Madness is coming to College Park. For coach Gary Williams and the Maryland men?s basketball team, they just hope there?s less of it in the regular season.
Friday night?s Maryland Madness will signal the beginning of preseason practice for the Maryland men?s and women?s basketball teams. After missing the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row, the men know they have to make some changes.
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At media day Thursday, Williams emphasized defense and depth at the guard position as key differences from last year. Williams went as far as to say that last year?s team was the worst defensive team he had ever coached.
“I think we can be a very good defensive team,” Williams said.
Williams cited the conditioning workouts his players undertook in the offseason. Will Bowers, Ekene Ibekwe and D.J. Strawberry were among the returning players that Williams highlighted as coming back stronger for a run at the Atlantic Coast Conference title.
“We have to survive league play to be successful,” Williams said. “We have to be deep enough and strong enough to be successful.”
Depth for Maryland came in the form of five new players, including two freshman guards who will have an immediate impact. Eric Hayes and Greivis Vasquez could see significant time and possibly start for Maryland as freshman. Regardless, they will free up Strawberry, who played the point last year, to move back to the wing.
“With the guards we have coming in now, obviously they are predominantly point guards,” Strawberry said. “I am going to move into my position and do whatever coach wants me to do.”
Strawberry worked on his offensive skills over the summer in California. The 6-foot-5 senior wants to improve as a scorer to replace some of the punch Maryland lost last year.
Forward James Gist will be heavily relied upon, as well. Williams expects the 6-foot-8 junior to take more leadership responsibilities with this team.
“That is something I feel comfortable with,” Gist said. “It is going to take discipline from me, from the team and focus from me and focus from everybody to work together with this and for us to get rolling.”
SNAPPING BACK
» Along with Eric Hayes and Greivis Vasquez, freshman forwards Jerome Burney and Landon Milbourne and junior transfer Bambale Osby, another forward, are newcomers.
» Coach Gary Williams said last year?s squad had difficulty with a schedule ranked 10th in the nation in difficulty. Last year, Maryland became the first team to go 8-8 in the ACC and win an ACC Tournament game and not make the NCAA Tournament.
