If:

1. You go to University of Maryland College Park or;
2. a UMD alumni;

You are probably thinking: 'What the hell happened to UMD's basketball program in a span of five years? Hell I am. Three out of four years playing in the National Invitation Tournament does not exactly equal a prestige college basketball university. It is not too pleasant sitting out the big dance when you baby sister school, UMBC, earns their first-ever NCAA Tournament berth.

That being said, I think the time has come for what I've coined an 'internal audit' (IA). My IA of UMD's basketball program should consist of three things:

1. Examining the state of UMD's basketball program,
2. Examining if Gary William's long tenure is done?
3. Recruiting

To die hard UMD supporters my IA might sound harsh, considering they went to the second round of the NCAA tournament last year. OR maybe not, it could be a wake up call. But when you win a national championship six years ago, the bar has been officially been raised and alumnus/students expect another trophy. Or at least advance to the second round in the ACC tournament.

A problem is with William's recruiting style. Williams known for developing moderate talent than attracting outstanding players. That's a shame since our own backyard, the Baltimore-Washington corridor, is rich with talent players leaving the state to play else where (e.g., Carmelo Anthony and Rudy Gay). All five of George Mason's starters on its Final Four team were from Maryland.

Maybe I'm wrong, maybe William's operates at his best by recruiting 'blue-chip' players who need grooming. Steve Blake couldn't get a scholarship to North Carolina State, Dixon and Larry Baxter had mediocre first years. However, UMD needs to start being more aggressive in recruiting if it wants to constantly commit against UNC or Duke. Especially now that non-power house ACC basketball programs are starting to out preform UMD, such Miami-U, BC, VA Tech, Virgina. In 2002, we were National Champions; five years later UMD is still in the rebuilding stages (arguably in the 2nd recruiting class after the Dixon/Blake team). It is time for a change in recruiting practices now or what I have already told to KP: time for a new coach.

Labels: Basketball