Greivis Vasquez: CollegeHoops.net Player of the Week (Again)

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

The number of impressive performances has been increasing over the past few weeks, as players from around the country try to put up superhuman efforts in an attempt to lead their teams to important victories as the season winds down. Bubble teams need bids, teams that are locks want to improve their seeding, and mid-majors jockey for league titles. In each case, there were a multitude of standout games. It’s tough to start without mentioning Syracuse’s Rick Jackson averaging 23.5 points and 8.5 boards in two wins or Marquette’s Lazar Hayward getting 22.5 points and 7.5 rebounds in back-to-back overtime road wins. There was also Notre Dame’s Tim Abromaitis going for 18.0 points in wins over Pittsburgh and Georgetown and Mississippi State’s Jarvis Varnado averaging 18.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 4.5 blocks and setting the NCAA record for blocked shots. Non-BCS guys also did fantastic this week, with New Mexico’s Darington Hobson going for 17.5 points and 12.0 rebounds in two road wins; Xavier’s Jordan Crawford averaging 22.5 points in wins over Saint Louis and Richmond; Marshall’s Hassan Whiteside putting up 16.5 points, 14.0 rebounds and 8.5 rebounds in a couple of victories; and Omar Samhan of Saint Mary’s averaging 26.5 points and 9.0 rebounds. Statistically, you can’t really argue with Lipscomb’s Adnan Hodzic averaging 30.5 points and 18.5 rebounds in a couple of wins or Fairfield’s Anthony Johnson averaging 26.0 points and 17.5 boards.

However, when it came down to it, we went with a first in Player of the Week history: a player winning the honor two weeks in a row. It was simply too tough to pass up on Maryland’s Greivis Vasquez again. He started off the week with 15 points and 13 assists in an impressive win over Clemson at home, but then really solidified the honor with his performance on Saturday. Against Virginia Tech, Vasquez poured in 41 points and also contributed seven rebounds and six assists. More importantly, he led the Terrapins to a double-overtime win over the Hokies on the road. For the week, he averaged 28.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 9.5 assists and 2.5 steals. Vasquez was also perfect from the free-throw line.

Maryland has won five in a row and 11 of its last 12, and much of that has to do with the outstanding play of Vasquez. The 6-6 senior guard is averaging 19.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 6.4 assists and has made himself one of the leading candidates for ACC Player of the Year. The Terrapins are still in the hunt for the ACC title, but Vasquez will have to continue his stellar play if Maryland is going to knock off Duke on Wedneday.
 

Previous CHN Player of the Week:

Feb 23: Greivis Vasquez - Maryland

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