Q: What's the deal with Maryland? Gary Williams cannot recruit. Period. 2002 was a great year but in this world, it's what have you done for me lately. In the ACC Duke, UNC and a few others repeatedly put quality on the floor. Maryland? Forget about it. With the major exception of [Chris] Wilcox, the 2002 team was loaded with seniors and that's rare in this era. I think it's time for Gary to hang it up and for the Terps to bring in a young, in touch, recruiting coach. What say you?
— Stan, Rockville, Md.

A: Now I understand why Williams arrived in an armored military vehicle for Maryland Madness at Comcast Center when practice began in October. When you are starting your 20^th season at your alma mater, I guess it pays to be well protected. The vocal majority seems ready to fire its best shot at Williams this season and I guess that’s not a big surprise. Maryland has a proud basketball tradition and now the Terps have missed the NCAA Tournament three of the last four years. But, Stan, I simply do not agree with the “what have you done for me lately” philosophy.

Those three seasons Williams didn’t get Maryland to the Big Dance, the Terps won 19 games each season. A lot of programs would settle for that type of “failure.” How do we define “lately”? Back-to-back Final Four trips and a national championship in 2002 doesn’t seem like ancient history to me. Only eight coaches have won a national championship in the past 10 years and Williams is one of those. I would agree that the series of recruiting escapades the past year don’t reflect well on Maryland, but given the nature of college basketball these days I think you can find an embarrassing moment or two in the closet of every major program.

I worked in Baltimore and covered Maryland basketball during the Adrian Branch-Len Bias era. Stan, I don’t know if you are old enough to remember the way Lefty Driesell was treated in his final years at Maryland. The unfortunate death of Bias certainly made it difficult for Lefty. Bob Wade was brought in as that “younger, recruiting coach.” How did that work out? Be careful what you wish for. Who brought Maryland back from those dismal days? I believe that would be Gary Williams. Three things to remember about Gary: No coach works harder during a game, no coach gets more out of nothing, and no one loves Maryland basketball more than he does.

Q: How long will it take Mike Montgomery to turn Cal into a winner again?
— Sam Condon, San Francisco

A: Mike Montgomery faces a big challenge at Cal, the same way any other coach does in his first season at a new job. But based on his time at Stanford, and his reputation as a terrific teacher, I don’t think it will be that long, Sam. Montgomery loves a team built around big men. He won’t have that his first year and it will take at least a couple of recruiting classes to build the program to his vision.

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Recruiting is huge at a school like Cal. “You want kids who can succeed here,” Montgomery told me during a conversation this summer. “The academic opportunities are tremendous. But we also have to get kids who can win at the Pac-10 level.” The conference has changed since Montgomery left Stanford. Pac-10 coaches have embraced the “one-and-done” players and that’s a difficult trend for Cal. But I honestly think Cal could be a conference contender again by Montgomery’s third season. And I can’t wait for his first game back at Maples Pavilion on Jan. 17, 2009. “They can only do so much ... unless they allow snipers in and then I’m in trouble,” Montgomery said.

Q: What about St. John's? Is Norm Roberts really the answer for this program? I appreciate what he has done in regards to cleaning up the program, but can he get us back to being a Big East contender again??
— Chris Roth, Orangeburg, N.Y.

A: That’s a really good question Chris and I’m not sure anybody has the answer. This has become a very difficult job. The good news is that the Big East will welcome all 16 teams to the conference tournament in Madison Square Garden this March. There’s something wrong about a Big East tournament in New York without St. John’s participating.

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Norm Roberts is coaching under enormous pressure this season. He knows it. The vote of confidence he got with a five-year rollover contract was important from a recruiting standpoint. But it’s pretty clear there must be results — and right now — if Roberts is to keep his job. The hard part is making that move in a 16-team conference loaded with talent. You are right for praising Roberts for cleaning up the program. Mike Jarvis left behind an enormous mess. Unfortunately, St. John’s had to focus on those issues at a time when the program should have been bracing for the impact of conference expansion. Villanova coach Jay Wright talks about how important it was for the Wildcats to make their move before the new teams were added. Now the climb up that ladder is more difficult.

Roberts has to continue his grassroots approach to recruiting and make St. John’s important to the New York scene again. The best way to accomplish those things is through winning. No more excuses. But if Norm Roberts isn’t the answer, who is?

Q: OK, so they moved back the three-point line. How long until they outlaw the dunk again?
— Barry, Billings, Mont.

A: Maybe I’m wrong Barry, but I think I detect a slightly cynical tone to that question. Sounds as if you are bummed because they’ve added an extra foot to the three-point line. But honestly, I think college basketball fans shouldn’t give the change much thought. It isn’t all that noticeable – and long overdue. The season is early, but I haven’t heard coaches or players discussing the change at all. And if something isn’t working, coaches are never shy about letting us know.

I think the dunk is safe for now. Rules do get changed, but the physical markings on the court rarely get altered. The three-point line was added 22 seasons ago. Prior to that the last change of the court diameters was the widening of the lane from six to 12 feet. That took place in 1956. Some sort of adjustment to that lane may be the next adjustment we hear about.

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