OT / Gary Williams

[HoustonRaven]

Love to hear everyones thoughts on this one ....

Does UMD now start thinking that Gary's run in College Park is almost over?

I am on the fence on this one but would not be shocked at all if they start sending out the feelers for his replacement. It kills me to even type that since the guy is a great dude. I had the pleasure of meeting him at an event at M&T. He was with Ray (who is also one of the nicest guys I've ever met) and Gov. Ehrlich.

Too bad being nice doesnt always keep you in a job.

[Bez513]

Yes. Nice guy and all but College BB is big business. Since the NC season they haven't done much. Recruitment hasn't been that great, the team's academic effort is terrible and has been for years.

I'm not sure how much he has left on his contract but I'd put him on notice now and rid out the contract. No changes made then see ya later.

[ravenjoe]

Gary should remain as HC for as long as he still has the 'fire'!

[HoustonRaven]

Gary should remain as HC for as long as he still has the 'fire'!

Im sorry, but I prefer wins and national titles over "fire" every day of the week.

[ravenjoe]

Gary Williams is, and always will be, a winner! He is a HOF coach, and UoM would be the real loser if they ever decide to 'retire' Coach Williams!

[Mwjergs]

Williams will stay as long as he wants.

I would be very surprised to see him forced out by the University. Say what you will, he has 600 career wins and has won 20 games with 4 different universities, which puts him in select company.

I think he's done a fantastic job with this roster of players. They are not very talented yet still compete. Meltdowns aside they have done even better than expected.

College basketball stopped being about academics years ago. It is about money and that's where it starts and ends. It's just the truth.

I will agree on the recruits. The past years he has not been as active personally on the recruiting trail and with such turnover on his staff it hasn't helped. Just remember great national recruits like Jones, Ekezie, and Ibekwe never amounted to the hype they were given, so there is something to that.

[ExiledRaven]

1 -GW is not a good recruiter or at least that is not his passion. That's why the recruiter got brought in there. College sports is 90% recruitment, 10% coaching. Why else do you think Zook did well at Illinois suddenly...don't tell me he's a great coach.

2 - Academics and college sports are a joke. You should see, not just the amount of support and help these people get, but the preferential choice of class times to having "easy" professors and TAs as well. I don't see how you can do poorly if you're just flat out dumb as a box of rocks or don't try. If GW can't even get decent academic performance, that's also pretty pathetic.

Hopefully the terps can turn the table. Since the NC, about all you see is a team that plays well in spurts and upsets duke or UNC, then sputters and barely makes or missing the tourney. What a mess.

[ravenwoman]

Gary Williams is not a bad coach. He just doesn't have a good team. Maryland never attracts the top talent in anything, except Women's Basketball.

I personally like Coach K from Duke. His teams are very consistent and he attracts top talent year in and year out.

[ravenjoe]

There is only One Coach K; it's unfair to compare GW with who, imo, is the best college coach in the game today, and maybe ever!

[Ravenator]

Ohh god, don't talk about that Rat Coach K. Anyway, two things on the subject.

1. Gary will remain coach as long as he wants to. As mentioned earlier, he is a hall of Famer and leads all UMD coaches in wins. Most likely, by the time Gary calls it quits he will have more then 700 wins.

2.The only thing I really don't like that Gary does is putting his bench players back on the bench when they start to get hot. (See Bowie and Burnie in closing minutes)

[Ravenator]

Plus, as long as we beat UVA and win one ACC game we are in. Linardi and CBS both have us in.

[RavensNTerps]

He won't ever be fired, period.

Christ the team has 7 freshman and 3 sophmores. What did anyone expect THIS year?

[highwater]

I don't think he'll get fired either, at least not any time soon. He'll be given an opportunity to turn things around, and I think he's earned that. This program was absolutely in the toliet when he arrived, and he not only returned UM to respectability, we got a championship out of it and regular tournament appearances.

But this team -- yeesh. They play scared at times.

[HoustonRaven]

No coach is bulletproof.

I love Gary and agree with most that he wont get fired anytime soon. With that said, if he doesnt change things around in the next 2-4 years, I dont think the powers that be will be in a forgiving mood.

[RAVENOUS52]

Gary's job is secure.

He's one of the best and anyone who watches him do his thing knows this.
With the right players, he's as dangerous as any coach in the NCAA. Look at what he has to work with and consider that we are still on the brink of a 20-win season.