Maryland Has Fun Against Wake Forest

ATLANTA—Greivis Vasquez didn't have another triple-double against Wake Forest in the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament, but he did have fun.

After a made basket in the first half that capped a momentum building run for the Terrapins, Vasquez turned to the crowd and said, "I'm having fun."

He certainly looked like he was enjoying himself, putting up big numbers on the No. 9 Demon Deacons and leading Maryland to a 75-64 win. He may not have had a triple-double, but he came close with 22 points, 8 rebounds, and 9 assists.

The fun had by the Terrapins' star was contagious. Even Gary Williams was cracking jokes in the post-game press conference (one was even moderately funny).

Jokes aside, there wasn't a team that came into the ACC tournament with more at stake than the Terrapins.

Despite big wins against Michigan State and North Carolina, Maryland entered the ACC tournament needing not just one, but two wins to secure a bid in the NCAA tournament. That's why Gary Williams had shirts made for his players that simply read, "Win Two".

The Terrapin players took the message to heart, winning twice thus far.

Wake Forest edged out Maryland a little over a week ago in a two-point contest. They out-rebounded the Terrapins 50-32 in that meeting. Tonight, Wake Forest's size advantage didn't matter.

Maryland was playing like an angry animal backed in a corner. They were aggressive on offense, and relentless on the boards. Every time Wake Forest sent a player to the glass for a rebound, Maryland sent three. When Wake Forest reached for the ball, Maryland dove.

"I wanted to come in there and do what I could on rebounds," said Maryland's Landon Milbourne. He turned in his first double-digit rebounding performance of the season with 11 rebounds—mission accomplished.

The Terrapins were having fun. Wake, on the other hand, was not.

They played abysmally in a game that will likely result in a seeding drop in the NCAA Tournament.

The Demon Deacons came into the tournament having won four straight to close out the season. They looked like the hot Wake Forest team that seemed like the cream of the ACC crop in early January.

The team that took the floor tonight had the look of a team that hadn't won a game all season. They didn't play hungry, they didn't play with poise, and they certainly didn't play well.

The Deacons shot under 30 percent from the field. They only shot 12 percent from behind the arc on a horrendous 3-25 shooting performance from downtown.

According to Gary Williams, that was all part of the plan.

"They're a great driving team," said Williams. "We really tried to stay in tight and get a hand on the shooter. We gambled a little, hoping that they wouldn't have a hot day from the 3-point line."

That gamble paid off.

For Maryland, it means that a place in the NCAA tournament is not a roll of the dice.

Bet on Maryland in the field of 65, they're in.