James Gist

Editor's note: Each week, InsideMdSports.com provides this blog with a Maryland recruiting feature that previously appeared as premium content on its site. It's been a while since Maryland basketball recruited a player from Good Counsel in Olney - the Terps signed Falcons forward James Gist in 2003 - but that appears to be changing in the form of Anthony Cowan. Just a freshman, Cowan's already attracting the attention of high-major recruiters. Though Good Counsel coach Blair Mills said it's too early to go in-depth on Cowan's suitors and recruitment, he told InsideMDSports.com that Maryland has been expressing interest in the 5-foot-11 point guard.

Editor's note: Each week, InsideMdSports.com provides this blog with a Maryland recruiting feature that previously appeared as premium content on its site. It's been a while since Maryland basketball recruited a player from Good Counsel in Olney - the Terps signed Falcons forward James Gist in 2003 - but that appears to be changing in the form of Anthony Cowan. Just a freshman, Cowan's already attracting the attention of high-major recruiters. Though Good Counsel coach Blair Mills said it's too early to go in-depth on Cowan's suitors and recruitment, he told InsideMDSports.com that Maryland has been expressing interest in the 5-foot-11 point guard.

College Park -- In the aftermath of Maryland's embarrassing home losses to Ohio University and American last month, forward James Gist seemed to be taking much of the criticism for his lack of production, effort and leadership. Gist fouled out of both games, playing a total of 47 minutes, contributing 11 points and 10 rebounds. The only fourth-year senior on the team, Gist was seeing his final season as a Terrapin quickly slipping away. Duke@Maryland Tonight, 6:30, Comcast SportsNet, 1300 AM, 105.7 FM Records: No. 4 Duke (16-1, 4-0 ACC)

DOUBLE-DIGIT DOWNFALL This marked the third time in the past six games that Maryland blew a double-digit lead. Losing the 15-point advantage might not have been as bad as the 20-point collapse against Clemson at Comcast Center on March 2, but it was worse than losing the 11-point lead to Virginia Tech on Feb. 20. A SPLIT AT BOBCATS ARENA It's doubtful Maryland will return to this venue. The Atlantic Coast Conference tournament isn't coming back because the arena doesn't have enough seats to satisfy the league's 12 teams.

On the Maryland men's basketball team The Terps have an extremely weak senior class with no direction or a consistent go-to guy. ... Gary Williams has allowed the program to sink to a low level; it's time to say, `Thanks, Gary, but a new direction is needed now.' The senior class has been a definite bust, but the bigger issue is Gary Williams' future. I favor moving him out now but I doubt the administration will act for at least two more years. The obvious hope are the freshmen and the incoming recruiting class, which seems strong.

DOUBLE-DIGIT DOWNFALL This marked the third time in the past six games that Maryland blew a double-digit lead. Losing the 15-point advantage might not have been as bad as the 20-point collapse against Clemson at Comcast Center on March 2, but it was worse than losing the 11-point lead to Virginia Tech on Feb. 20. A SPLIT AT BOBCATS ARENA It's doubtful Maryland will return to this venue. The Atlantic Coast Conference tournament isn't coming back because the arena doesn't have enough seats to satisfy the league's 12 teams.

University of Maryland basketball recruit James Gist, a 6-foot-7 senior from Good Counsel High School in Wheaton, will lead a U.S. All-Star team against a squad of Baltimore all-stars in the fourth annual Marines Charm City Challenge on April 4 at the Towson Center. Among Gist's teammates will be Joakim Noah, a senior from Lawrenceville School in New Jersey and the son of former tennis pro Yannick Noah; and Greg Manning Jr., who is from Chattahoochee High in Alpharetta, Ga., and is the son of the former Maryland guard of the same name.

Carroll County government employees from truck drivers to secretaries will focus on how to avoid accidents and injuries this week as part of National Safety Week.Employees launched the week yesterday with a reception at the County Maintenance Center on Old Meadow Branch Road. Almost 100 people attended.Lauren Eib, the county's risk manager in the Department of Management and Budget, said educational sessions are planned each day to help employees learn how to prevent accidents on and off the job.The events include a "rodeo" tomorrow in which 12 dump truck drivers will drive a course at the maintenance center and perform maneuvers in a competition, she said.

COLLEGE PARK -- For the Maryland basketball team, the night started with the lowering of a banner from the Comcast Center rafters, commemorating last year's Atlantic Coast Conference tournament championship. Unfortunately for visiting Jackson State, the Terps didn't rest on their laurels. No. 15 Maryland had promised that the season opener would bring a more energetic and focused team, and, for the most part, it stayed true to its word in dominating an overmatched team that wilted in the face of the Terps' depth and full-court press.

COLLEGE PARK - Before speaking to the media after Maryland's 86-71 victory over Virginia Tech at Comcast Center on Tuesday night, Terrapins coach Gary Williams took a good, hard look at the game's box score and came to this conclusion: "I think everybody played well." It was just last Saturday after a loss at Miami when Williams remarked that one of the Terps' biggest problems is that they can't seem to play with consistency. Against Miami, Chris McCray played well, but Nik Caner-Medley and John Gilchrist didn't.

College Park -- In the aftermath of Maryland's embarrassing home losses to Ohio University and American last month, forward James Gist seemed to be taking much of the criticism for his lack of production, effort and leadership. Gist fouled out of both games, playing a total of 47 minutes, contributing 11 points and 10 rebounds. The only fourth-year senior on the team, Gist was seeing his final season as a Terrapin quickly slipping away. Duke@Maryland Tonight, 6:30, Comcast SportsNet, 1300 AM, 105.7 FM Records: No. 4 Duke (16-1, 4-0 ACC)

Buffalo, N.Y.-- --The two players who will make or break Maryland's fortunes in the NCAA tournament were not among the players in the HSBC Arena interview room yesterday afternoon. Greivis Vasquez and Eric Hayes, after all, are freshmen, and unless you're Kevin Durant or Greg Oden (and maybe not even then), you wait your turn at the big table at tournament time. The upperclassmen - seniors D.J. Strawberry and Mike Jones and junior James Gist - had the honors. Back in the locker room, reporters and cameras found Vasquez tucked away in a corner of his locker, and Hayes sitting quietly in a chair in front of his. The pair got at least as much traffic as their elder teammates - understandably, because those upperclassmen are the first to acknowledge that the freshmen are a huge part of what makes them go, and what will keep them going in the NCAAs.

On the Maryland men's basketball team The Terps have an extremely weak senior class with no direction or a consistent go-to guy. ... Gary Williams has allowed the program to sink to a low level; it's time to say, `Thanks, Gary, but a new direction is needed now.' The senior class has been a definite bust, but the bigger issue is Gary Williams' future. I favor moving him out now but I doubt the administration will act for at least two more years. The obvious hope are the freshmen and the incoming recruiting class, which seems strong.

WASHINGTON - Their Atlantic Coast Conference tournament title defense lasted a little more than two hours, and now the Maryland Terrapins have all weekend to ponder how it all went so wrong. On Sunday evening, the Terps will get together and watch as the 65-team NCAA tournament field is unveiled, knowing that they gave the selection committee one more reason to not call their team's name. In the ACC tournament's return to the Washington area for the first time since 1987, eighth-seeded Maryland was bounced yesterday by ninth-seeded Clemson, 84-72, at MCI Center, the Terps' fourth straight loss and the third defeat to the Tigers this season.

COLLEGE PARK - Before speaking to the media after Maryland's 86-71 victory over Virginia Tech at Comcast Center on Tuesday night, Terrapins coach Gary Williams took a good, hard look at the game's box score and came to this conclusion: "I think everybody played well." It was just last Saturday after a loss at Miami when Williams remarked that one of the Terps' biggest problems is that they can't seem to play with consistency. Against Miami, Chris McCray played well, but Nik Caner-Medley and John Gilchrist didn't.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - If last night was indeed a statement game for the Maryland basketball team, the Terrapins had plenty to say. Before 5,926 at the Springfield Civic Center and a national television audience, the 13th-ranked Terps pounded No. 25 Memphis, 84-61, in the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic. Searching to put together a dominant 40 minutes, and show they are a national title contender against a ranked opponent, the Terps (3-0) came about as close to a perfect game as they could get at this juncture of the season.

Buffalo, N.Y.-- --The two players who will make or break Maryland's fortunes in the NCAA tournament were not among the players in the HSBC Arena interview room yesterday afternoon. Greivis Vasquez and Eric Hayes, after all, are freshmen, and unless you're Kevin Durant or Greg Oden (and maybe not even then), you wait your turn at the big table at tournament time. The upperclassmen - seniors D.J. Strawberry and Mike Jones and junior James Gist - had the honors. Back in the locker room, reporters and cameras found Vasquez tucked away in a corner of his locker, and Hayes sitting quietly in a chair in front of his. The pair got at least as much traffic as their elder teammates - understandably, because those upperclassmen are the first to acknowledge that the freshmen are a huge part of what makes them go, and what will keep them going in the NCAAs.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - If last night was indeed a statement game for the Maryland basketball team, the Terrapins had plenty to say. Before 5,926 at the Springfield Civic Center and a national television audience, the 13th-ranked Terps pounded No. 25 Memphis, 84-61, in the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic. Searching to put together a dominant 40 minutes, and show they are a national title contender against a ranked opponent, the Terps (3-0) came about as close to a perfect game as they could get at this juncture of the season.

COLLEGE PARK -- For the Maryland basketball team, the night started with the lowering of a banner from the Comcast Center rafters, commemorating last year's Atlantic Coast Conference tournament championship. Unfortunately for visiting Jackson State, the Terps didn't rest on their laurels. No. 15 Maryland had promised that the season opener would bring a more energetic and focused team, and, for the most part, it stayed true to its word in dominating an overmatched team that wilted in the face of the Terps' depth and full-court press.

University of Maryland basketball recruit James Gist, a 6-foot-7 senior from Good Counsel High School in Wheaton, will lead a U.S. All-Star team against a squad of Baltimore all-stars in the fourth annual Marines Charm City Challenge on April 4 at the Towson Center. Among Gist's teammates will be Joakim Noah, a senior from Lawrenceville School in New Jersey and the son of former tennis pro Yannick Noah; and Greg Manning Jr., who is from Chattahoochee High in Alpharetta, Ga., and is the son of the former Maryland guard of the same name.