Terps' Vasquez overcomes taunting during unique day in Blacksburg

BLACKSBURG, Va. -- Every great story requires a villain. You can't have the Dark Knight without Joker, Seinfeld must occasionally be angered by Newman and Washington D.C. politics need an occasional visit from Dick Cheney.

Villains make all stories more interesting, not just because of their dynamic personalities but also because of the reactions they cause in others and the way they showcase the best (and worst) in their rivals.

It's not clear whether Maryland's Greivis Vasquez truly embraces his role as "Target No. 1" for hatred from opposing fans but if he doesn't like it, it does not show. Vasquez put on a clinic in both offensive production and promotion of fan participation during the Terrapins' 104-100 double-overtime victory Saturday night in Blacksburg. The Terps' exciting senior leader scored 41 points, including 28 in a mesmerizing second half, that left Hokies fans once again wondering if a late-season collapse might cause their tournament bubble to burst for the third consecutive year.

If it does, it will not be the only destruction that occurred on Saturday. Fans (and reporters) who arrived to the game a bit early were greeted with the sight of a mini-river running down the streets of Blacksburg, as a water main burst outside of the Hokies' basketball facility just three hours before game time. The Blacksburg branch of the Mississippi River was caused by a beer truck backing over a fire hydrant in the parking lot, setting in motion a string of events that would cause a three-hour delay in the tipoff of the game and the arena's restroom facilities being rendered ineffective. Thus Hokies fans, some of whom were forced to wait in their cars during the delay, were packed into a 10,000-seat arena and put in the unique position of having to hold more than just their breath during key plays.

That left fans eager and restless at tipoff, ready to focus their ire on the player who could be the most taunted in college basketball. It is a position that Vasquez has grown accustomed to over the years. Whether it is his faux-hawk haircut, in-game trash talk or ability to drain contested shots at the most crucial time in games (and it's probably a bit of all three), Vasquez has the ability to move crowds to hatred in ways that may have only been previously known by Hall of Famers of Hate like Christian Laettner and Joakim Noah. Vasquez's every move was taunted by the loud and boisterous Hokies student section and for the early part of the first half, every moment the ball was in his hand, a chorus of boos rained down.

However, if this level of hate affects Vasquez in any way, it may only be to spur him on to greatness. As the taunts got louder, Vasquez's game got better, and his final stat line of a career-high 41 points, seven rebounds and six assists showcases why he should be the obvious choice for ACC Player of the Year. He did take 33 shots during the double-overtime win, but Maryland coach Gary Williams said afterward that even when the shots are bad, he says nothing because "the reason he is so good is because he is so aggressive. I don't want to do anything that might take that away."

Williams might have a similar feeling about Greivis' on-court style, which included at least three instances of interaction with random Virginia Tech fans during Saturday's game. If a person yelled a particularly vicious taunt at Vasquez (and he does seem to bring out the worst in opposing fans, with some of the more vile slurs I have heard thrown in his direction), he potentially might yell back, causing even more viciousness to come his way. One could argue that Vasquez should be above such responses, but it is consistent with his very nature.

"All I want to do is win," he said, "and I will do whatever it takes to make that happen."

One assumes if that means doing some talking after hitting big shots, then that is what Vasquez will do.

Maryland's win puts it in sole possession of second place in the ACC and gives it a shot to get a share of the ACC title with a win at home against Duke on Wednesday. The victory came after a long, surreal day that Williams said afterward was "one of the most unique things I have ever been a part of." The game itself was tremendous and the raucous Virginia Tech home atmosphere made it almost a perfect setting for college basketball.

However, when fans look back and remember the story of the game, they probably won't remember the big 3 hit by Virginia Tech at the end of regulation, the Terrapins' near-perfect foul shooting in overtime or the fact that I didn't get to use the restroom for eight hours (OK I might remember that a bit).

Instead, they will focus on the performance of Vasquez, and the way he dominated not only both ends of the court, but the thoughts of all fans, players and coaches in attendance. That is what a good villain does because the reality is that no matter how much other teams may taunt him now, and will certainly taunt him in March, the words of one Hokies fan ring true around the ACC and the nation. "Man I hate that guy, but I sure wish he was on our team."