Duke vs. Maryland is usually a guaranteed down-to-the-wire game. Regardless of the Terps' record, they always show up against Duke. Saturday was different.
In short, Terp guard Greivis Vasquez proceeded to talk trash before the game, saying Cameron Indoor Stadium, "is my house", and #2 Duke proceeded to treat Vasquez like a bitch. The Blue Devils crushed Maryland, 85-44, holding the Terps to just 15 first-half points. Gerald Henderson led Duke with 17 points, 8 boards, and 4 assists. Vasquez, on the other hand, had 4 points and 4 turnovers, on 2-10 shooting.
Right now, Duke's playing like the best team in the country. They'll be #1 on Monday.
Illinois has been under the radar for much of the season, but they deserve major props. #24 Illinois beat Wisconsin 64-57 Saturday at Assembly Hall behind 25 from G Demetri McCamey to improve to 17-3. The Illini look poised for a solid Big Ten season and could very win a game or two in the tournament. The Illini program has been lost in translation since Dee Brown left, and now seems to be returning to the Big Ten's top tier of teams. The Illini have gotten major contributions from guards Trent Meacham, Alex Legion, Chester Frazier and McCamey, and solid inside play from Mike Tisdale.
Here's the upside, though: The major knock on Bruce Weber and the Illinois program has been their inability to recruit. In the past few years, Weber's missed out on Derrick Rose, Jon Scheyer, and Iman Shumpert - all in-state products. And don't forget about the Eric Gordon saga. However, those criticisms will be put to rest come next season and 2010. Next year, Illinois will welcome two four-star guards, Brandon Paul and D.J. Richardson, and in 2010, they'll be joined by 5-star recruits, Crandall Head (brother of former Illini guard Luther Head) and Jereme Richmond. Barring busts and Eric Gordon-like issues, the Illini look poised for another magical run reminiscent of 2005.
#3 UCONN beat #19 Notre Dame 69-61, ending the Irish's home winning streak at 45 games. Jerome Dyson led the Huskies with 15, while the Irish got 24 and 15 from Luke Harongody. The Huskies held Notre Dame to just 33% from the field.
The real credit must go to the "glue" of the Huskies - Jeff Adrien. Adrien had 12 points and a career-high 19 rebounds. Senior forward Adrien is the leader if this Huskies team, and his intensity rubs off on al of his teammates. The lone holdover from the huskies 2005-2006 team that included 4 first-round draft picks - Rudy Gay, Hilton ARmstrong, Marcus Williams, and Josh Boone, Adrien is averaging 14 and 10. Although he's undersized for an NBA power forward, I expect him to have a solid career in The League. His basketball IQ is through the roof after playing under Calhoun for 4 years, and his toughness is unquestioned and rarely matched. While his 7-3 teammate Hasheem Thabeet will be a lottery pick, Adrien is more NBA ready and will have a more immediate impact given the right situation.
Watch this....Chase Budinger has his face stepped on. lol.
Wow. LMAO at the niggas laughing and shaking it up afterwards.
Scores From Around The Nation...1/24/09
Maryland 44, #2 Duke 85
#3 UCONN 69, #19 Notre Dame 61
#23 Baylor 76, #5 Oklahoma 95
DePaul 70, #10 Marquette 79
#11 UCLA 75, Washington 85
#13 Xavier 10, LSU 70
Texas A&M 58, #15 Texas 67
UW-Mil. 48, #17 Butler 78....damn.
#21 Villanova 70, South Florida 61
#24 Memphis 54, Tennessee 52
Wisconsin 57, #24 Illinois 64
Via: ESPN
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