“I’m going to go with that we’re going to win the ACC regular-season title and the league tournament,” Vasquez said. “The league is so open and I have a good feeling about it.”

- Greivis Vasquez on the Terps’ 2009-2010 ACC chances in this Jeff Goodman story on FoxSports.com today

So yeah, the statement falls short of a guarantee. But pardon me for getting excited whenever I hear or read something like this from the “vivacious Venezuelan.” Plus, it’s the middle of summer. We need something like this to at least hold us over until October.

Goodman’s story goes on to detail how the Terps — with a solid cast of returning veterans — should be an improved squad this season.

Every now and then, you’ll see them pop up in some pundits’ preseason top 25 rankings or as an offseason “winner” for keeping Vasquez. ESPN’s Andy Katz put the Terps at No. 17 in his preseason poll.

This could be the most heavily anticpated basketball season since 2004-2005, when the reigning ACC Tournament Champions, led by John Gilchrist and Nik Caner-Medley, fell flat on their faces on the way to the NIT.

And while most won’t give the Terps a legitimate shot at the ACC title, even if Vasquez thinks it’s possible, I see no problem with adding a little fuel to the fire in July.

Aaron Kraut is The Diamondback’s sports editor. He can be reached at akrautdbk@gmail.com.

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