Maryland coach Gary Williams has had situations before -- say, in 2001-02, the national championship year -- when he could sit comfortably over the summer and know what his starting lineup would look like come fall. The summer of '04? Not so.

"I've got options," Williams said. "But there are questions to be answered."

The Terrapins might be able to provide them. Forget that this group isn't among the ACC's most talented. Rather, this is exactly the kind of group with which Williams might excel -- fairly experienced, hungry and team-oriented.

"With the guys we have," point guard John Gilchrist said, "man, I can't wait to get started."

FRONTCOURT

"He's got to understand that you have to look at everything every year," Williams said.

This year, that includes the possibility of playing Ekene Ibekwe at small forward. At 6-foot-9, Ibekwe worked hard to add bulk to a reed-thin frame. His athletic ability is undeniable, and he occasionally reminds Williams of former Terp Chris Wilcox. If he can stay out of foul trouble, Ibekwe will find plenty of time, either at small or power forward.

The other returnee on the frontline is junior Travis Garrison, whose days as a McDonald's All-America seem so long ago. Garrison has a good face-up jumper, but he lacks the athletic ability and ferocious nature to be a big-time rebounder, something the Terps will have to find now that center Jamar Smith has exhausted his eligibility. In a best-case scenario for the Terps, active freshman James Gist snares those boards.

The Terps also have a pair of intriguing possibilities in the middle -- 6-10 Hassan Fofana and 7-1 Will Bowers. Fofana remains unpolished, but he worked hard to shed some of his 290 pounds. With improved offensive moves, he could earn plenty of time when (or if?) Williams decides to go with a bigger frontline.

BACKCOURT

"We played well from behind last year with three guards," Williams said. "That's our best pressing team."

The Terrapins' best player and unquestioned leader is Gilchrist, the MVP of the ACC tournament and the player responsible for checking the ACC's legion of top-flight point guards. Gilchrist should be even better than his 15.4 points per game as a sophomore, considering he worked to improve both his passing and shooting. He'll be the one backcourt constant.

There are plenty of other combinations. Junior Chris McCray was the starting off guard a year ago -- despite the fact he hit 30.7 percent of his 3-pointers. McCray improved his shooting in the off-season, but the Terps' best marksman continues to be Mike Jones (team-best 40.3 percent on 3s). In order for Jones to cut into McCray's minutes, he must play better defense and handle the ball better.

D.J. Strawberry isn't much of a shooter, but it hardly matters. Strawberry will find minutes because of his defense and his heart. If Gilchrist struggles to guard any of those marquee point guards, don't be surprised to see Strawberry on them.

Junior college transfer Sterling Ledbetter might be able to spell Gilchrist at the point.

FINAL ANALYSIS

Don't forget, though, that that same team struggled in the regular season, and was on the NCAA bubble before winning its final two regular-season games. Williams understands that this group can't just sail into the season expecting to win. "We have a tradition here of improving in the off-season," Williams said. "That's what these guys have to do."

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