Friday Morning Dump

It kinda makes sense that the pulse of the basketball world is coming from Washington, D.C. this week. First, Paul Hewitt was named head coach at George Mason. Then there were rumors of a possible Maryland/Georgetown rivalry rekindling. After that came news of Jordan Williams' decision to stay in the NBA draft.

But yesterday, the "outta-left-field" news-story of the week dropped: Gary Williams is retiring from Maryland after 22 seasons at the helm.

Get ready for a Maryland-heavy dose of the Friday Morning Dump

- The Washington Post got some reactions from people familiar with William's work

- Just when we thought the coaching carousel was done spinning, Williams has go to and get it started up again

- Apparently Maryland is already targeting Notre Dame's Mike Brey, even though he is looking for a contract extension from South Bend. Villanova's Jay Wright is also at the top of their list, as is Arizona's Sean Miller

- Eamonn Brennan waives farewell to the least appreciated coach in the ACC

- Mike Miller explains why this decision almost came about last year

- Mike DeCourcy tells us that the circumstance made the retirement decision much easier for Williams

- Despite your reaction on his decision to retire, you have to acknowledge that Williams did it on his own terms. At least that's what Seth Davis says (And who are you to question Seth Davis?)

After the jump, more links about Williams retirement, and a bunch of other news from the college hoops scene

- The Terps now have a bunch of decisions that they need to make, and they need to make them relatively soon

- Williams' retirement will likely start a "changing of the guard" process in College Park. Williams was never known as a tireless recruiter, so you have to imagine the recruiting philosophy at Maryland is bound to change

- Two of Maryland's star recruits, Sterling Gibbs and Nick Faust, are likely to ask for their release from the program. But Justin Anderson, another highly-touted recruit, remains committed for now

- Testudo Times gathered some twitter reactions, all with the same theme: The Maryland job may be better than you think

- Casual Hoya wonders what this retirement will mean for the Georgetown program

- The big non-Maryland news of the day was that Washington-commit Tony Wroten Jr. is part of an alledged academic investigation. Wroten was apparently given a C in a class he never took nor did any class work for

- If Gary Williams retiring wasn't enough of a bombshell for you, how about this: Gus "Gus-Jeezy" Johnson is leaving CBS. What. The. Hell. Where will "The Law of Gus" end up next?

- Chad Forde provides his first mock draft of the off-season (It's a must-read, but only if you're an Insider)

- Matt Norlander provides a great-read on the anatomy of a mid-major coaching change (really good stuff here)

- Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free-Press believes that if Darrius Morris didn't want to be at Michigan, it's best that he left, even if it does stunt the Wolverines growth

- Is Scotty Hopson staying or going? How does Tennessee move forward with/without him?

- In case you were unaware, the early entry decision has been pretty dicey this season

- Kentucky freshman Brandon Knight will announced his NBA draft decision later today

- The Slipper Still Fits tries to make sense of Demetri Goodson's decision to leave Gonzaga

- Luke Hancock the hero of George Mason's first round tournament upset of Villanova, has announced his intentions to transfer from the University

- Valparaiso-transfer Brandon Wood has narrowed his list to Michigan State and Tennessee. The ex-Crusader let the Horizon League in scoring last year and we be eligible immediately because he is on pace to graduate this month

- Georgetown sophomore Vee Sanford announced his decision to transfer from Georgetown last week. Word on the street is that he will be taking an official visit to Dayton and is "leaning towards the Flyers"

- Jamal Combs-McDaniel has decided to transfer from UConn. This decision comes a week after the backup swingman was arrested on drug charges

- Back in March, Jim Les was fired as head coach of the Bradley Braves. But yesterday news was delivered that Les will be named the new head coach at UC-Davis

- Jay Larranaga turned down an offer to coach under his dad at Miami. He wants to root for the Hurricanes, but he wants to do it from afar

- John Calipari has been officially named the new head coach of the Dominican Republic national basketball team

- Some teams schedule exhibition games again Canadian schools, NAIA schols, and national teams from obscure European countries. But not Marquette. Nope, the Golden Eagles will be scrimmaging Kansas State and USC next season

- I kinda like this idea: A Vanderbilt fantasy mock draft

- I don't think a behind-the-back dribble has ever been broken down this specifically

- Butler's Matt Howard is now on twitter and using it to grow his brand

- Big-Ten bloggers provides advice to the incoming Nebraska basketball program (Entertaining stuff here)

Now, instead of a video or a picture, I thought I'd hit you with my quick opinion on the Gary Williams retirement decision:

I cannot tell you how long I have been anxiously awaiting this moment for.

I hate Gary Williams. I hate his lack of personality. I hate "I don't need you that bad" approach to recruiting. I hate his radio show, his CSN show and the fact that he gets to do golf analysis for the AT&T National and the U.S Open. But I especially hate is over-abundance of sport-coat perspiration.

I acknowledge his coaching acumen, and acknowledge that he's probably not that bad of a person.

But check it: I was born in Washington, D.C. and spent my entire life within a 35-minute drive from College Park. The first memory I have of watching a live college basketball game was the Georgetown/Maryland overtime-thriller in 1993 (The last time the two teams met during the regular season). 90% of my friends growing up were Maryland fans. I have played four athletic contests at University of Maryland, and I was on the losing side all four times, including two overtime losses in Byrd Stadium. Philadelphia fans are like Mormons compared to Terps fans. These people will riot if they lose AND riot if they win. Lighting couches on fire is practically considered a major at College Park. I hate the University of Maryland. There is not one redeeming quality about the College Park Campus.

I guess that I don't really hate Gary Williams that much in the grand scheme of things. I just hate everything about the University of Maryland. But for the past 22 years, he has been the public embodiment of the University.

But I'm not going to sit here and tell you I didn't fist-pump for a good 30 seconds when I heard the announcement on the radio. I'd be lying if I told you I didn't take both hands off the wheel of my car to "clap it up" for 25 seconds when I heard the news.

I dunno, maybe I hate too much. But then again, since Syracuse is a good 800+ miles away, Maryland is the next best thing.


Okay, Okay, I'll give you a video, but only because The Jimmer is in it