Greivis Vasquez will be at the Comcast Center tonight, No. 21 jersey in hand, for Maryland's basketball game with N.C. State.
Wolfpack fans can relax, though. The 2010 ACC Player of the Year is safely in the NBA after averaging 18.4 points in seven wins against N.C. State during his college career. Before today's game tips off (5:30 p.m., Fox Sports Carolinas), Vasquez will have his jersey honored.
But after four years, and an undefeated record with Vasquez against the Wolfpack, Maryland has to find a new way to beat N.C. State.
Wolfpack coach Sidney Lowe believes his team can end the losing streak to Maryland if it plays like it did in its previous two games, an 80-55 win over Wake Forest and a 69-61 win over Clemson.
"We have to concentrate on ourselves," Lowe said. "We're not where we're going to be. We still have room for growth, but I like where we're going."
The Pack, 4-7 in the ACC, has gotten a lift from freshman forward C.J. Leslie, who has averaged 18.5 points in the past two wins since serving a one-game suspension.
Leslie has returned to the lineup with a renewed focus and improved energy. He has been dominant in transition and, as he has been all season, the team's best rebounder.
"I'm basically doing what I do best," Leslie said.
Lowe might consider suspending more players if they react the way Leslie has since missing the Duke loss on Feb. 5.
"You've seen the way he has come back," Lowe said. "He has been playing well."
Leslie will need to continue his hot streak for N.C. State to win at the Comcast Center for the first time since the 2004-05 season. The Terps, 5-6 in the ACC, have a resume similar to the Wolfpack's.
Like N.C. State, Maryland has swept Wake and beaten Clemson at home. The Terps also have ACC wins over conference bottom-feeders Virginia and Georgia Tech.
And like N.C. State, the Terps have come up empty against big-name teams both inside and outside the conference (Pitt, Illinois, Temple, Villanova).
Forward Jordan Williams has taken over from Vasquez as the team's leader in scoring (17.1 per game), and he leads the ACC in rebounding (11.7) and ranks third nationally in that category.
The Terps have lost two straight in the ACC, road games against Boston College and Virginia Tech, and they need to put together a winning streak to get back to the NCAA tournament for the third straight season.
N.C. State hopes it can continue its ACC winning streak. It hasn't won three straight regular-season conference games in Lowe's five seasons.
"We know what we have to do," N.C. State senior Tracy Smith said of the team's final five games.
At least the Pack won't have to do it against Vasquez.
