North Carolina Central coach LeVelle Moton made it clear after last year's game against Maryland that it was not the best idea to schedule the Terps while Dez Wells was still playing.
It had nothing to do with how Wells played in his team's 70-56 win. In fact, Maryland's shooting guard scored just 10 points. It was the their close relationship that made things more uncomfortable for Moton than Wells.
Though not related by blood, Wells refers to Moton as "my uncle." Moton often has credited Wells' mother for helping guide him in his own career and life from a high school basketball star in Raleigh, N.C., to becoming a college coach.
After admitting this summer that he took an offer to play the Terps again this season because of financial considerations -- "Money talks," Moton said -- Wells' absence in Wednesday's game against Moton's team has left the reigning Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Coach of the Year with conflicted feelings.
As a coach, it will be easier for Moton to prepare his Eagles to face the Terps with Wells sidelined by a fractured wrist. Yet given how close he remains with Wells, Moton said Monday: "You just want him to be OK, because he's worked so hard. You don't want any minor setbacks to happen in the year."
Wells, who has missed the last four games after being injured early in Maryland's upset of then-No. 13 Iowa State in Kansas City, Mo., two weeks ago, took a step toward returning when he had the cast removed Tuesday and replaced by a hard splint. Wells is expected back late this month.
"Every game is difficult to miss," said Wells, who has started running on a treadmill. "It will be good to see and visit with LeVelle, but I'd rather be competing against him on the floor."
Moton, whose team made the NCAA tournament last season, said that last year's game against Maryland was among the toughest of his career as a coach.
"It was difficult a year ago because it was just different. I really enjoyed competing against him," Moton said. "I had a blast doing that. They ended up winning, and we talked about it all summer. We looked forward to this game, him and I had some trash-talking back and forth."
Though Wells will be out for another few weeks, Moton said "his presence will still be felt. He's the heart and soul of that team."
Speaking of the No. 19 Terps, Moton said he has been impressed by what he has seen both on television and on tape in preparation for Wednesday's game. His feelings echo the sentiments of several coaches, including Virginia's Tony Bennett, about the stark contrast between last season and this season.
"They're a different team, they're a lot younger, but I think they're a better basketball team," Moton said. "You've seen every year in college basketball that the best teams play together. You can fake a lot of things in life, but you can't fake togetherness. You could see [last year] they were a group of individuals."
Wells, too, has been impressed with the way the Terps have played in his absence, particularly the freshmen and sophomore center Damonte Dodd.
"I give a lot of credit to my teammates," he said. "They have done a tremendous job. Our younger guys have played at a really high level. I can't wait to get back on the court."
Moton said he isn't sure how Wells will react to the month off the court.
"You really don't understand the lessons while you're going through adversity until you're on the other side of that adversity and you're able to communicate exactly what you learned from it," Moton said. "Hopefully he can find the silver lining in the cloud because I believe there is a silver lining in almost anything."