For the first time in more than two decades, the Atlantic Coast Conference's annual men's basketball media day was held without Gary Williams there to represent the University of Maryland. Williams retired in May, and at Wednesday's media day, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski talked about the void left at Maryland and in the ACC.
"The Duke-Maryland games were huge games for our conference," Krzyzewski said. "And we lost an incredible personality and somebody that helped not just brand the Maryland program, but helped brand ACC basketball."
Williams led Maryland, his alma mater, to a national championship, two Final Fours and a 461-252 record. Only two coaches -- Dean Smith and Krzyzewski -- have more career wins in the ACC than Williams' 202.
"When they won the national title in 2002 -- and especially the few years before that -- some of our games with [Maryland] are as good as any games that we've ever been a part of in the ACC," Krzyzewski said at media day, according to The Washington Post. "So I'll miss him. . . . I'll miss him."
So will many Maryland fans and fist-pump enthusiasts.