Williams confident in Maryland’s dedication

COLLEGE PARK, Md.– Whatever misgivings Kevin Willard may have had about training guys’s basketball at Maryland, Buzz Williams’ arrival shows the task is still pretty enticing.In Williams,

the Terrapins employed a knowledgeable replacement who has had some success in highly competitive leagues. He was not only ready to leave Texas A&M after three straight NCAA tournament looks, but he accepted the Maryland task shortly after the departure of the school’s athletic director– and following Willard’s untidy exit.

“Relative to what I thought was important on the dedication going forward, on what is needed to be effective at the greatest level, there was never ever any question from (Maryland) on the dedication for us, me, the personnel, NIL, the players, the resources,” Williams said. “I’m at peace with all of it.”

Williams was introduced Wednesday at a news conference that consisted of Colleen Sorem, Maryland’s interim athletic director, and Darryll Pines, the school’s president.Maryland was certainly eager to show off its brand-new coach, holding an event that included cheerleaders and band members. The playlist before the news conference consisted of “Somebody That I Used to Know “by Gotye– and whether that choice was intentional or simply a coincidence, the state of mind was clear. The Terps were proceeding from Willard, and they were delighted about the future.Editor’s Picks 2 Related Spectators consisted of football coach Mike Locksley and females’s basketball

coach Brenda Frese, plus Gary Williams, who coached the males’s basketball group to the 2002 nationwide title. Following his departure, the Terps were coached by Mark Turgeon(who likewise came from Texas A&M)for 10-plus seasons and Willard for three.Willard left last weekend to take the job at Villanova. It wasn’t a surprise that he viewed Villanova as an attractive position, but before he left, he also had some pointed remarks about the institutional support for his program at Maryland. Those remarks took place around the very same time athletic director Damon Evans left for SMU– and right as the Terps were beginning their NCAA tournament run that ended in the Sweet 16. Buzz Williams was also in the tournament; Texas A&M lost in the second round. So there was some distance between him and the Willard-Maryland break up.”I truly didn’t even understand what had actually

transpired, and I think that was what caught me off guard in my interaction with Dr. Pines, is he told me what had actually transpired,”Williams stated.

“That’s not to speak ill towards Coach Willard or the group. I didn’t hear all of it, nor do I think all of it’s important. “As uncomfortable as the previous couple weeks have actually been, Maryland avoided a drawn-out look for a new coach. “Actually did everything that we could to concentrate on keeping Willard, but

at the same time, the reality of, if he left we required to be prepared,”Sorem said.

“So a great deal of prep, a great deal of diligent hours, research study, speaking to individuals in advance, and after that when we finally got the word, we were all set to go. “Pines stated he hopes the search procedure for an athletic director will start by next week. When Sorem was asked whether she ‘d have an interest in the position, the question was cut off by Brian Ullmann, a deputy athletic director and chief method officer. “We’ll wait up until Darryl sees what he does first,”he said.As for Williams, he faces the very same challenges as any coach nowadays: putting together a roster. Maryland’s”Crab 5”– the starting lineup that was among the best in the country– might not have any returnees next season. Two starters run out eligibility, two more went into the transfer website and star big man Derik Queen might be a high choice in the NBA draft if he leaves the Terps after one season. “As soon as I can figure out who’s on the roster, that would be the top place to start. I met with the group today. They were fantastic,”Williams said. “I believe it’s an unpredictable modification that coaches always

mention, that sometimes players do not have the chance to mention. … I just wished to give them a platform to offer me suggestions.”