I'm a 25 year old Maryland alum who went to all but maybe three games while attending College Park and have had season tickets for three years now. And no I wasn't a communications major.

It drives me crazy to see the student section 2/3 full by the second half when we're playing Illinois in the ACC/Big Ten challenge. I know the public attendance wasn't spectacular but students are much more responsive in this type of situation. Especially when your tickets are included with tuition and you can walk to Comcast Center. I'm not going to lecture about how we need to support the team no matter what and how attendance and atmosphere (controlled mostly by students) directly affects future success because you should know that already.

What really bothers me is hearing 'F*ck" Duke' during Zombie Nation when we're playing Florida Gulf Coast or 'Nate Britt Sucks' chants after hearing he committed to UNC, as Ben pointed out earlier. Grow up. And for that matter, do you really think calling out a 17 year old kid who committed to another school is really the way to go? You don't think that other recruits might see that and think we're just going to verbally assault them should they decide to go elsewhere? It's sad and I'm ashamed that we would stoop so low. It's embarrassing and sounds incredibly bitter.

Students represent the school. And before someone says, 'well Maryland fans are known for being crude', that's true to a point. I'm ok with the 'hey you suck chant'. It's light hearted and non-specific. I even enjoyed the 'shut up Bruce' chant earlier tonight. There's a limit though. Eventually it changes from funny and a little intimidating to pathetic. We're rapidly approaching the latter.

I know most of you that are students on here probably aren't involved with the more absurd chants but I'm begging the students that do read this: please get your friends out to the games and if the guy next to you or behind you starts a ridiculous chant, tell him to stop. One idiot is contagious and can turn into 100 real fast.

Pre-season all Big East selection. Averaging 14 points and seven rebounds in two games. He was suspended for the first four games due to a violation of NCAA rules from a few years ago. Its never a good thing when someone tears their ACL but it should help us out when we play them next Sunday.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/7279838/notre-dame-fighting-irish-lose-senior-tim-abromaitis-torn-acl

Terps Terps Terps Terps Terps Terps Terps Terps Terps Terps Terps Terps Terps Terps Terps Terps Terps Terps Terps

I swear I saw this on here but maybe it was on Terrapin Times.  Short article with a good non-biased perspective on MD basketball recruiting.  I tend to be in this camp but maybe you feel otherwise.  I think it highlights a good point that often gets missed.  People tend to see that top 30 guy going elsewhere and get upset that he isn't going to their school.  Maybe it's better to get the three and four year guys?  I'll let you read for yourself and decide.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/623794-maryland-basketball-is-recruiting-the-problem

In lighter news, Terrell Stoglin has been named ACC rookie of the week for the second week in a row.  Despite his questionable decision making at times, he's the most aggressive and confident freshmen I've seen on this team in my lifetime.  Good for him.  Maybe he'll become the next vocal leader that we're severely lacking.  I see a bright future for him.  Congrats Stogs.  You earned it.

ACC Rookie of the Week

MD vs FSU Crowd...or lack of

I'm a former student and now a season ticket holder and have been noticing this for the past few seasons.  The fans, this year especially, have been rather poor....namely the students.  It seems like we have been in a slow decline of enthusiasm but this year seems much worse.  The second we lose a game everyone gets taken out of it.  I don't want to use the term "fair weathered" but we're trending in that direction. 

The students are quiet for 80% of the time with a few cheers when we score.  The whole point of a home crowd is to have a sixth man.  Someone at your back that will pull you out of those lulls.  We're leaving this team to dig themselves out and then cheer them when they're riding high.  We need to be helping them dig out of a scoring slump or defensive lapses.  I don't care if you're angry about a mistake.  Being silent at the game only exacerbates the problem

The students need to take the first step.  You are right on the court, stand the whole game, wave signs and posters, start chants, and intimidate the other team.  It starts with you.  The old farts in the crowd get pumped up because of you.  I'm not saying the non-students aren't responsible but let's face it, the students get the crowd going.  Gary seemed upset with the turnout last night, and rightfully so.  The Wall was maybe a third full with most of the students sitting down.  The rest of the stadium seemed maybe half full.  Pathetic.  Even SVP called us out.  SVP!  Something is really wrong if we let SVP down.  We're letting our team down as well.  Every program goes through ups and downs.  The best programs have fans that will help them through the good and bad and we are not helping them at all right now.  I'm disappointed at the attending fan base and everyone needs to step up. 

I'm challenging everyone, especially the students, to get LOUD!  You're team needs you and you're just standing there.  And please don't come in here saying you're disappointed with recruiting or how the season is going or whatever.  All of that gets left at the door when you show up to the game.  If you want to complain about that to your friends or on the forums fine.  But when you're at Comcast Center your job is to encourage your team and help them to victory.

Just got an email from "Gary" haha.  Vasquez's jersey will be honored at 5:15 with tip-off at 5:30.  There will also be an honors ceremony for the 2001 Final Four team during half time.  Tahj Holden, Byron Mouton, Chris Wilcox, and Juan Dixon are expected to be in attendance.  They hint that there may be a few more as well but aren't sure.  I'm guessing Steve Blake had a scheduling conflict since he's playing with the Lakers.  I'm pretty pumped to see all of them in one spot again!  Not sure about TV coverage of this event though...

UPDATED: 18Feb11 with five new players

I like things to be organized in Excel so I made a chart with the recruiting targets through 2013.  This is compiled mainly from ESPN, Rivals, and Scout.  If I'm missing something, something is wrong or has changed, or I need to add something, please do not hesitate to let me know.  Some of these guys seem like slight chances but I threw all of them on there anyway.  For all I know something could be wrong on here and recruiting info changes all the time anyway.  Well, enjoy and let me know of any updates that I don't catch.


Recruiting Board (1)

Recruiting Board (2)

I was just going to post this as a reply to someone else's comment but I feel like expressing my view of MD basketball.

I meant the title in a good way.  It's well known Gary despises the whole recruiting scene and what a sham it has become.  Handlers, kids who get pushed along academically, money, entitlement, etc.  He simply won't go along with any of it. 

I don't believe we're an elite team, but we're a team I'm proud to be associated with.  And we are a good team, just one that can't seem to pull out those single digit games right now.  I'm a die hard Gary fan if only for the fact that he doesn't run a shady program.  If you want a dominant team that gets the one-and-done's every year and is always in the championship talks, then maybe this isn't your team.  We aren't always going to be a great team, but Gary will always get the best out of his players.  It's why we love MD whether you realize it or not.  We're David where teams like Duke, UNC and the likes are Goliath.  That's why it's so satisfying to beat them!

And it's not like Gary hasn't tried.  Think about the recruits who either committed to MD or seemed locks and then suddenly disappeared.  Terrence Ross, Gus Gilchrist, Lance Stephenson....and that's just the past few years.  These kids obviously had grade issues to say the least and many even had ongoing legal issues.  Gary's two favorite players from the past decade are Juan Dixon and Greivis Vasquez.  Not highly touted recruits, but four year guys who became leaders on the floor and commanded the ball when the game was on the line.  They worked hard beyond what was asked of them.  Juan Dixon even had a key to Cole! 

There's a story about how John Calipari flew down to N.C State a few years ago before Sidney Lowe took over to interview for the vacant basketball coaching position.  He flew in on his private jet with his entourage to tour the campus.  His official reason for not taking the position was he didn't want to play in a conference with high caliber teams like Duke and UNC.  The unofficial reason was their academic standards for basketball players were far too high compared to Memphis and he couldn't get the recruits he wanted.  Now I don't know how true the unofficial reason is but it seems plausible and absolutely is a reason why MD, along with many other programs, can't get certain recruits with academic problems.  I'm just waiting for Breunig, Whittington, Judge, or someone else we're pursuing to suddenly drop off the recruiting map due to grades.  And from what I hear, Whittington may be an issue.  I guess we'll see.

Anyway, take this for what it's worth.  Gary is a great sideline coach.  I don't think it's that he "can't" recruit, but more that he isn't willing to deal with certain recruits who are often among the most highly regarded in the country. 

I think some people also have an unrealistic view of our program.  We aren't Duke, UNC, Kentucky, Kansas, Syracuse, UCLA.  We do have a great program history with a HOF coach but we are not elite.  Look at the top 20 recruits on ESPN for 2011: 4 for Kentucky, 2 for UNC, 2 for Syracuse, 1 for Duke, 1 for Texas, 1 for Memphis.  Those programs are either elite or having shady academic standards or shady coaches (I think you can pick that one out).  Now Virginia Tech does have one but he's a local kid and they got lucky that he wanted to stay close by.  We will get top 100 recruits (Parker, Faust, Stoglin) but usually not the top guys.  We have to get kids that fit our program.  And I'll bet you like having Jordan Williams don't you?!

I'll leave you with this thought.  Gary seems to despise entitlement.  It goes against everything he stands for: blue collar, hard working, no complaining, earn your keep style of play and work ethic.  If you're a top 10 or 20 or 30 recruit who gets national attention (games on ESPN, your own page on Rivals, ESPN, etc.), plays on a well known AAU team, gets free athletic gear, gets recruited by huge programs across the country, has a handler who basically acts as your agent, plays in the McDonald's All American game, and who knows what else.  Do you think you might have a bit of an ego and a sense of entitlement?  OF COURSE!  Now there are some that don't fall into that category.  From what I've read about Nick Faust, he seems like a genuinely good kid who just wants to work hard and win.  But the majority seem to fall into the aforementioned category.  Look at Mike Jones, great shooter (rated second behind LeBron James) but he basically refused to play defense.  I'll take a full court player thank you.

I would like to be more competitive and I think Gary could do a bit more to recruit, but I'm happy with the way the program is run and I enjoy our scrappy style of play.  Now if we can just pick up another big or two...

I don't know about you, but I despise the season long bracket projections (see Lunardi) and bubble watch articles.  I guess by now you can start the bubble chatter but it still seems overdone and kind of a crap shoot taken way too seriously. 

Anyway I thought this was a nice little blurb about Maryland...

" If the selection committee paid more attention to tempo-free statistics, they'd notice Maryland was one of the best 15 or so teams in the nation, and one of its best on the defensive end of the floor."

"But the committee doesn't seem to care where Ken Pomeroy's highly regarded efficiency numbers place various teams -- even though it should -- and in the real world you have to turn some of that efficiency into wins."

Bubble Watch ESPN

Came up with these in my spare time.  If I missed something let me know.  I'll try to update them in the future and post again.  I know we run the flex offense and anyone can theoretically play any position but the depth chart is just to visualize how we stand at each position.....and we definitely need another forward or two.  Enjoy!

Maryland Basketball under Gary Williams

Historical Record

Maryland Basketball Scholarships

Scholarships

Maryland Basketball Depth Chart

Depth Chart

Pretty good piece about ACC projections.  We're listed as third in "best of the rest" which is everyone after Duke.    Jordan Williams gets some nice praise.  A few quotes:

"I may be in the minority, but I enjoy games at the Smith Center and the Comcast Center (liked Cole, too)."

"And it's hard to top the intensity of the students at Maryland. The Duke students may have more gimmicks, but the Maryland students tend to bring a bit more vitriol to their passion."

Andy Katz ESPN

http://www.cardiachill.com/2010/10/31/1786070/lamar-patterson-joins-injured-panthers

This would be huge if they all stay out for a few more weeks....though it doesn't look like it.  Nasir Robinson looks like he'll be out for 3-6 weeks from the 28th which could make it close with us playing them November 18th.  Lamar Patterson will likely be back next week though it doesn't look like they're entirely sure yet.  Gilbert Brown seems like he'll also be back before we play them but his hamstring has lingered longer than he thought already.  Alright, so they may all be back by the time we play them but even if one were out, any little bit helps.

Looks like Faust caused our 2011 class to jump in to ESPN's top 25.  I'll take it.  Can't access it since I don't have insider but it says 2 commits.  Duke, UNC, and VA Tech are ahead of us.  Now we need to land Baru and/or Hubert and jump up some more!

2011 ESPN Top 25 Recruiting Classes

TERPS TERPS TERPS TERPS TERPS TERPS TERPS TERPS TERPS TERPS TERPS TERPS TERPS TERPS TERPS

Just caught our MD basketball commit Pe'Shon Howard on ESPN Sports center top 10 plays!  He was number ten with a gorgeous no look-between the legs pass to Doron Lamb I believe.  Don't quote me on that I just got home from work and I'm tired.  I can't find a video right now so if someone can link it up that would be great.  Enjoy it when you see it!
 

Its nice to see Maryland getting some more national attention.  We cracked the ESPN power rankings at 25 and Gary is even getting some credit from Jay Bilas.  Georgia Tech and Wake Forest are just ahead of us at 24 and 23 respectively.  After that it's just Duke at 7 for the ACC.  KenPom has us at 8....not sure about that one but I'll take it.  They have us finishing 21-9 (11-5) which would be quite nice.  Oh there are also a few mentions of the Terps in the Jay Bilas chat so check that out.  He seems pretty high on us.

ESPN Power Rankings

Jay Bilas' Six coaches who deserve recognition

KenPom

Jay Bilas chat

Just thought I'd throw this out there for anyone that hasn't discovered this site yet.  It's called Warren Nolan and it has a lot of good statistical data including RPI, strength of schedule, and many others.  They also have NPI which is the Nolan Power Index.  I believe this takes into account winning percentage and strength of schedule unlike RPI that accounts for winning percentage (25%), opponents winning percentage (50%), and opponents-opponents winning percentage (25%). They also have the major polls and conference rankings for RPI and NPI.

The site updates daily so it's fairly accurate.  Maryland is currently 9th in RPI, 5th in NPI, 46th is SOS, 6th in defensive points per game, and 10th in scoring margin.  Anyway, enjoy!

It looks like we'll find out today for sure but it seems Dino will be back on 12/12.  If this is true, it will be a relief to have him only be out for another few weeks but we'll sure miss him at the Maui Invitational and playing Nova.  Hope he's ready to go when he comes back because our frontcourt is a little short at the moment......

Dino Gregory Suspension - Diamonback Online