Sean Mosely

N.C. State-Maryland Basketball Recap in Ten Easily Digestible Bullet Points

On January 23, 2010, In Maryland sports, By Scott

What…what just happened? Wait…did I…did I actually call this game perfectly? Is that what happened? Did my predicted Maryland butt-kicking of N.C. State just come to fruition? Whatever happened, it’s sweet, baby, as the Terps smeared N.C. State Wolfpack 88-64. I only wish my score prediction hadn’t been so conservative. To the points:

What else did I predict? Can you refresh my memory? I believe I said Sean Mosely would go off. Well, he ended up with 13 points (and it would have been more if not for a somewhat off shooting night), 7 boards and 4 assists. Scott Wood, welcome to the ACC.
I believe I also predicted a big night from one Cliff Tucker. And I believe you can add another check to the “things Scott was right about” column. Eleven points and one steal in 17 crisp minutes. Bravo, sir. And Cliff, nice job, too. Okay, I’ve had my moment.
Maryland did a great job around the rim defensively. They limited the Pack’s second chances and always seemed to be drawing fouls, rather than committing them (21 State fouls to 16 for the Terps), which means they were a little quicker to the ball.
Maryland did not do a great job around the rim offensively. I saw Jordan Williams, Eric Hayes, Dino Gregory, and Mosely all miss some easy ones. It’s an odd recurring theme with no quick (or at least apparent) solution.
Speaking of Dino, though, and getting back to defense, Dino did an outstanding job on Tracy Smith. He used great footwork to stay between Smith and the basket and keep him out of the lane. Tracy still netted an 18 and 10, but he sure had to work for it.
One more point on the defense: N.C. State averages 72 points per game on 46 percent shooting. Tonight, they got 64 points on 36 percent shooting. Only eight points below average, but again, we made them work. And they didn’t seem to enjoy it. Maybe that’s why an eight-point halftime lead went to 17 by the 10-minute mark, and ended up at 22.
A nice 9-9 for Jordan Williams, but more aggression at the rim would be a positive.
In addition to his great offensive game, Mosely also led the way in shutting down Dennis Horner, the team’s second leading scorer (and 18th in the ACC). Horner got four points on 1-5 shooting, well below his average of 13.
Vasquez had 19 to lead all scorers, but for the second consecutive game, just about all of it came in the second half. Who is he now, Kobe Bryant? He is The Closer. The Vasquez Shimmy is like the Red Auerbach Cigar, only minus the ten championships and hundreds of victories and so forth.
And last but most certainly not least: CONGRATULATIONS TO GARY WILLIAMS ON HIS 1000TH GAME!!! I love you, man.

(Photo credit: UMTerps.com)

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Basketball Game Preview: N.C. State at Maryland

On January 22, 2010, In Maryland sports, By Scott

I’ve always felt a strange kinship with N.C. State. Against the ACC’s many basketball monoliths, these two teams come off like the shrieking apes. They’re usually in the middle of the pack. They’re both known as giant killers. They always find new and exotic ways to under- and overacheive (but never just “achieve”). And they always have chips on their shoulders for having to sit at the kids’ table. But at the same time, both teams have histories laden with truly glorious moments (not to mention championships). And lest we forget, these two teams played a game in 1974 that is, even in this age where every good game is an INSTANT CLASSIC, still regarded as one of the greatest of all time.

The similarities are especially pronounced so far this season. Both teams lost some tough ones early, with the Pack losing to Florida on a buzzer-beater from the three-point line — no, the other three-point line. But lately, the two teams — Maryland now at 12-5 and N.C. State at 13-6 — have made runs, with N.C. State again notching the most notable game after Wednesday’s defeat of Duke (which I totally saw coming).

So I feel a bond with the N.C. State. Whenever we collide, it feels like a fight between two mongeese. And in the end, no matter the outcome, somewhere out there, a cobra is smiling.

And that’s why it pains me to tell you this, N.C. State: We’re gonna kick your butts tomorrow.

Whenever I’ve watched the Pack this year, I’m left with the feeling that middle school custodians are playing pick-up hoops after the kids are done with the court. I wouldn’t exactly label top players Tracy Smith and Dennis Horner natural-born athletes; both appear to know their way around a dollar menu. And Sidney Lowe’s not helping anything over there; he looks like the guy taking their order.

Sorry, Tracy. It's true.

So why are they winning? Well, they’re decent at just about everything, even if they are truly excellent in just about nothing. Just to see if I can fit another strange analogy in here, they are not unlike the Island of Misfit Toys. For example, Horner’s tall at 6′9″, but he’s more of a shooter than a banger. Smith can bang, and he can score, but for a guy that big, he can’t rebound. And for such a highly touted player, I’ve never really seen him take over a game. Point guard Javier Gonzalez is frisky but undersized. Scott Wood gets the Jin Soo Choi Award for being a shooter who doesn’t always like to shoot.

Personnel-wise, this is a good matchup for Maryland. We can use our athleticism to get around the lumbering big men and through their smaller guards, which include two sophomores. Sean Mosely and Cliff Tucker, in particular, should be able to handle whomever N.C. State puts on them. Add in the fact that N.C. State will be coasting on fumes after the Duke win, and I think we’ve got a romp on our hands. Saturday, 6 p.m., ESPN2.

Prediction: N.C. State 62, Maryland 75

Tagged with: Basketball • Cliff Tucker • Dennis Horner • N.C. State • Sean Mosely • Tracy Smith • Vasquez

Maryland Beats Longwood 106-55, Starters Pulled With Five Minutes Remaining in Warm-Up Period

On January 19, 2010, In Maryland sports, By Scott

This one’s easy to analyze. Pretty good team from big school plays bad team from small school. Small school needs money, offers basketball team as sacrificial possum on the interstate highway of ACC basketball. End result is some Longwood Lancers splatter pattern all over the Terps windshield en route to the largest margin of victory in Comcast Center history, edging out a 50-point win over Hampton from 2003.

Sean Mosely led the Terps with 21 points and a perfect 8-8 shooting night; he was also a perfect 4-4 from the stripe, so the ball literally went in every time he put it up. But that’s not what you care about. How did the benchwarmers do? I’m delighted to report that they all got in and all got on the score board. Forward and reggae superstar David Pearman netted 3 points while Rudyesque walk-on Ersin Levent sank a free throw with about a minute left to get a 1 in his points column.

And there you have it. A speed bump at most, but at least it was of the record-setting, bench-clearing variety.

(Photo credit: UMTerps.com)

Tagged with: Basketball • Big Wins • David Pearman • Ersin Levent • Sean Mosely

A Maryland-FSU Basketball Recap in 10 Easily Digestible Bullet Points

On January 10, 2010, In Maryland sports, By Scott

Woo! Awesome team victory tonight, as the Terps upset #18 Florida State 77-68. FSU remains oh for the Comcast Center after its sixth game there. To the points:

Game MVP: one Greivis Vasquez. Twenty-two points on 8-18 shooting, including some clutch shots down the stretch to quell an FSU rally. He also played brilliant defense, including some great helping D in the post. What a motor. This is the kind of game they tend to lose…a big lead evaporates and the team loses its composure. Vasquez didn’t let that happen tonight. I’m not exactly Vasquez Superfan 21 over here, but credit where it’s due: he was numero uno out there tonight.
The bigs did a solid job on FSU’s formidable front court. Jordan Williams and Landon Milbourne seemed quicker and more nimble than Solomon Alabi et al, and were able to get Alabi in early foul trouble. They do need to box out more consistently, though.
Clunky is not even the word for FSU’s offense. Seriously, do they have to start it up with a hand crank before every game? Is it powered by hamsters? If one of the bigs couldn’t get a layup, they kicked it out for three. If that didn’t work, they simply tossed the ball to the referee. By the end of the season, they’re gonna lead the nation in not dribbling. And that exhausts my cache of FSU’s-offense-stinks-related zingers.
Fiesty crowd at Comcast tonight. Terp fans seem to understand that (a) this team needs a home-court advantage, and (b) they need it every game — not just Duke and Carolina.
FSU commits a ton of turnovers (11th in ACC), and Maryland exploited that, forcing 12 turnovers and 17 fouls. And it actually seemed like a lot more than that.
Props to Cliff Tucker, who provided the Terps with a serious booster shot in 16 minutes off the bench. He’s out of Gary’s doghouse for now. Has Adrian Bowie (no points in 11 minutes) taken his place in there, or did Gary simply view Bowie’s slash-it-up style as a bad fit against the Noles’ Redwood forest of a frontcourt? As always, only TIME…will tell.
The three starting guards (36 pts and 11 assists all together) did great jobs getting shots for themselves and others. FSU repeatedly fell for their pump fakes and step-backs, and they seemed committed to making the extra pass without getting gaudy abut it.
Speaking of passing, Maryland was excellent in moving the ball around the zone, although it occasionally crossed into hot-potato territory. They backslid into freelancing at times, but by and large they showed real patience and poise — very encouraging.
Gary shows again that he’s just better in underdog situations. (I also noticed he used the press pretty sparingly, which is good.) Dear AP voters: please do not vote for Maryland.
Tucker and Sean Mosely put the clamps on 6′9″ Chris Singleton, who wasn’t a major factor while the outcome was still in question. I’m no Singleton expert, but “passionate” isn’t a word I’d use to describe his personality on the court.

The Terps now travel to Wake for a Tuesday night game. Will be interesting to see what their focus is like after this win and on short rest. They don’t have the luxury of letting up.

(Photo credit: Alan P. Santos/DC Sports Box)

Tagged with: Adrian Bowie • Basketball • Big Wins • Chris Singleton • Cliff Tucker • Comcast Center • Eric Hayes • Gary Williams • Jordan Williams • Landon Milbourne • Sean Mosely • Solomon Alabi • Vasquez

Maryland-Villanova Basketball Recap in Ten Easily Digestible Bullet Points

On December 7, 2009, In Maryland sports, By Scott

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Maryland’s 95-86 loss to #3 Villanova last night was more disappointing than I thought it would be. While the smart money was never on a Terps W, they were really hanging with Nova, and an A-game effort could have netted the upset. But it wasn’t to be. To the points:

It’s a broken record for this team. They only play well when the pressure is off. Pressure back on, they cinch up again. Why does this team NEED to be the underdog? Where’s all this heart I keep hearing about? They will need to break a few serves in ACC play if they want to make the tourney.
The pivotal stretch came with about 14 minutes left. Hayes cut the lead to three, and we had three straight possessions to try and get it down to one or tie it. But they slopped it up all three times and couldn’t do it. Airways were checked and cleared, but it was too late.
Vasquez’s “slow start” has now morphed into blatant underperformance. He’s now shooting 32 percent on the season. Here he finished 3-9, including two misses in the aforementioned crucial stretch. He added 7 assts, but committed 7 turnovers and 5 fouls.
I’m not in Vasquez’s brain, but from the comfy armchair in my basement, it seems he ups the degree of difficulty on every play for no discernible reason. He’ll barrell into the lane, draw double coverage, leap into the air, look one way, careen off balance, then float a no-look soap bubble over to an unsuspecting (and guarded) teammate. Dude: just send a bounce pass next time.
Villanova finished with 16 made threes — one short of the school record. Maryland switched to zone and cooled them off in the second half (first half they hit 11 of 22), but the word is out: the three-point shot is available against the Terps.
It came against a lineup heavy on guards and missing its top post player, but Jordan Williams’ 19-and-12 (including 9-13 FT) effort was his best as a Terp.
Nova forward Antonio Pena did a good job shutting down Landon Milbourne.
No one did a good job shutting down Sean Mosely. That guy is getting better every game and it’s fun to watch.
Congratulations to Jin Soo Choi for coaxing in a wide-open layup — his first field goal of the season. Dino Who?
Another year, another disappointing non-conference record. Here’s hoping they take care of business against Eastern Kentucky, Winston-Salem State, Florida Atlantic, William and Mary, and UNC Greensboro. It sucks that I even have to hope that.

(Photo Credit: Tracy A. ”Bob’s Daughter?” Woodward/the Washington Post Photo)

Tagged with: Basketball • Eric Hayes • Jin Soo Choi • Jordan Williams • Landon Milbourne • Sean Mosely • Vasquez • Villanova

Dear Lance Stephenson: HEY! YOU SUCK!

On November 24, 2009, In Maryland sports, By Scott

lance-stephenson

What’s up, Lance. Man Child. Born Ready. Big game tonight against the Terps.

What’s wrong, buddy? You look a little out of it. Did you accidentally sit on a pea during your plane ride? Did Slam not send the right photographer? Did Cincinnati’s check not clear?

It’s so hard being a star. Regular people, they just don’t understand. They don’t know what it’s like to have this talent. The expectations. The burdens that you carry. Because you’ve got all the tools.

All the tools, that is, except maybe one: the one between your ears.

Oh, yeah, that’s right. I said it. And you heard me. Got nothing to say? Cat got your tongue? Oh, wait, no. Your coach put a gag order on you, saying he was “worried about our guys focusing on basketball and academics and not being distracted.”

What? Distraction? Unbelievable. That’s no way to treat Born Distraction, er, Ready. So I guess you’ll just have to let your actions do the talking. After all, you don’t have time to talk to every reporter who wants a quote, or every girl you want to sex up. Talking just wastes the sexy time. Believe me, they’ll get the message!

It’s not about talk anyway. It’s about team. Just like with the team’s previous point guard, Rashad what’s-his-name. Oh, right Bishop. He got bumped so you could play. That’s what I like to call building bridges. Want me to call Slam so you can talk a little more about your selflessness?

In the meantime, unfortunately for you it looks like your stats aren’t bearing out the decision. I was going to go look up your numbers on the Cincinnati Web site, but they still have the 2008-2009 data on there. Great job, Bearcats. Web sites aren’t so important anyway. It’s just the nerds what read them and shit. So anyway, I’ll just have to calculate your stats the old-fashioned way: ESPN. Looks like you’re averaging 10 points on 36 percent shooting to go with 4 rebounds and 1 assist. That’s good, but not “this was definitely worth undermining the incumbent” good.

And you know what? You’re not even gonna hit those averages tonight. Maryland’s offense may not be starting off gangbusters, but their D sure as hell is. It’s gonna be Vasquez and Sugar Sean on you all night. Maybe a little Bowie an Hayes for good measure. They’re gonna shut you down, Lance. I repeat. Shut. You. Down. Vasquez is crazier than you are by a Caracas mile. You’re not getting past him, buddy.

So mark it down, Lance. Alert the media. Born Ready’s gonna get put to sleep tonight.

Tagged with: Adrian Bowie • Basketball • Eric Hayes • Lance Stephenson • Sean Mosely • Vasquez

Know Your Rotation Guys: Cliff Tucker

On November 2, 2009, In Maryland sports, By Scott

(Hello, and welcome to “Know Your Rotation Guys.” It’s a hybrid offspring of our previous series “Know Your Benchwarmers,” which can be found here. No further explanation needed, I imagine.)

Tucker

I kind of think about Cliff Tucker as the invisible man in the Terps’ rotation. I also like to refer to him as the guy that was caught laughing on the sidelines with Braxbum Dupree at the end of a loss last year.

Tucker averaged 12 minutes a game last season in his sophomore campaign, and with Sean Mosely and Adrian Bowie (not to mention Vasquez et al) really coming on at the end of last season (and with Mosely emerging in the offseason as the Terps’ next offensive option behind the seniors), I don’t really see that number going up. He could get a little time in the post, but again, I don’t think Tucker, at 6′6″, would be in line for that over Milbourne, Jordan Williams, Gregory, and Padgett. Gary Williams has hinted he’ll play three or even four guards at once. So that’s my guess as to Tucker’s role this season. He’s the “we’re gonna go small now” sub-in.

Tucker had some big games last season. He also had some bed-crappers. His two biggest games, both statistically and psychologically, were the 18 and 22 points he got against UNC last year. But in the Jan. 24 Duke debacle, he played 17 minutes but only scored two points on one shot. In the March 13 Wake Forest win, he played 12 minutes but only scored 2 points on 1-3 shooting. So yeah…he really was invisible at times.

And there are the character questions. Aside from the laughing incident, which caused a minor stir on the blogosphere, there was the DNP-coaches decision that he sustained against Miami, after which he (and his mother!) complained to the media about his utilization on the team. There were accusations that Tucker wasn’t giving it 100 percent, and wasn’t getting it when it came to the program and its objectives.

Throughout the season, his minutes were all over the place, ranging from 1 to 29. Obviously that’s not all his fault, but it does speak to the inconsistency of both his performance and his role last year.

As for this season, Tucker worked hard on his game over the summer. Along with Bowie and Gregory, Tucker attended a special camp to improve his ball-handling with Pro Hoops Founder Jay Hernandez. No word on whether they shared spiced meats in the hot TUB. (Sorry, archaic SNL reference.) They emphasized his ball control while running at full speed, as well as his “confidence” as it relates to “taking guys off the dribble.” This all hints at the way he anticipates being used — as part of a smaller, quicker, run-and-gun lineup.

In a way, Tucker mirrored the team last year. Capable of greatness and gret underacheivement. Gifted but tempermental. No floor, no ceiling. Roller coaster. And so on. But if he can get a more solid role within this small ball lineup, that should have a stabilizing force on him and the team. We shall see.

(Photo credit: MEAC/SWAC Sports Main Street)

Tagged with: Adrian Bowie • Basketball • Cliff Tucker • Dino Gregory • Sean Mosely

Basketball schedule released, me want to talk hoops

On August 25, 2009, In Maryland sports, By Scott

Anyone interested in talking basketball great me too. As long as the words “Tobias Harris” don’t appear then I’m good (seriously…we’re not getting him…plus, am I the only one who thinks of Mortal Kombat when he hears the name Tobias? I’m a weird guy.)

Right, basketball. So on the heels of the college b-ball schedule release (check out Maryland’s here — note Villanova, Duke twice, and a possible showdown with Lance Stephenson’s Bearcats on Nov. 24) ESPN puts out a nice little ACC primer/preview today. I was starting to get a little agitated as I read through — no mention of the Terps anywhere! Sean Mosely was listed as the ninth out of 10 “key players” in the conference, and when we get down to the “10 Freshmen We Can’t Wait To See” section, nary a Jordan or James mention to be found! That’s bullcrap, dude. You know what freshman I can’t wait to see, ESPN? Your mama. Your big, stupid, sweatstained, bus-pass-having mama.

But then, what do I see on the righthand side but Jay Bilas’ rankings. And guess who he’s got number three? Let’s take a read:

The Terps had a very good season, but will be better with some bulk and talent inside. Greivis Vasquez is one of the best guards in the country, but his emotional play seems to get more press than his skills. Vasquez is a complete player whom I believe is underrated. Add James Padgett and Jordan Williams to returnees Dino Gregory and Jerome Burney, and Maryland is not playing shorthanded in the paint this year. And no team will outwork this bunch. The Terps should be back to Garyland’s expected standards this season.

Not bad, Jay. You know, for a Dookie. Color me placated.

Tagged with: Basketball • James Padgett • Jerome Burney • Jordan Williams • Sean Mosely • The Media • Vasquez

Terps answer the bell, say "please take me off your list," hang up

On February 18, 2009, In Maryland sports, By Scott

A while back I joked that, because Duke beat the Terps by 41 and Clemson beat Duke by 27, that Clemson would beat Maryland by around 70. Well, sadly for me, that wasn’t too far off, as Clemson destroyed Maryland by 29 last night, 93-64. So much for the momentum, not to mention the gleam.

No Terp fan needs to be told that the tournament is looking more and more like a pipe dream. The true challenge now lies in seeing how many beers it takes me to sustain my famous optimism.

Or, at least, my ability to continue watching these blowouts to their conclusion (they’ve now lost four times this season by 17 or more). And last night’s second half was near the top for sheer ugliness. If you found a time when either team ran a coherent offensive play on two consecutive possessions, you’re ahead of me. The Terps’ offense fell apart because they lost their composure. The Tigers stopped running offense because they didn’t need to.

Big man Trevor Booker was the star for #13 Clemson. His final line was 11 points on 5-5 shooting, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 three-pointer, 1 highlight-reel dunk, 1 hamburger consumed on the sideline, 5 pantomimes implying sexual domination, 7 text messages sent during game action, 4 bitch smacks on Gary Williams’ mama, 1 wading into the crowd to bang a groupie, and 2 horseback ridings of Big Dave Neal. You get the idea. I give Big Dave Neal credit though…he hung in there. Braxton Dupree would have been rocking back and forth under the basket like Rain Man.

What else, what else. Oh, Sean Mosely had the worst two-minute stretch of basketball I’ve seen this season. Before he was mercifully pulled at 17:45 of the second half, he missed two layups, committed one foul, and got smoked and roasted by Terrence Oglesby for an easy layup. Oglesby actually spread relish on Mosely’s arm and took a bite as he drove by. It was just wrong.

But Mosely wasn’t the only one. That second-half stinkfest was a group effort, as evidenced by the team’s 38 percent FG percentage (and Clemson’s 58). One bright spot: Jerome Burney made his return from injury and got two points and three boards. It’ll be nice to have him for the stretch run…such as it is. The 16-9 Terps have Carolina next. Any time they want to start that patented late-season run, that would be great. In the meantime, hand me another beer. Go Terps.

Tagged with: Basketball • Big Dave Neal • Braxton Dupree • Clemson • Sean Mosely

Welp, we got out butts kicked

On February 4, 2009, In Maryland sports, By Scott

Jin Soo Kim does not know of this "defense" of which you speak.

There goes that man again.

The immortal words of Steve Spurrier were in my mind as I watched UNC put the finishing touches on last night’s whooping. This is one of those beatings where you tip your cap and get the F out of dodge.

If it’s possible to be encouraged after a 17-point loss to a tough conference rival, then I am. After all, the Terps scored 91 points. It’s just that UNC would have beaten the Bobcats last night.

It’s funny how much agreement there is on this point in the local media. Only the Washington Times, who blamed the Terps’ D, departed from this “they were just the better team last night” angle.

The Terps did some good things. Cliff Tucker played his way out of the doghouse with a career-high 18 (a lot of it came after the game was already over, but we’ll just ignore that). Sean Mosely and Eric Hayes again played well in their respective new starter and bench roles. I liked Gary’s hit-em-in-the-mouth game plan, which included pointedly physical play, imposing black unis, and best of all, pushing the ball upcourt as quickly as possible, especially after a Carolina score, when the Heels prefer to saunter back on D. It happened so fast a few times that even the Raycom cameras couldn’t keep up.

But when the other team hits 16 threes and gets 79 points from three guys (Ellington, Hansbrough, Lawson), it’s not your night. Although the rebounding battle was admirably close in the end (37-35 for UNC), this was the biggest size difference I’ve seen between the Terps and their opponents all year.

Despite this, the Terps fought hard and didn’t allow the revenge-minded Tar Heels to break their spirits. I think the Terps can finish strong if they come out with this same mindset against Georgia Tech. And Virginia Tech. And Clemson. And North Carolina again. And Duke. And NC State. And Wake Forest. And Virginia. And the ACC tournament. Goterps.

(Photo credit: Charlotte Observer)

Tagged with: Basketball • Cliff Tucker • Eric Hayes • Gary Williams • Sean Mosely