31 Will Bowers C 6-11 230 Fr Hanover, MD
(Archbishop Spalding)
54 Hassan Fofana F 6-10 290 Fr Weston, MA (Holy Name)
Head Coach: Gary Williams
From Washington Post
Terps Win 1 Against No. 9
Smith Has 22 Points And Nine Rebounds Against Tar Heels: Maryland 90, North Carolina 84
By Barry Svrluga
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, January 15, 2004; Page D01
They tried refusing to talk about it. They tried talking about it ad nauseum. When you're shooting 58 percent from the free throw line -- as Maryland was -- you're willing to do just about anything.
Those varied approaches just might have paid off last night for the Terrapins, who made 10 of 14 free throws in the final three minutes, enough to squeeze out a 90-84 victory over ninth-ranked North Carolina before 17,950 excited and exhausted fans at Comcast Center.
Center Jamar Smith, the Terps' greatest culprit from the line, even managed to hit 4 of 8 during those crucial moments, en route to a game-high 22 points and nine rebounds. In a game marked by punches and counterpunches, Smith's stellar effort -- which included 14 points in the second half -- reduced his UNC counterpart Sean May into referring to himself as a "little baby."
Maryland point guard John Gilchrist added 20 points and held his own with UNC counterpart Raymond Felton, who scored 16 and had seven assists, but also matched Gilchrist with five turnovers. The Terrapins (10-3, 1-1 ACC) dealt with it all: a ridiculous pace, their previous inadequacies at the line, 22 turnovers forced by UNC's defense, and a group of resilient Tar Heels (10-3, 1-2).
"It's one of those things when two teams are playing well, there's going to be swings in momentum," said Maryland forward Nik Caner-Medley, who scored 17. "Our crowd was great tonight, and really helped us. This was extremely big for us to get. You need to defend your home court, and any time you can get a win against a great team -- and North Carolina is a great team that's extremely hard to stop -- you have to be happy."
Though few wins in January can be considered essential, the Terps badly needed this one, considering what's ahead. Maryland will travel Saturday to No. 12 Georgia Tech, will host second-ranked Duke on Wednesday, and will play at Clemson and at fourth-ranked Wake Forest the following week.
"Our league's that way this year," Coach Gary Williams said. "I don't think anybody's got an easy way to go."
From the opening tip, the pace was nothing short of frantic. This wasn't some sort of guarantee game against the Maryland-Eastern Shores or North Carolina Greensboros of the world. Those pushover opponents were quickly and soundly pushed to Maryland's past.
"I had goose bumps out there," Gilchrist said.
Carolina shot out to a 29-20 lead, Maryland closed to 31-28. The Tar Heels went up 40-30, Maryland clawed back to 45-44. By halftime -- by which time it was hard to catch your breath -- a classic seemed to be developing. UNC led, 49-47.
"We took a punch," Williams said. "Actually, we took a few punches."
Smith, though, showed that his early-season performance -- in which he posted eight double-doubles and led the ACC in rebounding -- wasn't a fluke. May, who outweighs Smith by more than 20 pounds, grew frustrated. He finished with 18 points and nine rebounds, but missed 12 of 19 shots.
"I knew Jamar Smith was good," May said. "He's a great player. He did what he had to do. I didn't. I played like a little baby out there."
Smith anchored a 12-0 Maryland run that featured a dunk by guard Chris McCray for Maryland's first lead since 4-3. With 14 minutes 37 seconds remaining, Smith finished the burst by scoring from the block, and the Terps were up 60-54.
When UNC battled back to 62-61, the Terps ran off seven straight. The game took on a certain Sean Connery, "Untouchables" feel: When they pull a knife, you pull a gun.
Because the Terps couldn't put the game away easily, it came down to those free throws.
"I could say a lot of things -- we had two weeks to get ready," Williams said. "I just told them we were going to make our free throws. Sometimes, that's what it takes. You've just got to stay positive."
With 3:10 left, UNC swingman Rashad McCants nailed a three-pointer, and appropriately, the score was tied at 78. That's when the Terps' parade to the line began. Smith made the second of two, then hit the first of a one-and-one. Travis Garrison hit two, McCray two. The closest the Tar Heels could get was with 3.5 seconds left, when McCants's three-pointer pulled them to 86-84. But McCants then reached over the end line defending the inbounds pass -- a technical foul -- and McCray sank both foul shots.
"It's so big for our confidence," Smith said. "Not just the free throws, but the whole game. We needed this."