SPOKANE, Wash.- It’s possible Greivis Vasquez could play his last game as a Terp on Friday. If not Friday, then it could be Sunday…or the next Friday. No matter what it’s going to be sometime in the next three weeks.
So it seems a worthwhile exercise to quickly track where Vasquez, who has gained notoriety for being the first ACC player to record more than 2,000 points, 700 assists and 600 rebounds, ranks in some categories on the all-time Terp list–and where he could be realistically headed.
Points: Vasquez has been on the climb on this list throughout the season. And with 20 points down the stretch, he can catch Len Bias for No. 2 behind Juan Dixon. At times this season, it seemed somewhat possible for him to catch Dixon. Now, he sits 140 points back with max six games left. Dixon created that distance with a National Championship run in his senior season, but it’s pretty clear that Vasquez is going to have to settle for second here. That early exit in the ACC Tournament cemented that, and he’s going to need a big game against Houston and/or at least one win to make sure he can pass Bias.
Assists: Greivis has a court sense that has rarely been matched in Terp history. But once again, he’s going to have to settle for second-best. Vasquez is more than 100 assists ahead of Keith Gatlin to put a strong hold on the second spot on the Terp all-time assist list. But he’s also more than 200 assists behind Steve Blake. The current L.A. Clipper averaged seven assists per game during his Terp career. Even during his best season (his sophomore campaign), Vasquez averaged just 6.7 assists per game.
Rebounds: That Vasquez even warrants mention on this list is a testament to his consistency and his full impact on the games. With his next rebound, he’ll pass Herman Veal for 22nd all-time with 637 career rebounds. He’s also 15 rebounds short of catching Rod Horst for 21st all-time. That’s reasonable if the Terps at least make their first Sweet 16 appearance of Vasquez’s career. He likely won’t finish in the top 20 on the all-time, but given his body of work, that’s probably okay.
Steals: Vasquez currently sits eighth on the Terp list with 187 career steals. But if things break right, he could get up as high as sixth. With just six more steals, he can pass assistant coach Keith Booth on the list. He’s clearly a step below the Terps’ all-time steal artists, but Vasquez will be remembered as someone who could play the passing lanes with the best of them.
Field Goals Attempted: Vasquez came, he played a lot and he shot. That will be part of his legacy. The Venezuelan has taken the most shots and the most three-point shots of anyone in Terp history. It doesn’t say much for his percentages that with each game he’s leaving Dixon and Bias further in his dust on this list, but many would argue that if he didn’t take them, who else would have these last four years?
Vasquez probably isn’t ready to think about where he stands on any of these lists. But whether he plays one or six more games, Vasquez’s statistical place in Terp history is already assured.
Now, he’s just got to lead his team past the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time. That journey starts–and Vasquez hopes doesn’t end–Friday.
Eric Detweiler is The Diamondback’s Terrapin Men’s Basketball Team beat writer. He can be reached at edetweilerdbk@gmail.com. You can follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/edetweiler.