Maryland will name its basketball court after coach Gary Williams, school president Wallace Loh said today at a news conference to announce Williams' retirement.

Loh said Williams represents the heart and soul of the university and is a teacher who has maintained ethical standards and plays by the rules. Loh called Williams an "incredibly loyal alumnus" who displayed fierce competitiveness in 22 seasons as coach.

"You are a champion on the court and you are a champion in the community," Loh said. "Your legacy will live on forever."

Maryland basketball was a wreck when Gary Williams left Ohio State to take the job at his alma mater in 1989.

Bob Wade, in one season, had gone 9-20 overall and 1-13 in the ACC.

Cole Field House, once a hoops hothouse during Lefty Driesell’s salad days, looked like an arena in a constant fire drill state. Fans stayed away in droves and the few that came frequently left during the first television time-out of the second half.

Maryland basketball coach Gary Williams – who spent 22 years with the Terrapins, leading them to a national championship in 2002 – is retiring, he announced today.

"It's the right time," Williams, who will hold a press conference on Friday, said in a statement released by  the school. "My entire career has been an unbelievable blessing. I am fiercely proud of the program we have built here. I couldn't have asked any more from my players, my assistant coaches, the great Maryland fans and this great university. Together, we did something very special here."

Williams’s teams have made 14 NCAA tournament appearances -- seven Sweet Sixteens, two Elite Eights, and two Final Fours – plus won three ACC regular season titles. He was named National Coach of the Year in 2002, and the ACC Coach of the Year in 2002 and 2010.

Circle the next N.C. State-Maryland men's basketball game on the 2011-2012 ACC schedule.

When N.C. State introduced Debbie Yow as its new athletic director last year, the former Maryland AD downplayed rumors of a fractured relationship with Terrapins basketball coach Gary Williams, pointing out that she had nominated Williams for Hall of Fame consideration.

However, during this afternoon's news conference introducing the Wolfpack's new basketball coach, Mark Gottfried, Yow called out Williams for, in her words, trying to sabotage N.C. State's coach search.

CHAPEL HILL — Maryland basketball coach Gary Williams would like to see the NBA abolish the age limit rule that restricts players from going pro until they are 19, or one year removed from high school.

GREENSBORO -- Maryland coach Gary Williams said this year's basketball team should take advantage of the experience gained last season.

Williams, whose team advanced to the NCAA Tournament, said his players - 6-foot-7 senior Landon Milbourne and 6-foot-2 junior Adrian Bowie among them - had special moments in games but lacked consistency.

GREENSBORO - ACC coaches reacted to the new NCAA point of emphasis rule on excessive celebration at conference's Operation basketball media meeting on Sunday.

Some questioned how the rule would be enforced. Some questioned the considerations made in defining the new points of emphasis.

N.C. State's first-round ACC Tournament meeting with Maryland is stirring up some unpleasant memories of Terrapin guard Greivis Vasquez and the end of a 71-60 Wolfpack loss on March 1 at the RBC Center.

Vasquez upset N.C. State fans by taking — and making — a 3-point shot at the buzzer with Maryland leading by eight points. Vasquez apologized later.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Maryland coach Gary Williams recorded his 19th victory over a top-5 opponent via Saturday’s 88-85 overtime victory against No. 3 UNC.

Five have come against Roy Williams — two at Kansas, three at North Carolina. According to Patrick Stevens’ Washington Times blog, that means Ol’ Roy has almost caught Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, who has lost to Gary-coached Maryland when the Blue Devils were ranked in the top 5.

More notes:

This isn't a sports blog, but here's a story I'd like to pass on nevertheless, given the Triangle's infatuation with college basketball.

The Washington Post just concluded a three-part series examining the precipitous decline of the University of Maryland's basketball program since it won a national championship in 2002 under the leadership of longtime coach Gary Williams.

It is a fascinating read. It lays out in specifics many of Williams' supposed deficiencies, most notably his reluctance to play many of the somewhat unseemly recruiting games that have now become the norm in big-time college basketball.

For example, he doesn't want to offer jobs to high school or travel-team coaches who have a huge amount of influence on star players and their college choices.

The core question that comes from this series: Is it worth it for Williams to stand on his moral high ground if his team is no longer winning?

Here's part one. Here's part two, and here's part three.