Terrapins Make Final Preparations For 2006-07 Season
10/28/2006 8:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Oct. 28, 2006
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland men's basketball team held its final public scrimmage in front of a spirited crowd on Saturday (October 28) at Comcast Center. The red and black squads interchanged players at halftime of the 40-minute scrimmage. The two teams combined for 161 points and shot 45 percent from the field. The scrimmage marked Maryland's final open practice session prior to their exhibition game on November 1 against California (Pa.).
Mike Jones turned in perhaps his strongest performance during the first two weeks of practice. The senior sharpshooter knocked down a three-point shot with 15 seconds left in the second half to give the red team a one-point win. Midway through the first half he thrilled the crowd when he knocked down a three-point shot and turned a steal into a breakaway dunk on back-to-back possessions.
Senior D.J. Strawberry led the Terps with 30 points and also recorded five assists. Ekene Ibekwe opened the game by blocking Gini Chukura's layup attempt on the scrimmage's opening possession. Ibekwe finished with 13 points, 13 rebounds, and three blocked shots. Freshman Greivis Vasquez finished with 11 assists, while Eric Hayes scored eight points and dished out five assists.
Junior James Gist tallied 12 points, six rebounds, and posted a team-high four blocked shots in the scrimmage. The Terps went 10-of-28 from three-point range and recorded 24 assists on 48 field goals.
The Terps open the regular season on November 7 when they take on Hampton in the opening round of the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic.
Head Coach Gary Williams
Assessing the team's performance ...
"After two weeks we are where we want to be. The intensity is there from out guys. We need to get a little bit sharper but that will come with time. We picked it up defensively in the second half, which was a good sign. We took a few charges which showed we're helping each other on that end of the floor."
On the team's post play ...
"Will Bowers is in the best shape of his career and has been really aggressive out on the floor. Bambale Osby gives us 250 pounds of muscle who can play inside. I really thought Ekene (Ibekwe) played well for us out there today. James has that special ability for a guy on the front line. As a junior we're looking for him to give us that same performance on a consistent basis. When you have four inside players who can all play, you don't worry about foul trouble and it allows you to do more things defensively."
Senior Mike Jones
On his three-point shot at the end of the scrimmage ...
"I told Greivis that we were going to come up with the steal on our press, and it turned out that we did. I wasn't expecting to be the one to get the shot off, but fortunately I was able to do that and it went in."
On playing with freshmen in the backcourt ...
"We're working with them and helping them learn the plays. It's a matter of getting them to understand that it's an up and down game which is really different from high school. We're doing anything we can to help them feel more comfortable on and off the court."
