I recently had a chance to share some time on the phone with Maryland coach Gary Williams. Oh, how enthusiastic and excited he was to go to the Final Four. After 23 years as a head coach, he's finally getting his chance to be in the spotlight as one of the elite.

Williams has certainly paid his price over the years. He has been a winner everywhere he has been, from American University to Boston College, Ohio State to Maryland.

Look for Gary to sign a long-term pact with the Terps. He has a special allegiance and passion for Maryland. He has the program on a steady roll. It will stay in the upper echelon of the ACC for many years to come.

As Maryland coach, he has made the Sweet 16 on five different occasions. Now he has gotten his team over the hump and into the Final Four. The monkey is off his back, and people know he is a bona-fide winner.

I felt that Williams was a success even before making this year's Final Four. Unfortunately there is a mentality now that if you don't make it to the big party, you are left with the question about winning the big one. That, my friends, is so sad.

I think about people talking about John Chaney going 0-5 in regional finals. You can't tell me that Chaney isn't a winner and a Hall of Famer for the sport! Realize what Chaney has accomplished and also consider that he has lost to four No. 1 seeds and a No. 2 in regional finals.

Chaney's players overachieved to get that far. Don't use the Final Four as the criteria for whether a coach is a success or a failure.

Williams is ready to take on Duke. The Maryland kids have a special strut, a special confidence right now. The Terps are not intimidated by the Blue Devils.

	Guard Juan Dixon (3) was the ACC player of the year and led Maryland to its first national title.

Maryland could easily have won all three meetings with Duke this season. In the first game, the Terps' 10-point lead with 57 seconds left disappeared. Maryland won at Cameron Indoor Stadium, and the third encounter at the ACC semifinals was decided by a Nate James tip-in.

Lonny Baxter, Juan Dixon and company have played well in the tournament. Baxter is my Solid Gold PTPer of the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight. Dixon's quickness can give Duke trouble.

Steve Blake has always played well against Jason Williams. Plus, Maryland has an edge in depth in its matchup with Duke. Several players have stepped up off the bench, including Tahj Holden, who hit big shot after big shot against Stanford. Danny Miller has provided a spark offensively and defensively.

Maryland went 1-for-9 from 3-point range against Georgetown. The Terps came back and hit 9-of-13 trifectas against Stanford. What that tells me is that Maryland can win with or without the three.

If this national semifinal is as good as the ACC semifinal, the Maryland-Duke game figures to be a classic. The Terps are fired up for this test.