Big stage, test await men's basketball

At the end of practice Monday, Terrapin men's basketball coach Gary Williams gathered his players around him, telling them that if they couldn't get excited for tonight's game at New York's Madison Square Garden, they "don't have a pulse."

"Every team is excited to play at that platform," forward Jordan Williams said of the Terps' matchup against No. 4 Pittsburgh in the 2K Sports Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer. "Madison Square Garden, number four team in the country, all the lights are on, everyone's going to be there, national television. You can't really say much more. If you can't get excited for this game, you have problems."

The last time the Terps played in Madison Square Garden, they entered the 2006 2K Sports Classic unranked and left as tournament champions.

Tonight and tomorrow, against a field of three teams all ranked in the USA Today/ESPN Top 25, the Terps will hope for similar results.

"If you're a college basketball player, I would think you would enjoy the opportunity to play in Madison Square Garden," Gary Williams said. "I never got to when I was in school. But it's certainly a great place to play basketball."

While the Terps are excited for the opportunity to play on the national stage, they're more focused on proving their worth there. After needing a last-second shot to beat College of Charleston last week, the Terps want to address any early-season issues with a strong showing in New York.

"We're looking to win. We're not looking to learn lessons," Gary Williams said. "It's a great opportunity for us to see where we are against quality teams."

The Panthers (3-0) are the highest-ranked team on the Terps' nonconference schedule, and while a win would pad the Terps' postseason resumé, it's far from paramount. In last season's Maui Invitational, the Terps (3-0) dropped their semifinal game against a middling Cincinnati team before ultimately becoming the ACC's regular-season co-champions.

"We want to know how good we are in November. But how good you are in November doesn't really mean that much either," Gary Williams said. "If you get a win in November against a good team, that's a good November win. But any team that's any good will be 30 percent better by January."

Pittsburgh started the season with a narrow eight-point win against Rhode Island before blowing out Illinois-Chicago and North Florida. Guard Ashton Gibbs, a contender for the Bob Cousy Award, given to the nation's top point guard, leads the Big East's preseason favorites.

"He's very smart," Williams said. "He knows when to shoot, [is a] good ball-handler, does a lot of things well."

While they tout experienced guards, the Panthers also will be tough to handle inside.

"Pittsburgh is a great offensive rebounding team. That's what makes them so tough," Williams said. "They have the ability to offensive rebound, too, along with guards that can really score."

Facing the most talented opponent of their season so far, the Terps know the importance of starting strong and limiting mistakes. Through the first three games, the Terps have averaged more than 20 turnovers a game while struggling from the free-throw line.

But despite their missteps, they've been able to escape with three wins. They know they won't be afforded such leeway tonight.

"With a team like Pitt, the game could come down to the last few plays, so we have to do the little things right," guard Pe'Shon Howard said. "Make sure you take care of the ball — you can't hesitate, you have to be crisp. Everything has to be on point because they're going to be ready to play."

ceckard@umdbk.com