Maryland ran into the buzz saw of the Memphis offense as they fell 89-70 in KC yesterday. Memphis was just too athletic and overmatched the Terps. Maryland hung tough and brought a 29 point deficit in the 2nd half down to fewer than 20 by game's end.
A long and exhausting season came to close for senior Dave Neal and the Terps. Tim Brando and Mike Gminski of CBS were gracious and complimentary of Maryland during the route that was occurring during the game. Little was made of Vasquez' comments about Memphis during the game and more made of the excellent coaching of Gary Williams this season and what Neal meant to the Terps this season.
Gminski and Brando weren't the only ones exalting praise upon Gary Williams. Andy Katz expressed before the tournament began what a tremendous job of coaching Gary has done this year and warrants HOF consideration.
It's easy to forget just a few months earlier the anti-Gary sentiment and apparent rift between Debbie Yow's Athletic Department and Gary Williams. Not only did Gary get the maximum out of a team that faced uphill challenges almost every game versus a more athletic squad, he kept the team together and gave them an opportunity to succeed. Gary returned the program back to big dance. The nay-sayers and will have to bide their time and wait lurking for some other time to rise up again.
The backbone and leadership of Dave Neal in his senior season also helped Maryland stay the course without completely derailing and allowing the season to become lost. Dave Neal, the "Rudy" of the team or as Brando & Gminski referred to the ready for the YMCA Leagues ended his senior season in style. Little did anyone foresee the role Neal would have in shaping the team and contributing in so many different ways to help lead the Terps back to the NCAA Tournament.
It's also worth reflecting on the ACC as a conference and how they fared so far in the tournament. Of the 7 ACC Teams entering the tournament only two remain, but of the five schools eliminated only Maryland made it to the 2nd Round. Clemson (who has started off on fire to start the season each of the last two years only to cool during the ACC Season under head coach Oliver Purnell), Wake Forest (who's head coach Dino Gaudio doesn't insist on pounding the ball down low with the big front court), Florida State (who's head coach Leonard Hamilton has recruited and assembled one of the most athletically talented teams in the conference), and Boston College all fell in the 1st Round. Maryland outlasted all four of them. It's acknowledges and is a testament to the great coaching of Gary Williams. The wild season ended better than most would have dreamed. With the excellent coaching from Gary and front court recruits coming in next year better seasons lay ahead.
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I hope once and for all the anti-Gary comments stop. They won't of course, because they'll say a differently recruited team would fare better. What they always fail to do is to name a better coach. You can get a better recruiter that's currently sitting on the sidelines, like Steve Lavin. Of course, you'd also be wishing for the death penalty for the program.
Interesting that in speaking with some relatives yesterday who are Notre Dame football fans, the comparison to Gary. They say that for the past couple of years, Charlie Weis has been on the hot seat from fans and alum alike. What it all comes down to in the end is that there is not a better coach fitted for the job. Gary is one of the unique coaches that is perfectly fitted for his job. It should be his until he decides he wants to leave.
Congrats to the team and thanks to Dave Neal for his great years. Here's to a great YMCA team he will be joining, as Gary puts it so well.