Blue Devils sound off on Vasquez, attitude

DURHAM, N.C. - Greivis Vasquez is not one to hide his emotions on the road, and last night was no exception. Before the game even started, Vasquez was jawing with the fans, specifically the Cameron Crazies. And as the game progressed, Vasquez continued to go back and forth with the crowd, especially as the Terps cut a 16-point deficit down to two.

At one point, an official pulled Vasquez aside before an in-bounds pass and told him to stop talking to the fans. The official then went over to coach Gary Williams and told him about Vasquez.

After the game, Duke's players sounded off on the topic of Vasquez.

"He's a real cocky player," DeMarcus Nelson said. "He plays to the crowd and does a lot of flamboyant things. If you could read my mind, I might be in trouble ... He might have gotten his points tonight, but his teammates didn't."

Nelson was also critical about Vasquez's trash talking.

"When you have somebody in your house and he thinks he owns it and talking trash to your fans? It's more about himself than his team," Nelson said. "That's something, I guess, they allow in their locker room."

Duke's Jon Scheyer said Vasquez pumped up the Blue Devils.

"He's an emotional guy," Scheyer said. "He's a hell of a player, so if that's what fires him up. … We have a lot of respect for him. He can play, but when somebody comes in here and starts talking, it does make you focus more."

Williams was asked after the game about Vasquez, but he brushed off the jawing with the fans.

"I'm sure he did [get into it with the fans], but he's really a good player," Williams said. "I'm glad he's on our team. Every once in a while, the fans get on him, but he responds. If you grew up where he grew up, you might do the same thing. That's part of the culture, and he's trying to really work on his game in here, and he's done a great job for us."

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