Comments on: Trouble in College Park

By: nvr1983

nvr1983 — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 15:26:06 +0000

HD–
I’m not sure what you’re getting by questioning the validity of this blog since we’re one of the 3-4 biggest CBB blogs by most measures. I’m also not sure if you’re trying to disagree with my point or using this as a pulpit.

I’ll agree that Williams and the Terrapins have done a nice job turning it around although they deserved all the criticism they got after that horrible loss to UVA. Having said that, Maryland is definitely in the 2nd/3rd tier of the ACC right now, which is surprising after all their success in the Juan Dixon-era. I’m not arguing with his ability to coach. I’m questioning his ability to recruit, which is a big part of college basketball. You can say “forget the top recruiting classes” and knock Coach K for not winning national titles, but at least his teams are consistently in the hunt, which is something you can’t say about Maryland since Juan Dixon, Steve Blake, and company left.

By: HD

HD — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 15:13:14 +0000

If anyone actually reads this blog, it is yet another rush to judgment on Gary Williams. The guy is a scrapper, when you think he is down and out, he’ll kick your ass. I have been a MD fan for 30+ years and have been one of those guys who has on occasion called for Gary’s head but somehow he always finds a way to respond. Small team this year with Dave Neal a 3 year bench player making significant contributions somehow he managed to knock of several top 10 teams and win 20 games. Embarrasing? Yes at times it has been- Duke, GTown, Gonzaga and most of all Morgan St. But thinking about what was perceived to be a small, untalanted bunch has now knocked on the doorstep of the NCAA tournament and as of now still has a shot to win the ACC crown. If Williams can bring in a talanted big man, there is no telling how good the team can be for quite sometime. Forget the top recruiting classes, Williams wins with his type of guys, tough scrappers that set higher expectations for themselves than anyone else has for them. He won a National Championship with a less than stellar recruiting class and with the right mix he can do it again.

Do not mistake his stature as a college coach vs. Coach K, Roy Williams and the likes. Year in a year out, the recruiting class cannot compete yet somehow his team can. Finding lightning in the bottle is what he is faced with each year and yet Coach K has the top talent and has not won a championship since 2000-2001. Top talent = 0 championships since the beginning of the decade!

Understanding that this article was written during the low point in the season and also considering that my commets are during the high point, MD basketball is unique with Williams and he will hopefully put his critics behind him with the finish to this season. An ACC quarterfinal and a birth to the dance would have seemed unlikely a the beginning of this year, now with a little luck both will come to fruition.

HDizzle

By: Dillon Raye

Dillon Raye — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 04:07:46 +0000

I think that they should sign Big Danny Burns and Rick Schlauch, the dumpster, and also Bornsteintech, the half-assed technical school!!!