Jordan Williams is about to discover whether he’s ready for the NBA. Maryland is about to find out whether it’s NCAA tournament-bound. The two outcomes depend on each other.
The Terps need Williams to carry them over the final six games starting Tuesday at Virginia Tech. The ACC’s leading rebounder (11.8 per game) and Maryland’s top scorer (17.1 points) is one of the conference’s best players. But can Williams save Maryland (16-9) from the NIT?
He managed only 12 points and eight rebounds in a loss to Boston College on Saturday. The Eagles defense reduced the sophomore forward’s workspace to a phone booth and Williams didn’t emerge as Superman.
“The focus shifts,” coach Gary Williams said. “All of a sudden you get a lot of attention.”
Which would be fine if this was last year when Terps guards Greivis Vasquez and Eric Hayes kept defenses from focusing on the Terps forward. Unfortunately, Maryland’s backcourt this season has been disappointing. Sean Moseley (8.6 points a game) isn’t the scorer everyone envisioned when he arrived three years ago as a Baltimore phenom. Adrian Bowie (9.6 points a game) is representative of many Terps — solid role players. Unfortunately, none can spell Williams as the lead.
“You have to get used to it because that’s the way it’s going to be,” Gary Williams said.
Maryland now plays Virginia Tech for the second time after losing 74-57 at Comcast Center on Jan. 20. NCAA tournament contenders Florida State and North Carolina are next week. Add N.C. State, Miami and Virginia and the Terps’ opponents either have first-hand experience against Jordan Williams or have seen enough game film to know how to defend him.
“Part of the deal is you get notoriety and you have to work hard to get better,” Gary Williams said. “That’s the next step.”
The coach recently felt his forward was taking his earlier success of a school-record 13 straight double-doubles for granted. Boston College showed that’s not the case. Not that Gary Williams thinks Jordan Williams is regressing, but rather that he’s learning more aggressiveness against tall players is needed.
“There’s nothing wrong,” Gary Williams said. “This is another step.”
The next step is possibly the NBA. Part of being on the Wooden and Naismith midseason lists is growing whispers of Williams turning pro after the season. There’s too much money not to consider it.
Teams with NCAA tournament hopes will teach Jordan Williams whether it’s madness for him to bolt with two years remaining in college. Then again, leading Maryland to a strong stretch run also will show NBA scouts if he’s ready for a promotion. It happened for Vasquez last year.
The irony is Maryland could lose its best player should he lead the Terps to the postseason. But that’s a worry for later.
Examiner columnist Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com and on Twitter @Snide_Remarks or e-mail [email protected].
