bstrickland@heraldsun.com; 419-6671
DURHAM -- To trace the progress of Duke's seniors throughout their careers, look no further than their series with Maryland.
As freshmen, Jon Scheyer, Lance Thomas and Brian Zoubek dropped both of their meetings with the Terrapins.
As sophomores, the trio won a pair of hard-fought games.
As juniors, they swept three meetings, including a 41-point blowout.
Now, as seniors, having already dispatched the Terrapins easily in Durham, a victory tonight in College Park (ESPN, 9 p.m.) would clinch their first ACC regular-season title in their last try.
"It would mean a lot, just in terms of where we started as freshmen and how we struggled in the ACC," Scheyer said. "The last two years, we were right there. It really shows the process of us growing.
"It's a great opportunity for our team, obviously."
It's also a great opportunity for Maryland. With a victory, the No. 22 Terps would catch No. 4 Duke (25-4, 12-2 ACC) atop the league standings with one game to go.
Maryland (21-7, 11-3), which last won the regular-season title in 2002, is 7-0 in conference game at home this season.
"This will be the toughest atmosphere we'll play in probably all year," said Scheyer, who has been featured in Maryland fans' homemade signs since his first visit to the Comcast Center. "I am a fan favorite. I just think all of them have crushes on me; that's just their way of showing it.
"I've always liked that since I've been in high school. The more attention an opposing crowd gives you, the bigger compliment it is."
Scheyer and Maryland senior Greivis Vasquez will get lots of attention tonight, especially with Vasquez playing his final home game. Many believe that Scheyer and Vasquez are the top two candidates for ACC player of the year, and tonight's game could decide that race, as well.
"Senior night can always be difficult for any senior, especially for ones that have had great career like Greivis has," Maryland coach Gary Williams said. "But he's a veteran player; he's been through a lot of situations.
"He understands that for us to win the game, we have to be really focused on the game and not on anything else."
Even if there is an unspoken game within the game between Vasquez and Scheyer, they won't be matched against each other all that much. Duke junior Nolan Smith will draw the primary defensive responsibility against Vasquez, who was slowed by foul trouble in the 2009 home game against Duke and slowed by Smith in three other meetings.
In the teams' four meetings over the past 13 months, Vasquez is averaging fewer than 12 points a game.
"He's definitely a handful," Smith said. "You can't give him any space. You can't let him get going. You have to keep him in front and know that he's going to fight you for a full game."
Still, Vasquez is a big part of the reason the Terrapins find themselves in this position. Saturday, he scored a career-high 41 points in a double-overtime victory at Virginia Tech -- the Terps' fifth straight win since their 77-56 loss at Duke on Feb. 13.
He is not, however, the only reason Maryland is in position for a title. Fellow seniors Landon Milbourne and Eric Hayes average double figures, along with sophomore Sean Mosley, and freshman Jordan Williams (9.1 points, 8.4 rebounds) is a double-double waiting to happen.
"You want to play games that mean something the last week of the regular season," Gary Williams said. "The way our season has gone and the way Duke's season has gone, that's why this is a big game. We're excited about being in the position."
