Notes on Gary Williams as he and the Terps appeared for media day:

You got the sense how much Gary admired last season's Terps because they overachieved.

Williams: " I was really proud of the team in terms of what they did last year. We want to start Saturday form that point because we were really playing good basketball. We come from a different position in terms of what we can put in on the fist day of practice. That was one of the most rewarding teams I’ve ever coached."

Here's Williams on the two freshmen, Jordan Williams and James Padgett. He said Padgett is " “very quick for a guy that size. He reminds me a little of James Gist when James came in here as a freshman.” The coach called Jordan Williams a "very tough inside physical player. He’s a physical presence already on that team.”

Overall, the coach said, “We have a chance to be a very good basketball team this year.” He said the ACC is marked by parity. "This year, I think there are more teams at a certain level. You look at 16 games in our schedule in January or February and there is no lock," he said.

Note: Guard Eric Hayes says he is about 80 percent recovered from turf toe.sustained in a pick-up game. He hopes not to miss practice time.