Williams is a three-time national coach of the year finalist.

Williams, inducted into the Maryland athletic hall of fame in 1999, has achieved a school-record seven consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, and the Terps' 53 wins in the last two seasons are bettered by only six schools nationally.

The decade of the 1990's was certainly a decade of resurgence for the Maryland basketball team. Included among the many superior accomplishments during the decade and counting the 2000 season were: the school-record seven straight NCAA Tournament appearances (1994-00), four "Sweet 16" appearances, seven consecutive upper division finishes in the ACC including runner-up distinction in 1999 and 2000, a school-record 28 victories during the 1998-99 season, four NBA lottery picks, one national Player of the Year and one ACC Player of the Year.

For more information on Maryland basketball, visit the Maryland Athletic Department's website.

CHAT

Gary Williams

Terp Country, USA from [207.172.11.147], at 12:06pm ET
in this day and age of star players often leaving early for the nba; how important do you think it was this season to have such a "veteran" team; and how important are senior role players/leaders such as mike mardesich and laron cephas on helping the players cope with adveristy throughout such a long and interesting season?

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Gary Williams at 12:07pm ET
Obviously at this time of the year, having experience on our team helps us. The most important thing is that we have continued to get better as the year has gone on, so that when we did make the NCAA Tournament, we were in a position to take advantage of our experience.

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John Pellizzari from [64.102.32.159], at 12:07pm ET
Both Maryland and Duke like to run a fast-paced offense and play tenacious defense...What do you feel will be the deciding factor in Saturday's matchup?

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Gary Williams at 12:08pm ET
In our three games with Duke, both teams have played well. Hopefully, we'll have another great game this Saturday. Both teams do play an up-tempo style, and it should be a great game for the fans.

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TerpsFan from [64.209.134.135], at 12:08pm ET
Gary, are you concerned with how unselfish your team can play in the sense that players often pass up an open shot and give the ball to someone else, or do you like that style of play?

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Gary Williams at 12:09pm ET
This year, our team led the ACC in assists and going into the NCAA Tournament, we were the leading assist team in the tournament. So, hopefully, we will continue to play that style by passing. We get very good looks at the basket and shoot a good percentage.

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Steiny123, College Park from [129.2.219.95], at 12:11pm ET
Coach Williams: With only two more games left this season, how will you motivate your team to stay focused and not be content with reaching the Final Four?

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Gary Williams at 12:11pm ET
The team has done a great job of focusing on the job at hand, all year. We have a big game coming up on Saturday, and our focus will be on that game. We are not satisfied just making the Final Four.

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Corey from [207.232.205.12], at 12:12pm ET
How will you defend against the 3 with duke. It seems like that's all they shoot.

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Gary Williams at 12:13pm ET
With Boozer healthy again, Duke becomes a team that also has an inside threat to score. Obviously, they are a tremendous 3-point shooting team, but when they are very good, they also have the ability to score inside.

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Brendan Kelly from [152.163.207.77], at 12:14pm ET
Who would you say is the team leader?

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Gary Williams at 12:15pm ET
The leadership of our team, this year, has come from three seniors --- Terence Morris, Mike Mardesich and LaRon Cephas. They have all contributed their leadership in different ways. They have all been very important parts of our team.

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Dobs from [138.88.83.149], at 12:18pm ET
Coach, great season and super postseason. After some students and fans got down on you and the team after that skid of losses in February, how do you look at Terp fans now, especially campus students? Do you feel as if you and the team were sort of on you own after the Florida State loss?

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Gary Williams at 12:19pm ET
In the 12 years that I've been at Maryland, our fans have been terrific. They've stayed with us through the tough times my first couple of years. They have helped us create a great basketball atmosphere in Cole Field House.

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Lee Swanson from [205.152.116.5], at 12:19pm ET
Coach Williams, if there is one thing you have learned from this magical season, with all the ups and downs, what would it be?

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Gary Williams at 12:20pm ET
One thing I've learned is that you do everything you can to keep the team together, whether things are going well or poorly. In many cases, the character of the team comes out when you do have some adversity. And, if you can get through the tough times, you usually are a better team for it.

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KC from [166.42.147.202], at 12:21pm ET
Coach, as a 36 year Maryland fan, these last few days have been special. I just wanted to say thanks! GO TERPS!

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Gary Williams at 12:22pm ET
Hopefully, the Final Four week will be a great week for all Terp fans. As we prepare for our game on Saturday, I am reminding our fans and our players to really enjoy this week. It is special to be a part of the Final Four, and I hope everyone feels that they are a part of it.

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DickieV from [152.16.200.42], at 12:23pm ET
Coach, what do you think about all the talk about the "East Coast Bias" cited by the PAC-10? Do you feel that the your teams's and Duke's showing is a vindicating factor for the ACC?

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Gary Williams at 12:24pm ET
It is great for our conference to have two teams in the Final Four. With five teams consistently in the Top 25 all season, I knew we had a very strong conference. And, to be the only conference with two teams in the Final Four speaks for itself.

Thank you again for your questions. We look forward to seeing lots of Terrapin fans in Minneapolis.

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