Greivis Vasquez: CollegeHoops.net Player of the Week

CollegeHoops.net Player of the Week: Greivis Vasquez, Maryland

One of the most jam-packed weeks of the season is always the week leading up to, and including, Bracket Busters weekend. With many of the top mid-majors in the country battling against one another, plus several big-time conference clashes and bubble battles, there were plenty of great games – and great individual performances. Northern Iowa’s Ali Farokhmanesh was a star of Bracket Busters, scoring 23 against Old Dominion after scoring 17 against Creighton earlier in the week, while VCU’s Larry Sanders was no slouch, averaging 22.0 points and 11.0 rebounds in two wins. One of the biggest team weeks belonged to Duquesne, which was led by Damian Saunders’ 15.5 points in wins over Charlotte and Dayton. Don’t forget James Anderson, who averaged 25.5 points and 10.0 rebounds in wins over Iowa State and Baylor, or Kansas State’s Denis Clemente, who put up 24.0 points and 4.5 assists in a couple of victories. Andy Rautins of Syracuse went for 26 points and seven rebounds in a win at Georgetown, while BYU’s Jimmer Fredette continued his great season by averaging 29.0 points in two road wins. Louisville’s Samardo Samuels averaged 25.0 points in a couple of must-wins, and Connecticut’s Kemba Walker averaged 22.5 points and 6.5 rebounds. Also, don’t leave out any of Kentucky’s big three of John Wall, Patrick Patterson and DeMarcus Cousins, who led the Wildcats to wins at Mississippi State and Vanderbilt.

However, it’s difficult to argue with the three-game week that Maryland’s Greivis Vasquez had. Because of the snowstorm last week, the Terrapins had to reschedule its game against Virginia for Monday. Vasquez kicked things off that game with 30 points, eight rebounds and five assists. In the second game of the week, Vasquez dropped 26 points, four rebounds and six assists in a comeback win at North Carolina State. Not to be outdone in his final performance of the week, Vasquez finished with 18 points, five rebounds and eight assists in a buzzer win over Georgia Tech. In the latter game, he had a half-court three at the buzzer negated because of a timeout called by Maryland assistant Keith Booth. Overall for the week, Vasquez averaged 24.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 6.3 assists, shooting 50 percent from the field and 16-for-18 from the free-throw line.

Vasquez has been a huge key in Maryland’s turnaround in ACC play. The Terrapins have won nine of their last 11 to stay in the conference race, sitting 1.5 games behind Duke after this weekend. Vasquez got off to a slow start in the early part of the season, scoring in single-digits in the first four games of the season, but he has been a statistical monster ever since. On the season, the 6-6 senior guard is averaging 18.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 6.2 assists.

Previous CHN Player of the Week:

Feb 16: Jerome Randle - California

Feb 9: Donald Sloan - Texas A&M

Feb 2: Devan Downey - South Carolina

Jan 26: Jerome Dyson - UCONN

Jan 19: Scottie Reynolds - Villanova

Jan 12: Scotty Hopson - Tennessee

Jan 5: Ashton Gibbs - Pittsburgh

Dec 29: Mike Gerrity / Devin Ebanks

Dec 22: Dexter Pittman - Texas

Dec 14: Jacob Pullen - Kansas St

Dec 7: Trevon Hughes - Wisconsin