Cumberland — RALEIGH, N.C. — Greivis Vasquez accepted the Atlantic Coast Conference’s top individual honor the same way he plays the game: with boundless emotion.
The Maryland star was named the ACC’s player of the year on Tuesday following a season in which he proved himself as one of the league’s top all-around players and most interesting personalities.
“Four years of working so hard, just getting the award — unbelievable,” Vasquez said while thanking his coaches, teammates, family and his entire native country, Venezuela. “It means the world to me.”
Vasquez, a unanimous all-ACC selection who averaged 19.6 points and led Maryland to a share of the regular-season title, was an overwhelming choice by 53 voting members of the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association. He received 39 votes to 12 for Duke’s Jon Scheyer and two for Virginia Tech’s Malcolm Delaney, the only other two unanimous all-conference picks.
“He’s a four-year player that’s gotten better every year and has had a great senior year,” coach Gary Williams said. “He’s been involved in all the big situations coming through the last month. In a year where there are other deserving players in the league, I’m happy for Greivis that he won the award.”
Vasquez, the sixth Maryland player to win the award and first since Juan Dixon in 2002, will end his career as the only player in ACC history with 2,000 points, 700 assists and 600 rebounds.
Award second for Williams
RALEIGH, N.C. — Gary Williams had a feeling his Maryland team would be better than people thought in the preseason. He wound up being right, and that landed him a share of a title — and another coaching honor.
Williams was named the Atlantic Coast Conference coach of the year on Tuesday after his Terrapins exceeded most preseason predictions, catapulted into the national rankings and shared the league’s regular-season championship with Duke.
“This year, especially, it’s a reflection on our players,” Williams said. “It’s been great coaching a team that has been willing to get better as the year has gone on.”
Williams, who won the award for the second time, was an overwhelming selection in balloting conducted by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association. He received 42 of 53 votes to outdistance Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski (8), Virginia Tech’s Seth Greenberg (2) and Florida State’s Leonard Hamilton (1).
