Official Maryland Terps Thread 2.0

[Cramer]

There is NO excuse for a school in the middle of Prince Georges County, the best county in the country for basketball talent, to consistently have terrible recruiting classes. None.


As for his record; since 2002, we made the Sweet 16 only ONCE since that year. The other 4 NCAA appearances we were out in the 2nd round or earlier. We also made the NIT 3 times. For many programs this is okay. However, we're allegedly an elite basketball program. Yet Georgetown is clearly better than us, Tech and Va are as good. Hell, I don't think we're that far above a team like Mason or VCU right now.

I didn't even get past the part where you started screaming in your post but went back and caught this nugget.

How is Georgetown clearly better than us? This year, yea. Over the past 2 years? 5 Years? 10 years? 20?

Ummmmm....no.

Tech and UVA? Really? How about you explain that one before I waste my time blowing that idiocy up. Or is it all based on 1 year to you? And still, UVA?

As for Mason and VCU, MD wouldn't have won that conference going away? Well, going away is probably too strong a term this year but anyway.....

You're just talking a buch of stupid hate on Gary. Once again...who ya got in mind?

[Silvie Lysandra]

There's being a fan. And then there's being a homer. Georgtown has been better than Maryland since JTII, except in the petiod between 98 and 2005. 25 years ago Georgetown nearly threepeated as National Champions.

Now Georgetown has had recent S16 trips and a recent Final Four. Maryland? They've won 5 NCAA tournament games since 2003.

Thus the VT comparison - based on their performance and talent, they are a mid-tier school.

But sure, lets keep pretending everything's just fine at College Park and that NEXT time our 2 and 3 star seniors will come through, just like in 2007 and 2011.

[Cramer]

There's being a fan. And then there's being a homer. Georgtown has been better than Maryland since JTII, except in the petiod between 98 and 2005. 25 years ago Georgetown nearly threepeated as National Champions.

Except between 98 and 2005?

JTIII was hired in 2004.

You're an idiot.

25 years ago? They won one...not almost 3...but If you wanna play that stupid ass game, if Moses had come MD would have 3 or 4 more championships.......Hint.... Google Moses Malone. But then that's almost.

Now Georgetown has had recent S16 trips and a recent Final Four. Maryland? They've won 5 NCAA tournament games since 2003.

Spread that out to 2001 and MD has 2 Final Fours and a National Championship in that period.

I'm sorry...what has Tech won?

The rest of your post is blah blah blah garbage,

[Cramer]

I just looked at your post again and I see you said JTII....not JTIII.
I stand by everything I said....but I'll take back the idiot thing because that was specifically related to my no-reading ability. Doesn't mean I'm not thinking it but I'm taking it back. And if you want to go all that way back, factor in everything short of the death penalty and imagine what would have happened to GT.

[Silvie Lysandra]

Maybe without those ridiculous sanctions MD could have been better in the 90s (though the idea of them happening to a JT2 coached team is crazy).

In any case, nobody denies Gary isn't a great coach, or that he built the program from nothing. But since the last S16, we have been *painfully* mediocre, and it has been because of recruiting.

Think of it this way - considering what GW does with 2 and 3 star talent year in and year out, what if he lands *ONE* of Melo, Durant, Beasley, Gay, etc. Imagine that 03 team with Melo as an incoming frosh.


My point is that, as good a coach as Gary still is, until he overcomes his distaste for "modern" recruiting, we will be unable to meet the standard of a top program...a standard he himself set.

[Cramer]

Maybe without those ridiculous sanctions MD could have been better in the 90s (though the idea of them happening to a JT2 coached team is crazy).

In any case, nobody denies Gary isn't a great coach, or that he built the program from nothing. But since the last S16, we have been *painfully* mediocre, and it has been because of recruiting.

Think of it this way - considering what GW does with 2 and 3 star talent year in and year out, what if he lands *ONE* of Melo, Durant, Beasley, Gay, etc. Imagine that 03 team with Melo as an incoming frosh.


My point is that, as good a coach as Gary still is, until he overcomes his distaste for "modern" recruiting, we will be unable to meet the standard of a top program...a standard he himself set.

You still haven't answered my original question.....who do you have in mind to bring in that would be better?

What did Durant, Beasley or Gay win? Right. Melo? **** happens...but I wouldn't build my program around trying to hit the lottery. Imagine that 03 team if simply Wilcox had come back? They were a missed jumper away from the elite 8 after losing Dixon, Baxter Wilcox.....and hey for all the crap gary recruits, he's had 28 guys drafted.

[Cramer]

My point is that, as good a coach as Gary still is, until he overcomes his distaste for "modern" recruiting, we will be unable to meet the standard of a top program...a standard he himself set.

And oh yea, you'd rather him be more like.....Jim Calhoun? I'll pass on that. Dude has never had a hint of being anything other than a clean program. I'll pass on the "modern" ****.

You wanna cut a check for a title? I don't.

[Cramer]

Hell, I don't think we're that far above a team like Mason or VCU right now.

So, as much as I want to let this go and go to bed....I guess JTIII should be fired, and where does GT stack up against VCU? And oh yea, Ohio.....

You think MD gets beat like this by VCU? Maybe lose but get just smoked? But then again they didn't deserve a shot at them in the tourney this year so I'll shut up....just be careful who you hold up as the standard.

[Silvie Lysandra]

What did Durant, Beasley or Gay win? Right. Melo? **** happens...but I wouldn't build my program around trying to hit the lottery. Imagine that 03 team if simply Wilcox had come back? They were a missed jumper away from the elite 8 after losing Dixon, Baxter Wilcox.....and hey for all the crap gary recruits, he's had 28 guys drafted.

All of these guys were closer than Maryland's gotten in recent years.

And he's had maybe 4 guys drafted since 03.

This isn't about Gary's overall track record - it's about his track record since 2003. If our aspirations are "elite program" and not "mid-tier program", not being able to get past the second round since 2003 is not acceptable.

So, as much as I want to let this go and go to bed....I guess JTIII should be fired, and where does
GT stack up against VCU? And oh yea, Ohio.....

Comparing one bad tourney showing to a general trend of mediocrity since 2003 does not work. Especially when Maryland's mediocrity is more systemic than anything else - Maryland's recruiting tactics cannot compete with the influx of AAU players who are much better talent-wise than the guys he used to recruit (keep this in mind - if not for Stern's one and done rule, guys like Durant,
Gay, and Beasley might have gone to the NBA).

As for who might replace him? Well, that's not the point. Get an assistant coach from a top program like North Carolina or Texas, or even a former NBA guy. The point is to get a new approach to recruiting that gets us top players once again.

[Ruzious]

Part of the recruiting problem was that Williams and the FORMER athletic director couldn't work together, and players who verbally committed to Maryland - like Bobby Maze (starting PG for Tennessee) and Jennings (Louisville's starting center) were not admitted to the university. Just the other day, they got Anderson from local Montrose Christian - and he's Scout's 32nd ranked junior - so things have changed.

As for the assumption that getting a top assistant for a top program is going to work - that's hit or miss and sometimes hit and then fall off a cliff. Look at these top Duke assistants over the years: Quinn Snyder looked like the next big thing among new coaches his first few years at Missouri. But he finished off with 3 bad years - falling off that cliff in the last one. Tommy Amaker - was a disappointment at both Seton Hall and Michigan. Jeff Capel - fired at Oklahoma. David Henderson - fired at Delaware. Johnny Dawkins - struggling at Stanford.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

My opinion is Gary Williams can coach very well when he has the talent. He has coached his team to victories over some of Roy Williams' best teams and over Coach K's as well. However, recently Maryland has been a lower-tier program. Elite athletes do not choose Maryland. The Terrapins are not as good as the Colonials of George Mason in tournament play. Greveis is a pro but other than him, Maryland's not sending a large number of players to the pros like they once did. The Terrapins cannot offer recruits anything other area programs don't also have.

Once upon a time, Maryland was a powerhouse. I agree with chaos, about it being hard to excuse that PG County produces some of the best basketball players in the country, and really if you look at Lawson and Durant--in the world. Gary needs to get more of the local talent, and the kid from Montrose is a great start.

[Rafael122]

College players look at a couple of things: NCAA Tournament appearances and the potential to play in the NBA...can said college program get me drafted in the NBA.

The NBA potential, it seems like Gary gets one of his kids drafted in the first round once every 4 years or so. Seems like Jordan Williams may be the next guy drafted.

NCAA Tournament appearances are the bread and butter for college basketball programs, just like bowl games for college football programs. Coaches can get fired for not making the tournament year in and year out. National stage, ability for millions of people to see them play on the biggest stage in college basketball.

That's missing for Maryland. You're not going to be able to recruit top players if you don't make the tournament on a consistent basis or develop them enough that they can play in the pros. Look at George Mason, Larranaga couldn't recruit worth **** outside of this area, yet he's getting players from New York, Carolina, etc. Why? That 2006 Final 4 appearance helped, that 2008 NCAA Tournament appearance helped, and now with the win over Nova, another reason to come to Mason. They've shown they can beat the big dogs.

Same with Georgetown. Let's not even talk about their recruiting, just the fact that they are able to get their kids drafted in the lottery, Monroe, Hibbert, Green, Chris Wright may be a first round pick this year, and they've got another potential pro kid in Hollis Thompson.

Gary has to take a chance with one and done players. The program benefits, Gary benefits, everyone benefits. So what if you have Durant for a year? I'd rather have him for a year and have a great shot at winning the National Title than not have him at all. I'd like that recruiting chip "hey, Kevin Durant came here and he's one of the top 4 players in the world right now."

[Cramer]

Wow, I was pretty much a dick last night. I guess I could have made the same points with a little more tact. Drinking and the internet....what can go wrong.

[Scabs304]

How about the Lady Terps. Ranked again, unfortunatly they are in the side of the bracket with UCONN. Hope they can at least make the game respectable.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I don't expect Frese to keep them as viable as they were in the past. They are opposite of the men's program at UMCP. The Lady Terps are loaded with HS All America types, but they lose early in the NCAAs and have lots and lots of girls leave the program to transfer elsewhere.

I guess it's good enough to have top talent and be a top-25 team perenially, but I think Brenda Frese is more recruiter than coach--she is the anti-Gary Williams IMO.

[Silvie Lysandra]

Eh, after the title in 2006, the Lady Terps went second round, then Elite Eight twice in a row. They didn't make it the next year but they lost two top 5 WNBA picks so yeah.

They'll be fine.

[Wizardspride]

Eh, after the title in 2006, the Lady Terps went second round, then Elite Eight twice in a row. They didn't make it the next year but they lost two top 5 WNBA picks so yeah.
They'll be fine.

+1+1+1

[Cramer]

Eh, after the title in 2006, the Lady Terps went second round, then Elite Eight twice in a row. They didn't make it the next year but they lost two top 5 WNBA picks so yeah.

They'll be fine.

I think we're found the same page........

[Halcyon]

What an unbelievable dagger. Jordan Williams is inexplicably entering the draft. Is seemingly not coming back.

I think this is a huge mistake on his part. He's not even being projected as a 2nd rounder at this point.

I love basketball, but being a Maryland and Wizards fan is torture.

[Rafael122]

What an unbelievable dagger. Jordan Williams is inexplicably entering the draft. Is seemingly not coming back.

I think this is a huge mistake on his part. He's not even being projected as a 2nd rounder at this point.

I love basketball, but being a Maryland and Wizards fan is torture.

He will be a first round pick. The lack of bigs in this draft will help his cause.