State of North Carolina

This team has a decent chance at missing the NIT after being ranked #4 in the nation to start the year. I am surprised that more isn't being made of the job that Roy Williams is turning in this year. He was practically asleep on the sideline last Sunday as the Terps were putting a 21-point beatdown on the Heels. Speaking of 21-point (or more) ACC victories, there have been four thus far in the ACC; the Terps have three (NC State, Miami, and UNC; the fourth could have easily been at BC which ended up as a sixteen-point victory).

The only other is GT over Wake by 21 at GT.

The Heels don't play defense. Maryland hasn't played an ACC team that gave more open looks from distance in a long time.

Here is a breakdown of UNC's recent recruiting classes:

2008:
Zeller (ranked #7 in the nation)
Davis (#11)
Drew (#29)

2009:
Henson (#6)
Strickland (#27)
McDonald (#32)
Wear (#36)
Wear (#37)

This is next year's class thus far:
Barnes (#1)
Bullock (#16)
Marshall (#22)

McAdoo is already committed for 2011 (ranked #3); Hairston is #16.

For the Terps over the same timeframe:

2007: DuPree #65
2008: Mosley #40
2009: Nobody (I am not sure how Jordan Williams didn't make the top 100 list)
2010: Parker (SG, #40) and Stoglin (PG, #98)

If you think this is insignificant, check out the 2007 rankings. The top 50 is a very impressive list; the next 50 is not (yes, that includes Braxton DuPree).

1 - 5: Love, Gordon, Mayo, Singler, and Rose. Four lottery picks and a future first-rounder.

6 - 10: Nolan Smith, Austin Freeman, Beasley, Patterson, and Calathes. Still not sure how top in-state talent like Freeman and Beasley don't give College Park consideration. Patterson is projected at #9 in June.

11 - 15: Corey Fisher, Koufos, Aldrich, Hickson, and Stokes. Hickson is playing well in Cleveland. I still remember his drop-step dunk in a half-court set at MD three years ago; the type of dunk that you had to watch five times with TiVo right after it happened.

16 - 20: King, Greene, Blake Griffin, Lucas, and Moore. #1 pick in the draft at #18 overall. Moore has had a very solid career in West Lafayette. Taylor King couldn't cut it in Durham.

21 - 25: Harden, Lawal, Flynn, Anderson, and Jordan. Harden and Flynn were lottery picks. Jordan is playing on the Clips. Lawal and Anderson are projected in the mid first round in June.

26 - 30: Wright, Daye, Legion, Randolph, and Blair. Blair is starting for the Spurs; absolute steal in round 2 last year. Randolph will put up huge numbers once he escapes from Don Nelson.

31 - 35: Johnson, Pope, Alabi, Tucker, and Hillman. Nothing impressive other than Alabi.

36 - 40: Lucas, Robinson, Harris, Bayless, and Diebler. Bayless was the fourth pick in the draft two years ago. Kalin Lucas was Big Ten POY last year. Harris is a future first-rounder.

49: Evan Turner; projected at #2 in June.

Duke on Saturday. Keep this in mind; they lost by 14 at NC State. They only won by 3 at BC.

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MD - FSU Comments

RPI: 52 (before the game)
NCAA Tournament Odds: 70% (unchanged from last update)
Vasquez in an NBA Uniform Next Year Odds (entire year): 30% (down 5% due to being locked up by someone named Tanner Smith)

Very nice win.

Gregory had the biggest play of the game in taking the charge at the end. The ref made a tough call in that situation; but, on replay, he clearly had it right. I thought the charge that Gregory took earlier in the game was a block.

Most bizarre stat I heard all night: Gregory (87% from the line). He is now 22 for 25 on the season. Just have him go in there and head fake. Damn. Clutch throws at the end. In case you are wondering, he was 54% from the line last year.

Vasquez had a very solid overall game with 23, 7, 7. He cut his turnovers down to 5 (from 9 at Clemson). One shimmy is one too many.

MD out-rebounded FSU and also had more blocks. Very impressive given the size differential.

GW made an excellent call at the end going for the foul instead of allowing a three-pointer. Nice to see him play the percentages. Also nice to see that Chris Singleton forgot you had to draw iron.

Jordan Williams has arrived. No more comments on his vertical. Four dunks. He is now playing like he cares about the outcome of the game.

Milbourne has been clutch all year. He is the best mid-range shooter MD has had since Juan Dixon. He routinely knocks down 17-footers with hands in his face. Lately, he has shown a surprising ability to block shots at the rim. Impressive all around. NBA draft net has him at #51; Vasquez is projected at #44. 17 of the 30 second-rounders in last year's draft are currently in an NBA uniform.

Hayes is in his fourth year learning how to dribble with his left hand. Shaky. Still needs to shoot more.

Bowie will have visions of being posterized by Singleton for a long time. I am still going on record that MD is a better team when he is in the starting line-up getting 25 minutes per game. He is ineffective getting 10 to 15 minutes per game knowing there is a quick hook.

I forgot to mention the departure of Kim / Choi from College Park. We hardly knew ye. Although, thanks to being reminded 82 times during broadcasts, I am fairly confident that he was the first Korean player ever to play D1 basketball.

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