From this week's Q&A;:

Matt: Would someone please explain to me why Dave Neal gets so much playing time? He's too slow to guard anyone, too short to play inside and too bad a shooter to be a real threat to hit an outside jumper. Don't get me wrong - I respect and appreciate the effort and hustle but this isn't rec league basketball.

Don Markus: Gary Williams has always been loyal, sometimes to a fault, to his veteran players. It goes back to Williams' own playing career in College Park when he was benched for an Atlantic Coast Conference tournament game against South Carolina. In Neal's case, I think Williams believes he will make fewer mistakes than a younger player and provide a little offense, which he did against Duke. But I do believe his lack of athleticism can be a liability at times.

don.markus@baltsun.com

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