Despite trailing Michigan State by 8-16 points all afternoon, somehow the Terps were able to scratch and claw their way back in the final minutes in Spokane Sunday afternoon.
The Spartans held them at arms’ length for about 38 minutes, but the pressure of Gary Williams’ squad finally got to Tom Izzo’s team, who turned it over again and again down the stretch. When Greivis Vasquez hit a runner in the lane with under 6 seconds to go, it looked like Sweet 16 time for Maryland.
Enter Korie Lucious.
A name that will be as bile-inducing for Maryland faithful for years to come as Christian Laettner is to Kentucky fans, Lucious had the final say in this one.
Like most of you probably are, I’m just now starting to get out of that Lucious-induced haze two hours later. I had one friend text me that he hadn’t uttered a word or moved a muscle in nearly an hour after the green dagger had fallen.
It just doesn’t seem fair. This Terrapins’ team, who had given us so many great moments this year, had delivered with another one. Vasquez, in what looked like it would be his final game as the clock wound under five minutes, refused to let his NCAA career come to an end just yet, and had willed his team to yet another victory as he had so many times in his four seasons in College Park.
But then…
Korie. Lucious.
As Glenn Clark reminds us, this is why we college basketball fans love March.
It just really hurts to be on this end of it.
Especially if, like me, you watched the game with a Michigan native.
If only Mr. Lucious had been the choker today.
Filed in: College BBall, Terps.
Tags: Gary Williams, Greivis Vasquez, Korie Lucious, March Madness, Maryland Terrapins, Michigan State Spartans, NCAA Tournament, Tom Izzo
[...] State an 85-83 victory over Maryland on Sunday in the second round of the NCAA tournament. AfterKorie Lucious – Korie Lucious hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to cap a frenetic finish and give injury-depleted [...]
[...] State with 26 points while Raymar Morgan added 17 of his own. Despite a turnover margin of -12, MiKorie Lucious – Korie Lucious hit a last second three-pointer to put the Spartans ahead. Durrell Summers led [...]
You should also remember the names Adrian Bowie and Landon Milbourne. Those were the two players who were at the top of the key near Lucious and pretty much just watched him shoot. Bowie didn’t even bother to put his hands up. Say what you want about Vasquez and the comeback, however amazing it was, but to me, the main storyline was Maryland’s utter failure at defense, particularly in transition. And of course, Mr. Summers didn’t help the situation either. Anyway, I said my piece, good article.
Good piece. I recently set up my own website talking Baltimore sports. Feel free to sign the Greivis page. http://bmorefan.com/thank-you-greivis/
Thanks, Matt.
Can’t argue with your points. I also want to know why Eric Hayes wasn’t in for that last possession. He’s a better defender than tucker or Bowie.
Just…ugh.
All during those last few minutes, I kept thinking about what would happen if we got close enough to win. You only steal one game a year (Ga. Tech), so maybe things will even up, and Michigan State will pull off a last second shot. Sure enough, it happened.
Can everyone stop talking about the defense on the last shot. Yeah, it wasn’t great- but Michigan State got away with a moving screen to free up Lucsious. Milbourne got bumped trying to get a hand up. It wasn’t atrocious- but it definitely effected the outcome.
Regardless, to belittle the comeback effort becaus eone guy hit the shot of a lifetime is sad. I’m just sad for Grievis. This would have been a defining moment for him and he’d be the talk of all of basketball this week if Lucsious doesn’t make that shot. What Vasquez did was incredible, it’ll all be forgotten now, except by Terps fans.
Why didn’t the Terps press with 6 seconds left? The Sparts were having trouble even getting the ball in at the five second limit…Monday morning defense…:-)
In that situation you go to a soft 2-3 zone because up by one with 6 seconds you expect a drive and kick, drive and pull-up, or a drive to the hoop to draw a foul. You don’t expect a screen set to free up a 3-pt attempt. That’s a very difficult shot to defend in that situation. If you want to blame the defense then blame the horrendous marking of Summers during that stretch of full court pressure. It was awful.
KEITH SMART is still a dagger to the heart after all these years. A final hurts much more. 2 sons graduated from Maryland so this hurts 1/4 as much.
Getting killed at the buzzer is never fun dude.
http://bmorefan.com/2010/03/30/buzzkill/
2011…
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