Smokin' Terps visit Tobacco Road

Source from:  delmarvanow.com Shawn Nisson Special To The Times  02/14/2008

Maryland rides 4-game conference winning streak into Durham, N.C. Maryland will travel to Tobacco Road tonight, putting its four-game winning streak on the line, as they face off with rival Duke. The Terrapins (16-8, 6-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) might be playing the best basketball they have played all season, for they have tallied four straight ACC victories (Virginia, Georgia Tech, Boston College and most recently North Carolina State). On Monday, sophomore Greivis Vasquez was named ESPN's player of the week after averaging 19 points, 7.5 rebounds and 11.5 assists in two games. Against BC, he scored a game-high 25 points; against N.C. State, he tied a school record with 15 assists. Senior James Gist also garnered recognition for his play last week, earning Sporting News' national player of the week. He averaged 26.5 points and eight rebounds in the two contests, including a career-high 30 points against the Wolfpack. Maryland will need Gist and Vasquez to continue their high level of play if they hope to avenge the team's last lost, which came against the Blue Devils, on Jan. 27. That game saw Duke overcome a nine-point halftime deficit, outscoring Maryland 51-33 in the final 20 minutes. The Blue Devils (21-1, 9-0 ACC) have outscored their opponents by a combined 106 points in the second half. Duke is lead by senior DeMarcus Nelson, who is averaging 15.5 points and 5.9 rebounds. Freshman Forward Kyle Singler is averaging a second-best 13.8 points and 6.1 rebounds. Maryland hopes to continue its good fortune against Duke, as the Terrapins have collected five victories in the teams' last eight meetings. The Terps have recorded at least one victory against Duke in six of the last eight years, but still trail in the overall series, 102-60. The rivalry also features two of college basketball's most successful active coaches. Maryland's Gary Williams earned his 600 coaching victory a week ago, while Duke's Mike Krzyzewski needs just one more win to tie legendary DePaul coach Ray Meyer's mark of 724 victories for sixth on the all-time list. Enditem