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Hayes turning heads on court
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College Park (Map, News) - Eric Hayes has not started a game in over a month.
The last time he had a spot in the starting five was in the Maryland men’s basketball team’s Atlantic Coast Conference opener against Boston College.
That does not mean he has not made an impact.
The 6-foot-3 freshman averages 23.9 minutes per game and in his team’s 80-65 victory over Georgia Tech, Hayes posted a career high in points with 12.
Hayes made a good impression on one of the toughest men to please in all of college basketball — head coach Gary Williams.
“Eric Hayes was a really steadying influence tonight,” Williams said. “He brings a lot of guts. He made really good decisions and I thought he made his free throws.”
Hayes and fellow freshman guard Greivis Vasquez have both been solid players thus far and have been rewarded with significant game time. Williams is hoping that the trial-by-fire experience will pay off later in their careers at Maryland.
“They are going to make mistakes, but they know the coaching staff is working hard to get them up to where they are really good this year,” Williams said. “This year will really help them in the future because they are both getting to play a lot.
“When you recruit a guy hopefully they will come in and play and those guys have done that.”
When Hayes is on the floor, he knows he can score. Thus far, he is more inclined to find the open man for an assist.
When Hayes got seven assists against Georgia Tech, his favorite target was junior forward Bambale Osby.
“He is always looking to pass and get assists,” Osby said. “He wants to get people the ball and he looks for me in practice, too. He is definitely a pass-first type of point guard.”
The pass-first mentality is something Hayes has played with his entire life.
“Growing up all the way up until now, if there is a guy who is open I am not going to hog the ball,” Hayes said. “I am going to find the open guy. That is just something I like to do.”
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Jim Steinmetz said:
It's particularly unfair to say that Hurley was a nice college player but a marginal pro - he was in a gruesome accident that essentially destroyed his NBA career. What's next? Are you going to say Jay Williams was a disappointment?
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Examiner Reader said:
I'm still scratching my head trying find any similarities between Kevin Love and Larry Bird. Love is a low post player who can hit an outside shot if he's left unguarded, Larry Bird was a great outside shooter who could penetrate. Love lumbers down the court like a Clydesdale, Bird could run like a quarter horse. Other than the fact that they're both white and both are good, they're as different as could be.
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notme said:
Also, USC playing better as the season progressed? As shown by their 6-4 record in the last 10 games? Or their 12-8 record over the past 20 games? Oh, wait, USC actually was most successful EARLY in the season.
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notme said:
Did Dickey even watch the Pac-10 finals? Only a little help from Love? I guess, if only offense counts. Of course, the real reason UCLA won the game is that Love totally shut down Brook Lopez in the second half.
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Larry Williams said:
How can you talk about a resurgence of college hoops in the area and not mention the only school from Baltimore to win a National Championship ad has the best chance to reach the NCAA Division I tourny this year: Morgan State University!! Is it because Morgan plays in the predominately Black college MEAC. or have you become conditioned to disregard any accomlishments by this great university, just like the rest of the sports journalist in this city?
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Examiner Reader said:
Joe Mclean is like a breath of fresh air,especially in a time when the very life we live seems to be suffocating from the nonsensical stinch that's presently being emitted from a misguided generation of African/american youth that somehow seems insurmountable and even far too complex for the creator Himself to resolve. Joe is one of the most well rounded young brothers I know. He's a possitve role model and a gift to any parent. That's why I'm overwhelmed at the very fact of his existance and forever grateful to my Lord for allowing me to be his POP-POP. Thanks Joe, keep up the good work.
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Great story, Ron!!!! said:
Ron, I love this story on the Terp freshmen WBB players getting ahead, as well as the other tidbits you wove into the story. Thank you very much for writing this one. If you need another idea, how about one on the three outstanding Lady Terps that won gold medals this summer playing for the USA?!? Keep up the great work. Thanks, again.
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Examiner Reader said:
i thank that this is going to be a good thing for mason ,cam is a will rounded player he wiil add big games in the wins .
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