COLLEGE PARK — Maryland men’s basketball coach Buzz Williams declined to join Michigan State’s Tom Izzo, UConn’s Danny Hurley and Arkansas’ John Calipari in criticizing the NCAA’s decision to permit James Nnaji, the No. 31 selection in the 2023 NBA draft, to enroll at Baylor.
In fact, Williams took great pains to establish that his primary objective is building the Terps (7-7, 0-3 Big Ten), not tearing down a 21-year-old prospect, the Bears or the sport’s governing body.
“I’ve really tried to pour myself into giving my best to our group, and I’m aware of what’s going on,” he said after Maryland’s 64-54 loss to Oregon on Friday night at Xfinity Center in College Park that kept the team winless in the conference. “I probably study this and pay attention, and I read a lot. But I also know that the worst reaction is an emotional reaction. And so this is probably not the right time for me to say anything.”
When the Bears (10-2) announced Dec. 24 that they signed the 21-year-old Nnaji, a 7-foot center from Makurdi, Nigeria, who could play as early as Saturday’s Big 12 contest at TCU (10-3), Izzo declared, “[S]hame on the NCAA. Shame on the coaches, too,” Hurley petitioned for more precise rules, and Calipari erupted over the college governing body giving Nnaji four years of eligibility.
On Sunday, Baylor coach Scott Drew shirked any blame and countered that he is simply playing by the current guidelines. Two days later, NCAA president Charlie Baker released a statement clarifying that the organization, “has not and will not grant eligibility to any prospective or returning student-athletes who have signed an NBA contract (including a two-way contract).”
Despite being drafted by the Detroit Pistons more than two years ago, Nnaji did not sign a contract with Detroit or any other NBA franchise. The Pistons traded his rights to the Charlotte Hornets, who shipped his rights the next year to the New York Knicks.
Nnaji appeared in NBA Summer League games for the Hornets and Knicks, but did not play in an NBA regular-season game.
It should be noted that Nnaji is not the first player with fringe NBA experience to enter the college ranks. Thierry Darlan, a 6-6 combo guard who spent two years in the G League, is averaging 7.0 points and 3.7 rebounds in 15 games (including one start) for Santa Clara, while London Johnson, a 6-3 guard who played three seasons in the G League, will redshirt his first year at Louisville with an eye toward making his debut in 2026-27.
Williams deadpanned that no one cares what his thoughts are on the subject. But he also said he did not want his reaction to become “fodder” for social media and that he has a greater priority beginning with Wednesday’s home game against Indiana (10-3, 1-1).
“One of the intangibles we’re focusing on and have been focusing on is, don’t blame, don’t complain, don’t defend, and figure out how to get better,” he said. “And so within whatever the rules are or they’re not or whoever the governing body is or there’s not, I’ve got to figure out how to dissect this so I can help our guys so that we can begin to prepare for Indiana on Wednesday.”
Here are three more developments from Friday’s outcome.
Picking a poison
Maryland was forced to make a decision against the Ducks (8-6, 1-2): defend the 3-point line or the interior.
The Terps fared decently badgering Oregon’s perimeter shooters, who shot 31.3% on 5 of 16 shooting. But the same could not be said in the lane.
The Ducks outscored Maryland, 32-12, in the paint, accumulating nine layups and three dunks. Their frontcourt of 7-foot senior center Nate Bittle, 6-10 junior power forward Kwame Evans Jr. and 6-6 senior small forward Dezdrick Lindsay boasted a combined average height that was two inches taller than the Terps’ duo of 6-8 senior power forward Elijah Saunders and 6-7 senior small forward Solomon Washington, and Oregon’s threesome totaled 30 points, 19 rebounds, six blocks and five assists compared to 20 points, 14 rebounds, two blocks and one assist for Saunders and Washington.
While acknowledging the Ducks’ size advantage in the post, Williams said that he did not want Oregon to find its rhythm from long distance as No. 2 Michigan and No. 21 Virginia had in their respective wins.
“We’ve done better [defending the 3-point line], but the consequence, which is not unintended, it’s part of it,” he said. “[People will say,] ‘Buzz, they scored 32 in the paint.’ In a perfect world, we don’t want either. We don’t want to foul, we don’t want to get bullied in the paint, and we want them to miss every three. I know that sounds condescending, but a little bit of it has been we’re trying to change the margins in which we’re competing in and then trying to have measurements not just on game day, but in practice where our guys see improvement.”
Meeting their match
Entering the game, the Terps ranked seventh in the Big Ten in total foul shots, which has helped fuel their offense. On the other hand, the Ducks have excelled at refraining from giving away free passes.
Oregon ranked sixth in the league in fewest fouls per game at 15.9, and the team committed just 12 fouls Friday night. That, in turn, contributed to Maryland attempting just 14 free throws, which ranks as its second-lowest mark of the season behind 13 tries against the Wolverines on Dec. 20.
The Ducks’ ability to avoid fouling was especially notable midway through the second half when the Terps tied the score at 43-43. They made only three trips to the free throw line in the final 10:59 when they made just three field goals in 19 attempts, and those three free throws occurred with 64 seconds left when Oregon had a 58-48 advantage.
Asked to assess what happened after Maryland had tied the score, Williams pointed to the fouls.
“We’re dependent on getting to the bonus,” he said. “Oregon doesn’t foul at a high rate. We don’t foul at a high rate. We never got to the bonus, I don’t think, until the very, very end of the second half. I think some of that needs to be with our pace in attacking the rim. I thought we did better with that to start the second half.”
Filling in
The absence of senior power forward Pharrel Payne (right knee) has sapped the Terps of a productive commodity on both ends of the floor. It seems that Washington is doing what he can to fill that void.
Washington has racked up double-doubles in each of his past two starts. He amassed 13 points and 13 rebounds in a 73-58 victory over Old Dominion and 17 points and 12 rebounds against the Ducks.
Washington might not bring the physicality that Payne is renowned for, but the Texas A&M transfer’s value is not lost on Williams.
“He’s an elite-level defender,” he said of Washington. “He’s carrying a lot of invisible burden to do some of the things that we’ve always asked him to do and then also do some of the things that we’re missing relative to injury. I thought his concentration level relative to executing those things was the best that it has been. I think this is his fifth or sixth game. I think he’s starting to get in better shape. I think his flow is better. But I thought he did a really good job in the things that were asking him on both ends.”
As pleased as he was to power the offense, Washington was not in much of a celebratory mood. “It’s good to score the ball, but it would feel better to win,” he said.
Indeed it would.
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