Some observations compiled during the Terrapin men’s basketball team’s 73-49 win against Youngstown State…
-Same starting lineup as the Bucknell game for the Terps. Eric Hayes, Greivis Vasquez, Cliff Tucker, Landon Milbourne and Braxton Dupree. It looks like this is what the Terps will be going with for awhile.
-After the teams met at center court for the opening tip, the players were called back and started shooting around again. The public address announcer apologized for the temporary delay while “We work through the electrical connections for the scoreboard.” The scoreboard behind the baseline above the student wall wasn’t working. They couldn’t get it on, and after three false starts, they tipped off at 8:08.
-Tucker missed two layups, Milbourne missed a short putback, Dupree got a shot blocked and Vasquez threw a stupid one-handed pass that got intercepted — all in the first three minutes. The Terps missed their first six shots.
-Milbourne is playing well. He’s showing a more complete offensive game than he’s had in the past, hitting the mid-range jumper and still slashing to the basket. He also took a charge on defense.
-Everybody still loves Jin Soo Kim. The freshman forward knocked down a three, then responded to huge cheers by pumping his fist (in the first half of a game against Youngstown State, mind you) and momentarily forgetting to get into position for the Terps’ full court press.
-Vasquez finally started showing flashes of his ability late in the first half. He was quick off the dribble, grabbed a couple of steals, and started making smarter passes. Maybe he’s starting to remember that he’s not good enough to simply show up and be the best player on the court. But if he puts some effort into it, he clearly is.
-You know the Terps are starting to play well when they get baskets in transition. They’re sprinting up and down the court late in the first half getting easy layups. The penguins are having trouble keeping up.
-The Terps are still getting very little production from any of their big men. Dupree, Jerome Burney and Dino Gregory have been virtually non-factors in each of the first two games. The Terps can play a transition and guard-oriented game against these early-season cupcakes, but you have to wonder how they will hold up against bigger teams that just pound away at them.
-This game is dragging in the second half. Too many fouls, not enough good plays.
-Penguin head coach Jerry Slocum is sitting on the bench with his legs folded with eight minutes left in the game and his team down 28. I guess he’s thrown in the towel.
-The “fan cam” panned the student section during the eight-minute media timeout. The student on the screen who looked most excited to be here was the girl putting on her coat to go leave.
-Another lopsided win for the Terps, but far from a perfect effort. 2-0.