Maryland
(2005-06 season: 8-8 ACC, 19-13 overall; lost in the first round of the NIT to Manhattan 87-84)

It’s been eight months since last year’s March Madness, but Gary Williams is still perturbed that his team, despite an overall winning record and a .500 mark in the ACC, wasn’t invited to the NCAA Tournament.

“Our strength of schedule was 10th in the country on Selection Sunday, but it didn’t seem to have any effect,” Williams said. “So maybe that’s not as important as getting 23 or 24 wins, like the Air Force, for example, who didn’t beat a Top 50 team during the year.”

Williams might have an argument, but his team’s 2-6 record in February didn’t help its case with the selection committee. The Terrapins ended up in the NIT, losing their opening game to Manhattan and ending a very disappointing season in College Park. Everyone around the program is determined not to have a repeat of last year.

“We really want to bring Maryland back to where it needs to be … and that’s in the (NCAA) tournament,” said Ekene Ibekwe, who will be counted on more in the frontcourt with the departure of Nik Caner-Medley. “I wouldn’t say pressure, but we know what’s at stake right now. Guys like me and D.J. (Strawberry) and Mike (Jones), it’s our last year and we want to leave Maryland with a bang.”

Williams should be happy to hear that. Early in preseason practice, the coach, one of three in the ACC to list a national title on their resume, said one of the key things he was watching was the attitude of returning players. Players like Ibekwe, Strawberry and Jones will be counted on to mix with four freshmen and a junior-college transfer this season.

“We have an unusual team this year in that we have six seniors (actually seven counting one walk-on) and five newcomers,” Williams said. “Part of their (the seniors) job is to get the new guys up to speed so we can play some of those people early.”

Among those freshmen that will be counted on for significant playing time are Eric Hayes and Greivis Vasquez. The hope around Maryland is that one of them – and possibly both of them - can handle the point-guard position, returning Strawberry back to the wing.

“That’s where I hope the young guards can really help us - with the ball handling,” Williams said. “Because D.J. is a great wing player.”

Without a true point guard last season – John Gilchrist left after his junior season to play overseas and Chris McCray flunked out of school early in the season – Strawberry was given the job. He performed adequately, scoring 10.3 points per game and dishing out four assists per contest, but he struggled with turnovers and his shooting percentage slumped to 42.9 percent.

“I’m just looking to wherever coach puts me on the court – just go out there and play my heart out,” Strawberry said when asked about his potential move back to the wing. “Play hard, do whatever he wants me to do, whether its at the point or the wing.”

He then paused briefly before letting his true feelings slip out.

Said Strawberry, “I think I’m feeling more comfortable, day in and day out, playing more on the wing.”

While Strawberry played tough defense last year, one school of thought is that his defense will improve by moving him off the ball. If so, that will only help a Maryland team that gave up 73.5 points a game, worst in the ACC. Williams said a big part of playing defense is the team’s intensity level, something that wasn’t up to his expectations last year.

“We just didn’t have it last year,” Williams said. “We can’t win big with that type of defense and our players know it. Now it’s a matter of getting it done.”

Copyright 2007 - MOP Squad Sports

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