It's definitely not an exciting time to be a fan of the Terps. At least they seem to have shaken off the "inconsistent" label they had garnered earlier in the season. Watching the past few games they've consistently turned the ball over and lost to teams they seemingly were capable of beating.

I find myself torn on whether or not Gary needs to go. He brought us a national title only six years ago. He rescued the program from the post-Bias scandals. But UMD has lost any semblance of being an elite program in recent years.

UMD basketball players have an abysmal graduation rate. The question I keep asking myself; If we're not graduating players and we're not winning, then what are we doing?

No matter what happens with Gary, I'll continue to support the program and hope the best for the kids playing.

I hope we can find a true point guard to come in and right the ship. Vasquez is a spectacular playmaker, but not a true point guard. Hayes came in as a point guard, but he's been struggling in a leadership role and there's been rumors that he may be transferring following the season.

Having people at the point who belong at another position (Vasquez, Strawberry) kills the effectiveness of the flex. We can't work the ball in when our floor general can't make good decisions and reliable passes. Steve Blake isn't walking back into the lockerroom, so I can only hope that Bobby Maze can come in next year and take over as a steady presence.
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Bryan,
Thanks for writing. There is some hope in that a few of these players, including ones you mentioned, might mature. But I would have to agree that the end of the season was discouraging.
-- Bill O.

I think most fans are too quick to jump on the what have you done lately bandwagon. Yes, Gary restored a destoyed program and brought back onto the national scene. But, the success of the Maryland Basketball has allowed Maryland to bring in Ralph and start restoring the football program and countless other sport programs at Md. It has even helped the Lady Terps with their efforts. The success has also rebuilt the football stadium and basketball arena.
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Capt.,
Thanks for pointing out the collateral good that has come from the basketball program.
-- Bill O.

We are a mess right now, and I don't see Gary turning this ship around any time soon. I appreciate all he has accomplished in his career but over the past five years he hasn't had a clue. I think his recruiting and on-court strategies need to be updated. Most teams have a formula to beat us and we don't seem to be able to adapt.

It is like Gary has had two different careers. The successful one that brought this program back to prominence and the inept one that has lead to NITs and poor graduation rates.

I am not calling for Gary's head but how long til he is held responsible? Can Debbie pull the trigger with all of Gary's alumni support?. Who knows, but UMD bball is struggling mightily in the mean time.

Gary Williams, despite all the good he has done in College Park, needs to resign so that this program can move forward.

The alumni of this school deserve much, much better. I, frankly, as one who was a student when the program was on probation, am sick and tired of the culture of losing that has become insidious in this program.

Clearly, something is not right, and a change in leadership is desperately needed. Think about it: Boston College had lost 12 of 13 coming into this game. And Maryland blows a huge lead to them? Something is not right with Md., and for anyone to deny otherwise is delusional.

If Williams had any guts, Bowie and Tucker would have started and Vasquez for sure would be on the bench. 6 more turnovers last night to add to the total that led the ACC.

Frankly, the program is close to becoming an embarrassment. Losing three straight games when the team had a chance to qualify for the NCAA tournament? I think we can do better, because this team had talent. Witness the win in Chapel Hill this season.

Losing to very subpar teams like Virginia in the regular season finale and then Boston College is absolutely unacceptable. And let's not forget blowing a huge lead at home against Clemson, when the Terps inexplicably could not adjust to Clemson's pressure.

2002 was a long time ago.

One word of caution. Just because you replace the man, is not a 100% guarantee that you will improve. Any coach that comes to Md is coming to have to fight the same recuriting problems; You have to fight over big name ACC shools, then the elite schools, and then the party schools of Florida.

Capt. Jack, you are right: change for change's sake is not always going to produce positive results.

But, remember last year's ACC tourney? Md. lost to a Miami team that I think had a losing record. They then lost in the 2nd round to a Butler team that had no business beating them.

And this year? NIT again. It will be interesting to see -- if they even make the NIT field -- how much intensity the Terps will bring. Remember two years ago (I believe) the debacle at home against Vermont?

After almost 20 years, I don't know if Gary is burned out. But this program does need a breath of fresh air in a big way.

"allowed Maryland to bring in Ralph and start restoring the football program"

Restore the football program? Maybe you missed the crappy 2007 season... And we still aren't recruiting at the highest levels of the ACC. Ralph started off real strong but has fizzled in recent years - he probably should have parlayed his early success into an NFL job when he had the chance.
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Dave,
Thanks for writing. Certainly Ralph started off great but they've been to bowl games the last two seasons as well ... although last year was kind of so-so. They were pretty competitive in 2006. Considering many other programs, five bowl appearances this decade isn't so bad.
-- Bill O.

Bill, I find that article from your collegee, Rick Maese interesting. What do you think about the travel budget and how even the lady terps outspend the boy terps? I was quite shocked by it. Granted dollars do not always mean success, but it almost implies they are just trying as hard as the others.
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Capt.,
It was an interesting comparison and Rick was careful about drawing definitive conclusions but he allows the reader to make the obvious inferences about recruting efforts. I just don't know enough about it other than it brings a situation to our attention that bears watching. In that regard, Rick did an excellent job.
-- Bill O.

One thing to keep in mind is that Gary's recruiting hands are tied by the University's admissions standards, which are MUCH tougher now than they were in 2002. That is at least part of the reason why UMD has been unable to recruit the local talent away from Texas or Miami. There's only so much scholarship money, and even still, you still have to get accepted to the University.

Now if you wanna talk about his refusal to go get a perimeter sharpshooter, that's another story...

I think Ralph has done some good recuirting this off-season and they should rebound next year. But, for the record, what was the condition of the program before Ralph came on scene?