You can hardly blame the sports media for overhyping, at every single possible occasion, the importance of public smack-talk by teams before they play an important game. Not only does it make the media’s job of filling inches and radio time that much easier, but it also lets the media feel like they’re part of the game now, even when they aren’t. Whatever “bulletin board material” comes from the pre-game interviews probably has about zero effect on the game itself.
(Not the team you want to talk trash about)
That said, if you’re going to question a team’s credentials, don’t do it if they’re eight seeds better than your team, and really don’t do it to the point where you suggest their team’s no better than yours. Coaches (and 99% of America) know this, and that’s why their players are coached to be boring, generic talking point robots; let’s keep the embarrassment on the court, etc. etc. But then there’s Maryland’s Greivis Vasquez, whose only problem has ever been, um, “caring too much.” Someone asked him a loaded question about Memphis’ strength of schedule, and the star Terrapin answered with the kind of honesty that makes coaches want to quit.
(Terrorist fist jab: THE SPORTING BLOG):
Asked about Memphis, Vasquez said during a question-and-answer session: “Their conference is pretty much questionable. They don’t have tough games. But I still believe they’re good.”
He later qualified his remarks, saying, “I didn’t mean to disrespect their conference. We have tough games night in, night out” in the Atlantic Coast Conference. “Every game we play in the ACC is tough.”
Well, that seems pretty reasonable for the most part, I don’t see wh…
But about 20 minutes later, Vasquez — interviewed this time in the Maryland locker room — was back on the subject.
“They’d have a losing record in the league — probably win all of their games outside the league, losing record in the league,” he said. “The ACC is too tough. You can’t just win games night in and night out because you’re so athletic.”
Just for a little bit of context, Maryland went 7-9 in the ACC, the best losing record possible on a 16-game schedule. So Memphis couldn’t do any better in the league than Maryland? Well, that’s funny, because the Tigers just got done kicking the living hell out of the Terps, 89-70.
To his credit, Vasquez led the Terps with 18 points on 8-16 shooting, plus contributed 5 of his team’s 9 assists. But most of that production came in a second half where Memphis coasted; the game was over by halftime, as Memphis shot 70% in the first half and held a 55-35 lead. Ballgame.
Now, it’s probably onto the NBA for Vasquez, who has been compared to Manu Ginobili (probably for being South American and annoying). We’re sure that once there and receiving giant paychecks for the first time in his life, he’ll calm right down and maintain … pffffffhahahahaha, never mind, this will end badly.
6:19 am on March 22nd, 2009
As a Maryland I find Greivis grievous. He's a cocky punk. But in this case he's absolutely spot on. Maryland has been in a bit of a slump these past few years. But this year they played UNC twice, Duke three times, Wake three times, FSU twice, as well as losses to Gonzaga and Georgetown. But they did play beat UNC, (thanks to an epic game by Vasquez) Wake, Michigan State and Michigan this year. Only played a handful of quality teams and lost to three of them. Their three best wins were all out of conference: Gonzaga, Tennessee and … Maryland! So yeah, their schedule is a joke and they'd struggle in the ACC. Just because it's Vasquez that said it doesn't make it any less true. The best player on the floor? The "annoying" Vasquez.
Memphis shot 70 percent from the field in the first half. Seventy. Including 8-11 from the 3-pt line. Any team that shoots like that is going to win from the field is going to win. Duh. Plus, Memphis is one of the worst FT shooting teams in the history of the world, yet they managed to hit 17-22. Maryland caught them on a bad night. This is simple stuff, really. Just take 10 seconds to look at the box score like I did.
Seriously, this is the best storyline you could find in March Madness?
6:19 am on March 22nd, 2009
As a Maryland I find Greivis grievous. He’s a cocky punk. But in this case he’s absolutely spot on. Maryland has been in a bit of a slump these past few years. But this year they played UNC twice, Duke three times, Wake three times, FSU twice, as well as losses to Gonzaga and Georgetown. But they did play beat UNC, (thanks to an epic game by Vasquez) Wake, Michigan State and Michigan this year. Only played a handful of quality teams and lost to three of them. Their three best wins were all out of conference: Gonzaga, Tennessee and … Maryland! So yeah, their schedule is a joke and they’d struggle in the ACC. Just because it’s Vasquez that said it doesn’t make it any less true. The best player on the floor? The “annoying” Vasquez.Memphis shot 70 percent from the field in the first half. Seventy. Including
8-11 from the 3-pt line. Any team that shoots like that is going to win
from the field is going to win. Duh. Plus, Memphis is one of the worst FT shooting teams in the history of the world, yet they managed to hit 17-22. Maryland caught them on a bad
night. This is simple stuff, really. Just take 10 seconds to look at the box score like I did. Seriously, this is the best storyline you could find in March Madness?
6:27 am on March 22nd, 2009
Let's take 10 seconds to look at the box score. Not only did Memphis shoot 70 percent from the field in the first half, they also hit 8-11 from the 3-pt line. One of the worst FT shooting teams in the history of the world hit 17-22 for the game. That's called a fluke. Maryland caught them on a bad night. The best player on the floor? That would be Vasquez.
Let's take an additional 10 seconds to look at the teams' records. Maryland beat UNC (thanks to an epic triple-double from Vasquez), Michigan State, Wake and Michigan. Memphis posted it's toughest wins against Gonzaga, Tennesee and, um, Maryland. MD played UNC twice, Duke three times, Wake three times, FSU twice, Gonzaga and Georgetown. Memphis played Gonzaga (L), Xavier (L), Georgetown (L), Tennessee and … Maryland.
Vasquez is a punk but he's spot on. Really, you couldn't spend 30 seconds looking this up? This is the best storyline you can find in March Madness?
7:31 am on March 22nd, 2009
Only a fan of an ACC team would say an opponent shooting 70% against them was Maryland catching them on a bad night-I watched the game and I repeatedly saw easy drives to the basket and wide open 3's. There was no fluke about Maryland's defense, it was rec league embarrassing. Memphis scored more points this season against only four other teams-Fairfield, Lamar, Marist, and SMU. Face it, mediocre Maryland along with most of the ACC is a fraud.
8:23 am on March 22nd, 2009
Jefe has too much time on his hands.
12:16 pm on March 22nd, 2009
Sorry, the browser kept giving me an error, then I saw that all my various revisions had been posted. I do apologize.
1:42 pm on March 22nd, 2009
Why does this make news? Because Maryland basketball is only known for tragedy (sorry, but it's true). If Memphis didn't call the dogs off at the 12 minute mark of the 2nd half … Vasquez wouldn't finishe with 10 points and 3 assists staring at a 40 point loss.
Worst part? Memphis would beat them like that 99 out of 100 times.
What would Maryland's record be in the Big East?? Hmmmmm…. 3-13 in conference?
1:42 pm on March 22nd, 2009
Why does this make news? Because Maryland basketball is only known for tragedy (sorry, but it's true). If Memphis didn't call the dogs off at the 12 minute mark of the 2nd half … Vasquez wouldn't finishe with 10 points and 3 assists staring at a 40 point loss. Worst part? Memphis would beat them like that 99 out of 100 times. What would Maryland's record be in the Big East?? Hmmmmm…. 3-13 in conference?
7:52 pm on March 22nd, 2009
I am tired of hearing about Memphis not being that good… does everyone forget that we played for the national championship last year? Memphis would still kick butt if they were at another conference. But like Coach Cal said… they loose a game and they are fine.. we loose a game and we are crucified thats why we need to win every game, we have no option. This Vasquez kid needs to watch what his says… as a south american I believe he is nothing else but an embarrassment… talking trash about other team only shows horrible sportmanship, he is a decent player but nothing awesome… yeah he will be a mediocre NBA player and thats about it…I believe all the players from Maryland talked trash except one. I was glad to see get their asses whooped by Memphis, and see them learn their lesson. If we dont make it to the championship this year we will next year. We have only proven that we are getting better and better, and next year with our new recruits we are going to have an aweosome team. It only a matter of time before people have to eat their words…Just watch and see