O/t Terps In The Big Dance

[Aces2Bluff]

#10 seed against Cal. I know nothing about Cal, but I know if we beat them we got Memphis....

[Sephy]

Memphis has such a long streak because they play in a shit conference. Nevertheless, they are a very good team, and would likely smash the Terps.

[Jeremiah W]

Its good to be back in. This is the type of team Gary used to sneak into the dance and then get to the sweet 16 with.

[purplepoe]

Memphis plays D like no other team in the country.

Let's worry about Cal first though.

PP

[sdeclue]

We're in!! I'm freakin pumped!

http://www.examiner.com/x-1089-Balti...ake-NCAA-field

[BlackSunday]

Any idea when we get the times? I'll be in transit Thurs., AM, and would like to not miss it.

BS

[Aces2Bluff]

Game is at 1'clock I believe.

I know we arent in the same league as Memphis, but Cal doesnt really scare me. They have no post game which matches up well with us and their guards are under the 6' range so Grevis should be able to size up with his little spin curl crap he does.

Dont get me wrong, Memphis is rediculously good, but I didnt think we had a chance against North Carolina and we pulled that out. It all depends on what Terps team comes to play.

Lets say hypothetically that we were to pull out some miraculous run. Could you imagine us against U-Conn. The dude would have almost a foot over our tallest player.

Oh and for any other Maryland sports fan, congrats to Morgan State (a high school buddy of mine is on the team). Good Luck against Oklahoma.

[Sephy]

UMterps.com says 3pm, approximately.

[bmoreravengirl]

Having the Terps make the tournament somewhat eases the pain/anger of losing to Duke 3x.

My intense dislike of Duke is on par (or maybe even greater than) my dislike of the Stealers.

[4G63]

Having the Terps make the tournament somewhat eases the pain/anger of losing to Duke 3x.

My intense dislike of Duke is on par (or maybe even greater than) my dislike of the Stealers.

You are not alone....I'd love to punch Kryschefski(sp) right in the face when he's bitching at the refs for calling a foul in his team!!

[Losac]

Duke is a douchey-white-boy-player factory.

As much as you wanted to punch JJ Reddick in the face every time you saw him, now you have the likes of Paulus, Singler and Scheyer to continue the tradition.

Congrats to Gary and the boys. I see them beating Cal, but not going past the second round.

[bmoreravengirl]

I also wanted to punch Shane Battier (sp??), Sheldon Williams, and a few others whose names escape me at the moment.

To me, anyone wearing anything Duke-related is the equivalent of waving a red flag in front of a raging bull.

EDIT: As long as UNC or Duke don't win the title, everything's good.

[RAVENOUS52]

Well, we can put the Gary must go threads on the shelf for another year.

Yeah, those threads really piss me off. I mean, where's the loyalty?

Since 1989, Gary Glitter has taken us from the outhouse to the penthouse in the best conference in college basketball, no less. During that time, he has lead us to more ACC wins than any other coach besides Dean Smith and Coach K! Neither of those clowns had to deal with rebuilding following the aftermath of the Death of Len Bias or the corruption of Bob Wade.

The guy has amassed more 20-win seasons than I can count and an excellent NCAA Tournament record (27-14) over the years and yet the minute things appear a little on the downside, out jump the vultures calling for his funeral. Simply unbelieveable.

The guy recruits the right way and although I'd like to see more big names come through College Park, nobody can deny that it was Gary Glitter who re-opened the pipeline to Baltimore talent after Wade screwed things up with his shenanigans (Booth, Dixon, Elliot, hell even alltime favorite Earl Badu!).

600 career wins and numerous Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight and Final Four appearances, PLUS a National Championship, yet the guy still can't catch a break from the vultures. Would we even have the gorgeous Comcast Center today if not for the tremendous success that the hardest working coach in the game brought to Maryland?

I have always been a Gary supporter and barring a collapse of Matt Millen-like proportions, I don't want Gary going anywhere until HE decides it's time. He is one of the few living legends this state has in college athletics and contrary to popular belief, the reports of his demise have been greatly exaggerated.

FEAR THE TURTLE.

[highwater]

I have always been a Gary supporter and barring a collapse of Matt Millen-like proportions, I don't want Gary going anywhere until HE decides it's time. He is one of the few living legends this state has in college athletics and contrary to popular belief, the reports of his demise have been greatly exaggerated. FEAR THE TURTLE.

Well said, and I totally agree.

[Jeremiah W]

Yeah, those threads really piss me off. I mean, where's the loyalty?

Since 1989, Gary Glitter has taken us from the outhouse to the penthouse in the best conference in college basketball, no less. During that time, he has lead us to more ACC wins than any other coach besides Dean Smith and Coach K! Neither of those clowns had to deal with rebuilding following the aftermath of the Death of Len Bias or the corruption of Bob Wade.

The guy has amassed more 20-win seasons than I can count and an excellent NCAA Tournament record (27-14) over the years and yet the minute things appear a little on the downside, out jump the vultures calling for his funeral. Simply unbelieveable.

The guy recruits the right way and although I'd like to see more big names come through College Park, nobody can deny that it was Gary Glitter who re-opened the pipeline to Baltimore talent after Wade screwed things up with his shenanigans (Booth, Dixon, Elliot, hell even alltime favorite Earl Badu!).

600 career wins and numerous Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight and Final Four appearances, PLUS a National Championship, yet the guy still can't catch a break from the vultures. Would we even have the gorgeous Comcast Center today if not for the tremendous success that the hardest working coach in the game brought to Maryland?

I have always been a Gary supporter and barring a collapse of Matt Millen-like proportions, I don't want Gary going anywhere until HE decides it's time. He is one of the few living legends this state has in college athletics and contrary to popular belief, the reports of his demise have been greatly exaggerated.

FEAR THE TURTLE.

I agree with that for the most part, but it is not like Gary put MD hoops on the map. Lefty may have been crooked, but he had the type of talent to compete and beat UNC and Duke every year, and in this era of 7 and 8 bids per confrence would have had dozens of bids and plenty of final 4s.

Gary did, and does a great job at the coaching end of the job. but his recruting is sub par at best. He does not, and never deserves to get canned, but it would be nice if he took it up several notches in the talent department, and kick out some of that hard earned cash if need be.

[Rochardrik]

Yeah, those threads really piss me off. I mean, where's the loyalty?

Since 1989, Gary Glitter has taken us from the outhouse to the penthouse in the best conference in college basketball, no less. During that time, he has lead us to more ACC wins than any other coach besides Dean Smith and Coach K! Neither of those clowns had to deal with rebuilding following the aftermath of the Death of Len Bias or the corruption of Bob Wade.

The guy has amassed more 20-win seasons than I can count and an excellent NCAA Tournament record (27-14) over the years and yet the minute things appear a little on the downside, out jump the vultures calling for his funeral. Simply unbelieveable.

The guy recruits the right way and although I'd like to see more big names come through College Park, nobody can deny that it was Gary Glitter who re-opened the pipeline to Baltimore talent after Wade screwed things up with his shenanigans (Booth, Dixon, Elliot, hell even alltime favorite Earl Badu!).

600 career wins and numerous Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight and Final Four appearances, PLUS a National Championship, yet the guy still can't catch a break from the vultures. Would we even have the gorgeous Comcast Center today if not for the tremendous success that the hardest working coach in the game brought to Maryland?

I have always been a Gary supporter and barring a collapse of Matt Millen-like proportions, I don't want Gary going anywhere until HE decides it's time. He is one of the few living legends this state has in college athletics and contrary to popular belief, the reports of his demise have been greatly exaggerated.

FEAR THE TURTLE.

All this is absolutely true....... as far as it goes, and it doesn't go past 2002. The recruiting has deteriorated every year since, and the teams have been just short of dreadful.
I love Gary, and you are right. He took a very difficult situation, and created (rebuilt)a top notch program.
But the obvious failure to capitalize on a National championship and build upon it is without a doubt unforgiveable....Programs should not get increasingly worse for 6 years following a national championship. It SHOULD create the oppurtunity for a program to be at least relevant every year following. That oppurtunity was wasted. There is no way to capitalize on that win now... It's like starting all over again!!!
All in all, it's frustrating!!!!!

[Mwjergs]

All this is absolutely true....... as far as it goes, and it doesn't go past 2002. The recruiting has deteriorated every year since, and the teams have been just short of dreadful.
I love Gary, and you are right. He took a very difficult situation, and created (rebuilt)a top notch program.
But the obvious failure to capitalize on a National championship and build upon it is without a doubt unforgiveable....Programs should not get increasingly worse for 6 years following a national championship. It SHOULD create the oppurtunity for a program to be at least relevant every year following. That oppurtunity was wasted. There is no way to capitalize on that win now... It's like starting all over again!!!
All in all, it's frustrating!!!!!

Gary Williams refuses to adapt his recruiting practices to fit today's college basketball. I'm not refering to giving player's money or getting family members jobs. He meets only with parents and the high school coach and will not speak with AAU coaches, which is where the top players will play the vast majority of their games.

The team has no legitimate reason to keep playing David to all the Goliaths of the basketball world when PG county pumps out the best basketball prospects in the nation. You only need one or two of any of the great players over the years that have jumped from the state to other programs.

As far as Gary building this programs during the Walt Williams era, the university and its fans forever owe him that debt. No TV, No tourney and he slowly built a contender that led to AAC titles and a National championship. That can never be taken from him.

The post title era is interesting. Mike Jones was listed as the 2nd best guard in the nation behind Lebron James. He didn't play well until his Senior year and was mainly a long range shooter. Nik Caner-Medley never progressed as he should have and was a victim of poor shot selection his whole career. Go player by player and you see guys that we highly touted but never reached full potential. Both the coaching staff and players should take that blame.

The attitude that Gary has earned the right to stay regardless of what he does typifies Coach Williams attitude as well. It's why he's been asleep at the wheel recruiting wise. Blame assistants and their turnover to other programs but at the end of the day he must assemble a roster he feels can compete in the ACC and beyond. He must be accountable for his failings as well as given credit for his success. Blind loyalty is never a good thing.

That being said he has done a marvelous job with this group. They had a few major upsets this season (UNC,MSU,Wake) and when they play together are fun to watch. I would never disparage his coaching ability, he can still game plan and motivate with the best of them.

Cal will be a tough test. They shoot 3's at a high rate, something MD has had trouble defending. They will want to play deliberate and will be well coached (Mike Montgomery -from Stanford). The Key as always is Vasquez. If he can score and distribute they can get to round two. Getting past Memphis will be difficult though.

[HoustonRaven]

Gary took a horid program, added his midas-like touch to the team and is one hell of a coach.

Not even his biggest detractor can take that away from him.

However, if you're looking at this situation without passion, you have to agree with Roch and his observations.

There are coaches in all sports that have a job until they die -- Joe Pa, Bowden, Coach K, Roy Williams, etc -- that have proven time and time again they can remain at or very close to the top.

I am sorry, but Gary is not as bullet proof as those mentioned above. He is my coach just as much as everyone here. I went to MD and understand his contributions. This year, he convinced me that he should stay 1-2 years on the hopes he is listening to those who are calling for better and more aggressive recruiting.

Gary had a golden opportunity after the championship but dropped the ball.

Lets all hope things keep getting better and we now see the Tourny more often.