To Maryland coach Gary Williams, the time for senior forwards Bambale Osby and James Gist to save the Terrapins? from what would be one of the most devastating late-season collapses in recent memory has arrived.
“I think when you?re a senior, you always have a greater sense of urgency than the younger guys,” Williams said. “They?ve been through more than the younger players. You don?t want them to feel pressure with that, either. You want them to still just go out and play.”
The play of Osby and Gist tonight at 8 at Wake Forest (16-9, 6-6) likely will determine if the Terrapins (17-11 overall, 7-6 ACC) can take a major step in securing an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year. Williams hopes his team is paying more attention to the surging Demon Deacons than the media prognosticators who are split on whether the Terrapins would make the field of 65 if the teams were announced today.
“The key is not to worry about if this team beats that team, or ?I hope they lose,?” Williams, whose team has three of its past four games, said. “We have to play. We have to win our games. That?s how you have to look at it. That?s a lot of wasted energy, this time of year, worrying about the NCAA. You can worry about it, but it does no good. What?s the point? The point is to prepare for your game.”
Williams? voice has taken the brunt of the team?s recent struggles. Williams, who did not make any of his players available to the media on Wednesday, spoke in hushed tones on Wednesday, admitting to losing his voice on the flight back from Miami after the Terrapins were pounded, 78-63, on Saturday.
Wake Forest runs a three-guard offense ?similar to Miami ? which Williams said will force the Terrapins to improve their passing. Maryland has committed at least 10 turnovers in each of the past seven games after giving the ball away 15 times against the Hurricanes. Wake Forest, which has won three of its past four games, is led by freshman forward James Johnson (15.1 ppg, 8.3 rpg) and freshman guard Jeff Teague (13 ppg, 2.7 apg).
Williams said it is imperative his seniors, especially Gist, who for the past four games is averaging five fewer points than his season average of 15.6, inspire a team which has seven freshmen.
“Our seniors have to play well,” Williams said. “They?ve been through it. They were on a team that won 25 [games] last year, finished in the top 25 in both polls. They should know how it works.”
