Here is some pregame material for tonight's game between IU and Maryland on ESPN2.
Beat writer Zina Kumok previewed tonight's game in today's IDS, which includes Maryland native Maurice Creek's memories supporting the Terrapins as a child.
Beat writer DeAntae Prince wrote about the challenges 6-foot-6 point guard Greivis Vasquez will present junior Jeremiah Rivers and the rest of the team.
Lastly, I wrote about the significance of a rowdy crowd tonight at Assembly Hall.
Here are some random tidbits I've picked up, followed by the projected starting lineups below the jump:
- Maryland defeated IU 64-52 on April 1, 2002 for the NCAA Championship, but IU got some revenge by beating the Terrapins in overtime, 80-74, that December in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. The No. 10 Hoosiers were able to slip past the No. 9 Terps behind a 30-point performance from Tom Coverdale.
- The Maryland coaching staff includes assistants Keith Booth (former mid-1990s Maryland star and eventual 1st round NBA draft selection) and Chuck Driesell (son of legendary Maryland coach Lefty Driesell).
- Greivis Vasquez is currently projected as a 2nd round pick for this June's NBA draf, according to NBADraft.net. Vasquez, a Venezuela native, led the ACC in assists as a sophomore and is a two-time all-ACC selection. He was a Top 50 recruit in 2006 and played high school ball with Kevin Durant. A year ago, he became the first player in school history to lead the team in points, rebounds and assists.
- Senior Eric Hayes, a 39 percent 3-point shooter in his first three years, is currently shooting just above 48 percent from behind the arc.
- Freshman Jordan Williams was the Gatorade Player of the Year in the state of Connecticut last year.
- Sophomore Jin Soo Choi was the first ever Korean to accept a DI basketball scholarship
Projected Starters:
Maryland
G - Greivis Vasquez Sr. 6'6", 200 lbs. 11.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 5.3 apg
G - Eric Hayes Sr. 6'4", 180 lbs. 11.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.7 apg,
G - Sean Mosley So. 6'4", 210 lbs. 13.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3.8 apg
F - Landon Milbourne Sr. 6'7", 205 lbs. 13.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 0.3 apg
F - Jordan Williams Fr. 6'10", 260 lbs. 7.2 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 0.0 apg
Indiana
G - Jeremiah Rivers Jr. 6'5", 214 lbs. 8.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 4.8 apg
G - Maurice Creek Fr. 6'5", 200 lbs. 16.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.8 apg
G - Verdell Jones So. 6'5", 183 lbs. 12.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 3.2 apg
F - Christian Watford Fr. 6'9", 220 lbs. 12.0 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 0.7 apg
F - Tom Pritchard So. 6'9", 248 lbs. 5.2 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 0.7 apg
